No one likes a phone solicitor. But what if it's your neighbor, potential client, or a business owner in your community? If you knew, would you handle the call differently?
Recently, our former Chamber of Commerce Director mailed a letter to inform business owners of recent changes, improvements, and opportunities within the Chamber.
As an ambassador for the Chamber, I, along with other ambassadors, were asked to make follow-up calls. Included in the call was a no-obligation invitation to attend two upcoming events as a way to learn more about the Chamber and meet and greet like-minded individuals. Stick with me. One call in particular prompted me to write this post.
As I introduced myself to the business owner, he hushed his clients who were chatting in the background. He proceeded to tell me that, after "X" number of years in business, no one from the Chamber had ever contacted him, and now that times are tough, he receives a call...told me to never call back, and hung up. He has a right to hang up on whomever he chooses, however, he just divulged a heap about himself. Will I be sending business his way? Not likely.Understanding his grievance and apprehension, I would have calmly explained that we were reaching out because of the new direction and re-energized attitude of the new Chamber Director ().
Etiquette approach: Be cautious with whom you choose to vent or be uncivil to; you may not only lose a client, but more damaging, your reputation as a professional will be tarnished.
How do you handle solicitors? Do you have the right to speak to them in a discourteous manner?
Rosalinda Oropeza Randall is an etiquette consultant who owns Your Relationship Edge in which she teaches classes and presents workshops to a variety of audiences. She can be reached at rosalinda@yourrelationshipedge.com and her website is www.yourrelationshipedge.com. She can also be reached on Facebook.
