THE TUESDAY BUSINESS CORNER :

You’ll be communicating a lot today.

But when will you be following up?

As you know, follow-up is essential, in that it:

- builds momentum
- ensures everything gets done (after all, unless you’re lucky/skilled/important/surrounded by saints, you have to follow certain things up. It’s just the way it is)
- ensures previous activities have worked as planned (“Did last week’s session improve things as you wanted? How else can I help?”)

But, despite its importance, follow-up is often:

- not discussed during a communication; and/or
- not diarised

The former means you have to re-start momentum later – never as easy; the latter means you’ll probably forget to do it on time/at all – never good.

Fortunately, the solution is very simple:

- Agree during a communication when you’ll follow-up later. Simply ask “how and when shall we follow-up?”
- Think “5 and 5”. Create a daily 5-minute reminder at 5pm called “diarise all today’s follow-ups” where you review your day’s activities and schedule when you’ll follow each one up
So, you’ll be communicating a lot today.  When will you be following up?

Action point

For all today’s communications, remember the two Ds: agree During the conversation when you’ll follow-up; then Diarise it, so you ensure you do.

And if it works today, do it every day!


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Written by NativeEnglish

Native English Spain is dedicated to make learning English simple, fun and affordable for Spanish people.