Thursday, November 16, 2006

Efficient but not Effective


If you are trying to get someone to change their mind, why the heck are you just using email?I was in a meeting yesterday with one of Canada's largest law firms. They mentioned some of their lawyers receive 2 ,000 to 3,000 emails a day.

Ask the average recruiter to tell you how many emails are in their inbox. Ask your friends how much spam ends up on their screen.

Don't get me wrong, email has its place. Lawyers establish paper-trails, insurance brokers track client conversations, job applicants attach resumes.

But my concept of "Pass the POI" means that it's people first, objects second and ideas third. If your desire is to change someone's mind (rally them to your cause, sell a complex product, fill a seminar) then you need to create advocates. Pick up the phone, sit down over a coffee, have a conversation. Then, follow up with an email to establish the details.

The quickest way to change from an "A friend" to a "B friend" is to stop interacting with people and start sending them impersonal blasts of email jokes and newsflyers (or resumes). Remember, the definition of a "B friend" is someone who contacts you only when they need something and then proceed to talk about themselves. If you are not convinced, think about what you do to 99% of the flyers you receive everyday in your mailbox.

Most of you are reading this blog because you either know me personally or have heard about me from someone else. That came as a result of a lot of face to face meetings, coffees and seminars.

I never make the mistake of thinking this blog or my emails will make people my advocates. Loyalty and advocacy comes from inspiring people to your cause. Neither you nor I can do that by little typing and a lot of sending...pick up the phone or get out the door!

No comments: