Q: It absolutely drives me bonkers when I offer a specific time for a meeting and the response is “I’ll try to make it.” What does “try” mean?
A: When someone says that they are trying to lose weight or trying to spend more time with their family, I am reminded of Yoda’s caution to Luke Sky Walker: There is no try; do. Indeed! “Trying” to do something is not the same as achieving a result or producing an outcome, so “trying” to make a meeting drives me nuts, too. Here are a few tips that I follow to stay sane when scheduling via email:
- Be specific: “Are you available on Wednesday, October 15, at 1PM or 1:30PM?”
- Ask for an exact response: “What time works best for you, 1 or 1:30?”
- Ask for options: “If this date/time does not work for you, please let me know what works best for you.”
- Make it easy: “So that we don’t have to go back and forth via email, please call me.”
- Be specific: “You can reach me today between 3 and 4:30. Please let me know the time or time ‘window’ you plan to call me today.”
- Be generous: “I know that your client is your priority—especially this time of year—so let me know if we need to reschedule.”
- Close the loop: “Thank you very much, I look forward to our meeting on MONTH, DAY, TIME and LOCATION.”
Remember: Put these tips to use and you can track your effectiveness and increased productivity. You win time and peace of mind when you nail down a meeting in one or two email exchanges: No trying, do.
Now enjoy a laugh: T-Rex trying to stay dry.