All of us have been there. You send an email to someone asking for a chat, details, opinions, or an introduction, but you receive no answer. It doesn’t matter if you are contacting a coworker, client, recruiter, classmate, or even an old acquaintance; not everyone will respond to you promptly or at all.
Nevertheless, following up might still be uncomfortable, especially if you have to do so more than once, and they are not replying. When you reach out to someone for the second (or third, or fourth) time, bear the following points in mind. It is essential and crucial to follow up with people who aren’t responding to you in order to get things done and achieve your objectives.
Here are few ways to follow up with someone who’s not getting back to you:
Make your subject line compelling:
47% of emails are either opened or deleted based only on the subject line. Since two-thirds of emails are viewed on mobile devices, it makes obvious that shorter subject lines with only four words had the highest open rates.
Be careful not to use cliches like “Following up” or “Checking in.” These are not only ambiguous, but they can also make the reader feel awful for taking their time to react, which would delay their rapid response even more. Instead, offer the recipient a brief summary of your request in the subject line. You could use phrases like “Next steps on X project” or “Question regarding job application.”
Use succinct, straightforward wording:
Nobody enjoys getting along, complicated emails. The best messages are succinct and simple to skim. According to research, the ideal length is between 75 and 100 words, which has the highest response rate (51%). This means that your second email should be significantly shorter if you’re forwarding the first one.
The same study demonstrates that utilising straightforward language (appropriate for readers in the third grade) yields the highest response rate (53%).According to executive leadership coaching, emails that are longer or more complicated are frequently set aside to be reviewed https://be-leader.com/services/#Executiveater, when the reader has more time to concentrate on your message. Longer emails therefore have a higher chance of being overlooked.
Ask with clarity:
Your desire will be clear to the reader if you ask a clear, direct query. Their ability to respond depends on how well you communicate. In fact, asking up to three questions increases your chance of hearing back by 50% compared to not asking any at all. Your inquiries may appear along the lines of:
“Is there a time within the next week or two that works for you?”
“Do you have time to discuss my development priorities in the coming weeks?”
Utilise persistence wisely:
According to research and leadership training, asking for what we need lessens anxiety and enhances our sense of agency, self-worth, and makes you a high performing employee. It also can result in your request being granted. In conclusion, it is worthwhile to follow up.
However, there’s a thin line between obstinacy and annoyance. You must be assertive and have sound judgement when deciding whether to follow up or to cut your losses and move on. In general, a week after sending your first email is a good time to get in touch with someone. However, it can be acceptable to follow up sooner based on the specifics of your request, previous communications, and/or pertinent dates.
Offer them a way out:
One reason someone might not respond to an email is that they are unable to assist or feel uneasy carrying out your request. Giving your email recipient a break can make them feel better and show them that you care, which will increase the likelihood that they will respond.
BeLeader is one of the finest leadership training companies in Pune that offers comprehensive corporate leadership training that helps you in taking followup with someone who is not getting back to you in a constructive manner you become a visionary Leader who is efficient in handling the Team, prospect and clients well. Connect with us to book a free 20 mins appointment.
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