In our personal lives, it is difficult to deliver bad news, but somehow we are able to draw the strength and make the phone call.  Why then, in the business world, can it be so difficult to return a phone call that’s regarding a project?

Being a process-oriented company, we follow up with potential clients after we have submitted a proposal.  It is a quick phone call.  Did you receive our proposal?  (Last year two proposals were not delivered by our preferred shipping company by the deadline due to inclement weather.)   Do you have any questions?  Thank you for your time. End of the phone call.  If a message is left, these phone calls are typically returned.

It is after a contract has been awarded to another firm that the phone call is not returned.  We continually strive to improve our processes and proposals so feedback is very important to us. We appreciate honesty when hearing why we were not chosen.  It is never taken personally and helps us tremendously with future proposals.

We also receive requests for quotes on models, trees, life-cast figures, etc.  We understand budget constraints; everyone has them.  If our potential clients let us know whether or not they will be moving forward with a project, it allows us to plan more efficiently in order to serve all our clients as best as possible.  We appreciate the opportunity to provide all quotes and until we hear one way or another we will continue to leave messages.

I will do whatever it takes to earn our clients’ trust then their business.  It’s hard to do, however, without open communication.  I promise to be considerate, appreciative, and I definitely will not bite (even if you have to call me with bad news)!

If you’re a client, what encourages you to return phones calls?  If you’re another business person making lots of phone calls, how do you entice your potential clients to return your messages?