Do whatever it takes to make it to that first meeting

Have you ever showed up at a coffee shop for an initial meeting with a potential client or business partner only to find yourself tapping your fingers on the table as you watch the minutes on your phone go by? This has happened to me a number of times and I am now able to predict the most-likely future relationship based upon this very first missed meeting.

In the past I shrugged off missed meetings saying, “I understand, things happen,” and rescheduled the meeting.

The second meeting usually occurs but something appears to be a little off with the client. The client may constantly proclaim how busy she is and that she does not have the time to get around to the tasks she would like me to do. This particular client ends up not sending me the information I need to begin the project, saying she is too busy to even do that. I do follow up calls with no success and the client soon fades away. Pity after having a nearly two hour long initial meeting.

Another potential client that misses a first meeting may show signs of not being fully certain of the project he is working on. He will jump around the project and have little concrete information to share. In the end he will close by saying he will give it some thought and I will most likely not hear back. Again this ends up being lost time and a consistent characteristic of potential clients that miss a first meeting.

Showing up to a first meeting is very important because it will impact your future relationship with anyone you work with. You will appear to be reliable, responsible and respectful, all of which are qualities for a successful working relationship. As simple as it is, one of the best things to offer someone is to be respectful of his or her time.

Of course issues arise that may interfere with the meeting. In this situation it is a priority to message the person in advance and let them know that you will not be present. This advance notice shows that you have recorded their phone number, are aware of the meeting and respect their time. Completely dropping a meeting with no notice whatsoever is an incredible reputation destroyer.

Personally I have taken the task of confirming the meeting ahead of time either the day before or in the morning if the meeting is scheduled for later that day. This simple task has done wonders in showing potential clients that I am a committed person who respects their time and am aware of our future plans.

In closing, do whatever it takes to make it to that first meeting! It will save you time and build a foundation for a healthy working relationship. Don’t slack on the next meetings either.