How To Break A Scheduled Appointment And Still Maintain Client Confidence In Your Corporation
Phil was having trouble seeing through the windshield that was being pelted with sleet and snow but he continued on his trip with the realization that he had scheduled this meeting with his client and needed to be there. Out of the blue came a car that was traveling much too fast for the current weather conditions and as Phil swerved to avoid being hit by the speeding car he slammed into the guardrail. Luckily, Phil was wearing his seatbelt but things that were in the car were thrown around recklessly and many were destroyed or broken. Phil was thankful to be unharmed but he was quickly able to see that he needed to schedule an appointment for an iPod screen repair and an iPhone screen repair because both of them had been badly damaged from the impact. His car also sustained some severe damage to the right side of the body but since it was drivable he was able to continue on to his appointment where he explained his dilemma and won over his client with his promptness and perseverance.
This story illustrates how a person who is confident in his decision making abilities is able to make the most of a bad situation. Many others would have called and cancelled or made an excuse as to why he was not able to show up as scheduled although, he was only a few miles away at that time. Many times it is better to just show up and explain in person rather than going into detail over the phone leaving the client to wonder if you are exaggerating or stretching the truth of the problem to avoid the meeting.
If canceling a meeting or presentation is unavoidable however, and it sometimes is necessary, there is a preferred method to use and these principles are easy to follow. A few things to remember are:
• Call as early as possible: Clients go to great lengths to schedule around these meetings or presentations because they believe the services offered will be beneficial to their business success. Many times an effort is made to include company decision makers in on the appointment so they can learn for themselves and also question the presenter. This means that there will be several people who will be inconvenienced if the appointment time is not met or canceled.
• Always have backup plans: Perhaps you cannot be there in person but is there someone else in your company who is just as qualified as you to make the presentation and is willing to do it for you. Taking the time to notify the contact person and introducing this backup person so he will be welcomed in your place is well worth the effort it requires of you. The company is interested in the services being offered, not in the personality of the person presenting them.
• Be flexible when rescheduling: Go out of your way to be obliging when a client wants to rearrange an appointment to show your appreciation. Being courteous pays dividends toward company relations and good will.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!