The dying skill of follow up and follow-through

April 19, 2022·2 min read·Enhancewell

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter was right: “You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.”

In this era of “swipe right” or “swipe left,” we’re used to instant gratification. If you didn’t get a match on the first try-- there are other fish in the sea.

This mindset has bled over into the business world, too. Whether you’re applying for a job or bidding for a new client, the art of follow-up and follow-through is a skill worth honing.

How to use follow up to win more clients

When a business is interviewing dozens of candidates or talking with several vendors, you need to stand out among the crowd. Have you heard the phrase, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”? In the most polite way possible, don’t forget to “squeak.”

Here are a few ways to follow up after important meetings that will assure your place in their memory:

1. Send a thank you card. Who doesn’t love receiving (non-bill) mail? It seems old-fashioned, but sending a hand-written thank you note by snail mail can help you or your business stand out.
2. Let them know you’re interested. If you haven’t heard back after a week or two, send a follow-up email. Reiterate to your potential boss or client why you would be a good fit for the organization and follow up on your application or bid status.
3. Offer a bonus. Ok, so this one won’t work for a hiring manager. We don’t condone bribery to get a job! However, if you’re trying to sell a product to existing or potential clients, create an email funnel that includes a discount on your product or adds a unique bonus item when they order.

Polite persistence is the key to follow-up.

How follow-through can help your business

After your follow-up leads to a new client or assures your spot as a preferred vendor, move to Operation Follow-Through. Put simply, do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it.

Here are a few examples of follow-through:

1. Always complete projects on time or early. Come prepared to all meetings with assignments finished and ready to present.
2. Do the work– even when no one is watching. Earn a reputation as an employee who puts in the effort without being asked.
3. After the work is done, ask for feedback. Circle back to your client or employer to ask how your work was received. Find out if there’s something you could do differently in the future to provide even better service.

Follow-through may be the most critical quality for building your client list and winning repeat business.

Follow-up gets you a spot on the mountain.

Follow-through takes you to the summit. Where are you today?

When you employ both follow up and follow-through, you’ll build a reputation as an employee or business that can be counted on to show up when you’re needed most.