We meet our guest expert, JP Jones, once again, as she continues her series on managing the circus, also known as your business. Today is all about how to work the crowd. If you haven’t read Part 1 & Part 2, please take the time to do so before diving into Part 2 below. Thank you JP!
**************************************
Entrepreneurs have to find the balance between managing their time and providing quality customer service to their clients and customers. There is a huge PR advantage to providing one-on-one interaction for your clients, but as I mentioned, without proper oversight it can be your biggest time-sink.
Think of all the forms of communication we’ve had across the ages: telegrams, letters, telephone, email, text, instant messaging . . . the list goes on and on. As people get busier, we try to find new and more efficient ways to communicate. Especially when it comes to communication between our business and our customer base.
Depending on your industry there might be specific needs for actually having face time or phone time with your clients or customers. So how can you keep from getting sucked into the black hole of wasted time?
3. Work the Crowd: Face Time—or Phone Time?
Time It.
When you set up a face-to-face meeting, one of your initial comments should be the time slot you have available. This way, the other party immediately knows that there will be a cutoff for the meeting and if/when you have to say, “I’ve got to go” they are less likely to be hurt or offended. This is particularly valuable when the other party is a ‘big talker’. By doing this, you are able to stay in control of the situation and ultimately maintain a handle on your time.
Schedule It.
When it comes to phone calls, I don’t pick up the receiver unless it has been previously scheduled. If I did, my day would be spent on the phone rather than actually accomplishing my tasks for the day. Many of you may find that same situation staring you in the face. Customers, clients and even employees or colleagues may prefer to give you a ring, rather than shooting off an email. Let them know, that is fine, but just like a face-to-face meeting, phone time has to be scheduled in advance. This will not only keep you more organized, but will also help you to be able to focus and maintain the proper attention on the tasks at hand.
Just like any good circus act, the ‘clowns’ are a vital piece of the show, but must abide within a series of guidelines in order for show to successfully, ‘go on’.
Next week, we will finish this series with our final topic: Tightrope Walking: Organize, Organize, Organize.
____________________________________
JP Jones wears many hats. Among them are graphic designing, web designing, social media marketing, teaching, book publishing, blogging and writing. The author of “Market Yourself: A Beginner’s Guide to Social Media”, JP is the owner of Paige1Media & Paige1Publishing, a graphic design firm and publishing company that work with domestic and international clients on projects ranging from basic logo development to magazine and book design.
Her firms are contracted in joint venture with Collipsis Web Solutions, LLC. which handles Web Design and Development for clients around the world. Jones has also served as an adjunct instructor and guest lecturer for universities and conferences. Jones has had the honor of winning over 100 awards for her design and promotions work over the years. In 2010 she was named one of the Top 101 Female Bloggers to Watch for 2010 by Women’s Entertainment Magazine.
Jones has been designing professionally for over 9 years and immerses herself in the current trends and technologies emerging in the industry. Staying on top of technology is her job. Teaching it to others is her passion.
Strategies and Tactics for Women by Dr. Shannon Reece 