Waiting

I'm not good at waiting - I get impatient at stoplights.  Because I honor appointment times, I expect others to do the same.  Yesterday I spent the day waiting for a promised notification for an important online activation, which never occurred; and for a locksmith who arrived 5 hours late. 

Think about the increase in productivity and decrease in stress that results when we all timely follow through with our commitments. 

Response

Once we press send, leave a voice mail message, post a letter, make a presentation, or host an event, we are waiting for a response. 

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Email is the delivery channel that evokes the easiest, quickest feedback.  However, we often forget that ours is not the only, most important, or most time sensitive email among the 100s that our recipient may receive in the next hour, day or week.

Unless there is clear mutual urgency in receiving a response to any of our communications, we may wait far longer than we expect, or never receive a response.  I've found that clear expectations, incentives and deadlines can lead to timely responses.  However, without, or even with, a specific survey solicitation, most attendees won't provide direct feedback for a presentation or event. 

When the response is important, we must ask specifically, follow up diligently and acknowledge appropriately.

I'd love to know your experience!

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