What to do when you get a NO
What to do when you get a NO Getting a NO is really frustrating and it can be disheartening when you are working to master yes getting requests. So here are four strategies to help you turn your NOs into YESes. 1. CREATE A MORE VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY Requests result in a NO when you fail to connect the request with something that the request recipient wants. What was it about your request that didn't give the person what they wanted or needed? Remember, the opportunity you are creating for the person should seem like $1million opportunity to them. Maybe it seemed like a $10 opportunity but they had $1000 in their pocket? ACTION: Rethink and redesign the opportunity that you presented and edit it with a better opportunity that better matches their needs. 2. SEEK MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION Sometimes a No shows up because you have no clue what is going on in the person's world. Everyone has problems and everyone is looking for solutions, but if you don't know what's happening over there with them, then you can't match the opportunity you are creating with your request with something that they want or desperately need. You need to mine for the problems they are dealing with by asking questions and getting into a discussion about what's going on in their world. e.g. If you are trying to sell them your services (let's say you are a consultant) and they already have what you provide covered then you need to find out what their pain points are and match your consultant services with those needs. So dig for their hardest to solve issues and see if you can present your offer as a solution to their difficult problems. 3. REBOOK TO AVOID BAD TIMING Sometimes the request comes at a bad moment. Either they don't have much time to discuss the issue, so you can't dig for background. Or they are not ready to say Yes because of external circumstances. This is why it's important to ask if you can come back to them and make the request again. Find out what is in the way ("I can't make a decision until I hire a marketing manager."), stay in touch ("how's you search for a marketing manager going?" Or even "Hey I know someone that might be a good fit.") and go back to them when the issue in the way has been resolved ("Now that you have hired a marketing manager can I come back in to discuss my idea?") 4. SET YOURSELF UP MORE POWERFULLY People say yes to people who they like and trust and in some cases where they see themselves in them. Be charming, approachable, ambitious, friendly, creative, and resourceful. Demonstrate how awesome you are by sharing what you have been up to. They more they know about you, the better they will be able to relate to you. If they are a parent share parenting stories. If they are from a rural area, share your connection to growing up rural. If they are a pet lover, share your love of dogs or cats make a connection with them. That's why #2 (above) is very important.
