Just say no
Richard John, COO of Realise, makes a plea for professional courtesy – even if it involves saying something unpleasant.
Richard John
Richard John
It was Michael R. Bennett, founder and owner of Bennett Hospitality, who said, "I'd rather have a fast no than a slow yes." And in the frenetic world that is meetings and events, I’d add that those endless ‘maybes’ are a real killer.
I’ll use some of our own recent experiences as examples. Realise operates in a number of areas, and we speak regularly at events. That involves putting some thought into proposals and titles, and reserving diary dates. Well, apparently I’m still ‘pending’ as a speaker at two industry events, even though the full schedule has been published and I’m not on it. It’s not the fault of the award-winning LineUp Ninja platform which was used for submissions; I know the event organiser will be getting reminders. But for some reason they can’t bring themselves to say ‘no.’
Here's another; we work for some wonderful event software companies and have teams located around the world to help their clients’ events fly. But those clients are still at ‘maybe’ on whether they go ahead as the clock ticks and options shrink. Really? Being one step removed I find myself pushing the salespeople to force a decision; but they, too, hang on in vain hope that something positive will appear from the silence.
The result when a client, or client’s client, is stuck at ‘maybe?’
- unnecessary shuffling of diaries and people.
- the ‘favourite’ staffer might decide to take another, confirmed, role.
- cheaper airfare prices vanish.
- cancellation fees appear.
I don’t believe it’s down to overt rudeness. But there seem to be far too many unrealistic expectations that ‘something will happen,’ and that no news is good news.
Sadly, that’s often not the case. As the CNN host Anderson Cooper famously said, ‘hope is not a plan’.
Perhaps our innate desire to be kind - or simply a lack of courage - holds us back from delivering a blunt ‘no’. Or maybe we’ve learned from the new world of dating that sometimes it’s much easier to take the coward’s way out and opt for some corporate ghosting. Sorry, that’s no better.
I know it can be hard; agencies are waiting for clients; organisers are waiting for sales figures; employers are waiting for candidates. However, please remember the adage ‘nature abhors a vacuum;’ it’s better to get an update, even if the news is that there isn’t one! If you’re an agency waiting for a client to make up their mind, don’t be afraid to tell us. You’ll find a sympathetic ear.
And if you do get news that isn’t what you – or we – want to hear, please give it to us, straight and quick. We’re tough enough to take it, and your candour will make us far more willing to work with you again. Sure, there’ll be disappointment, but that openness means we can get feedback that will help us all in the future. I promise you, everyone in our great industry will welcome the fast no, rather than any of the alternatives.
By the way, if I’m guilty of ever doing his then guilt is exactly what I’m feeling. Please accept this as my apology. Next time I’ll be faster.
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