A reader wrote about a successful use of a technique I wrote about in “Someone not returning your emails? Here’s a polite tactic that gets responses.” I thought I’d share for others, since we all face the challenge sometimes.

Also because I find over and over that low-level instruction, even or rather especially on low-level details leads to high-level success. Schools don’t teach these details but they matter.

Hey Joshua,

Hope you are well!

I read you posts regularly and one that you wrote  earlier (for the life of me, I cannot remember the date of the post) had fantastic advice. It was about how to send an email to someone who does not respond to your email/s. It went along the lines of “Hi! Did I offend you/anyone?” or “Hi!, I didn’t hear back from you. I hope I haven’t offended you and that everything is ok.”

I obtained a consulting gig with a school at the start of September. Communication was going well. Work was progressing. Relationship building was occurring. Suddenly, in October I heard from no one. I sent friendly “Hi there, just checking in” emails but received silence.

I then remembered your lesson and employed your strategy. I wrote the following:

Hi _______,

I haven’t heard back either from the teachers or you. Is everything ok? Is there a better way to communicate with y’all (phone, in person, smoke signals, bribery with toll house cookies)?  I hope I didn’t offend you or anyone.

Thanks,

Ariel

It worked like a charm. I got an apology with an explanation that there were several issues occurring and they lost track.

So, now, I am back in communication and consulting.

Thank you for sharing that piece of advice. It worked!!!

Hope your teaching is going well! Feel free to share this with them or anyone else as one more piece of evidence that your lessons work!

Take care,

Ariel

So simple! It works and I’ve never seen it backfire.

Do you have low-level techniques like it that others would benefit from? I’d love to hear them.

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