Comments on: Arriving Late For Your Sales Call: What It Says About You and Your Company

By: S. Anthony Iannarino

S. Anthony Iannarino — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:39:17 +0000

Hey Joe! Thanks for the comments. As for your sales manager: OUCH! So much for leading by example. . . I’d do the same thing were I in your shoes–lest my sales manager cost me a deal.

By: S. Anthony Iannarino

S. Anthony Iannarino — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:38:07 +0000

Thanks for the comments, Jeanette. Your story demonstrates someone with a shocking lack of resourcefulness. Sad.

By: S. Anthony Iannarino

S. Anthony Iannarino — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:36:57 +0000

Hey Todd! Looking forward to meeting up in Atlanta! You may be right; I may have been too gentle!

By: S. Anthony Iannarino

S. Anthony Iannarino — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:35:48 +0000

Thanks, Brian! Even with cellular phones, we still have the underlying problem to deal with!

By: joetaxpayer

joetaxpayer — Fri, 28 May 2010 00:58:31 +0000

I’m the guy that feels late if I am only 10 minutes early. I’d rather get there, and wait for the client to come out. My manager, on the other hand feels no such compulsion. After the second time he made me late, I no longer ride with him anywhere. When he joins me, I leave word with the receptionist to kindly deliver him to whatever room my meeting is in when he turns up.

By: Braden West

Braden West — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:13:35 +0000

I tell my salespeople, if you’re going to be late for an appointment, call before the appointed time and let the person know. In addition, when giving your new arrival time, add 10 minutes so that you come across under-promising and over delivering when you show up ‘early.’
+1

By: Jeannette Seibly

Jeannette Seibly — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:44:17 +0000

Anthony, great article.

About a month ago I had this happen to me where the person was only two miles away. Didn’t call me or call the restaurant for directions! Simply turned around and drove back to his office.

Here’s an article that will help sales people get into the “world of their potential clients.” When we schedule appointments, we expect sales people to show up! And, on time.

“Would you allow 2 miles or 2 minutes to get in the way of your results?” http://wp.me/petQg-36

By: Todd Youngblood

Todd Youngblood — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:15:47 +0000

Anthony,

Your post was too gentle! With the rare exception for a real emergency or unusual traffic, being late is inexcusable. Habitual lateness is disrespectful, downright rude and unacceptable.

When it does happen, use your cell phone to let the other party or parties know you’ll be late, give them and ETA and upon arrival deliver a fall-on-your-sword, sincere apology.

Todd

By: Brian Jeffrey

Brian Jeffrey — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:33:17 +0000

In this day and age of cell phones, there is np excuse for a client or prospect not knowing that we are running late.

By: Dan Waldschmidt

Dan Waldschmidt — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:43:31 +0000

hmmmmm….. I think you are on to something here.

I find myself very tightly scheduled (usually down to the 15 minute segment) both for calls and in-person meetings. Well meaning prospects and/or customers would throw me off my schedule and the rest of the day would be blown up.

Here is what I started to do:

After each interaction I leave a slight buffer in my schedule to record any activity, plan next steps, and/or make up for over-spill….

Seems to add value in a big way…

Dan Waldschmidt
….an ordinary dude with an outrageous vision.
http://www.DanWaldschmidt.com