Dear reader, I’m touching base to know if you have been able to apply any aspects of the suggestions I last shared in part one of the series, ‘Master the Art of Following-Up through Professional Persistence’. It’d be great if you have, and I hope it is working out well for you. This week’s article is the second part and builds on much of what was emphasised in one.

In part one, I shared tips with you on how to follow up with people after you go for an interview; after you send a proposal; and after you have initally reached them. The follow-up after follow-up has to be done in a way that is not considered obtrusive. I hope you got those points. In this article, I share more tips on different scenarios that necessitate different approaches. Please consider some situation-specific strategies.

Imagine that you are on a job search and have sent in your application. You’d be wise to do a follow-up. What precisely does this entail? For one thing, you could in writing express continued interest in the position. If you have had any new achievements or skills since your last interaction, this would be the time to highlight them. Then you can go forward to ask about the next steps in the hiring process. You can say something like this: “Since our interview, I’ve completed a certification in digital marketing that I believe would be valuable for this role. I’m still very excited about the opportunity to join your team and would love to discuss next steps.”

Now, that’s a professional follow-up. How about a sales follow-up? What should you do after you have tried to sell a product or service? As you reach out, reiterate the value proposition of your product or service. Then go ahead to address any concerns or objections they may have raised in previous conversations, but do not stop there. Suggest a specific next action (e.g., a demo, a meeting with decision-makers). Would you like to see how that might play out? Here: 

“I’ve been thinking about the concerns you raised regarding implementation. I’ve put together a brief outline of how we typically handle the onboarding process, which I think will address your team’s concerns. Would you like to schedule a call to discuss this further?” Now, that’s nicely done.

The next one I’d like to elaborate on is networking follow-ups. You must have attended a conference or a meet-and-greet event. What should you do after contact details are shared? From experience, I observe that many people just move on. They do not even remember where they kept the business contact cards. In some cases, they leave them at the hotels where they lodged. What should you do? Begin by reminding the person where you met and what you discussed. Also, suggest a specific way to stay in touch or collaborate. And lastly, offer to be of assistance in their professional endeavours.

When you’re the younger colleague – academically or age-wise – be sure to also have some value to share; don’t be preoccupied with what that person could do for you so that the relationship does not become one-sided. What might you say? Take a hint: “It was great meeting you at the International Pragmatics Association Conference last week. I was particularly intrigued by your work in postcolonial pragmatics. I’d love to grab a cup of coffee sometime to learn more about your projects and see if there are ways we can collaborate/I’d love to have a Zoom/WhatsApp call with you sometime to learn ….”

For internal project follow-ups, do the following:  provide a brief status update, clearly state what you need from the recipient, and suggest a deadline for the next milestone. See here……: “I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to provide a quick update on the marketing campaign. We’ve completed the initial designs and are ready for your feedback. Could you review and share your thoughts by Friday? This will help us stay on track for the launch next month.”

Despite all said and done, sometimes you may not receive a response. It’s still not so difficult to deal with it. You can do the following: double-check the contact information – you may have omitted a letter in the email or phone number.So, ensure you have the correct email address and/or phone number. Another thing to do is try a different medium: If emails aren’t working, try a phone call or LinkedIn message. And if your primary contact is unresponsive, try to reach out to someone else in the company. But do know when to stop. 

If you have done three to four follow-ups and there has been no respone, it’s usually best to move on; however, do leave the door open. 

In your final follow-up, let them know they can reach out to you in the future if circumstances change. Let’s see an example of a final follow-up: “I understand that now may not be the right time to move forward. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if anything changes in the future. I’d be happy to pick up our conversation where we left off.”

Dear readers, you do not have to do this alone. Did you know that there are several tools that can help you to manage your follow-ups effectively? Check out CRM systems with tools like Salesforce or HubSpot, which can help track interactions and set reminders; email scheduling – use features in Gmail or Outlook to schedule follow-up emails in advance; task management apps like Trello or Asana, which can help you keep track of follow-up tasks. There are also some AI-Powered assistants, which can analyse your email patterns and suggest optimal times for follow-ups.

How powerful is the art of persistent professional follow-up? When you master the art of the follow-up, you find the right balance between persistence and respect. You add value with each interaction and know when to gracefully bow out. By honing this skill, you can significantly improve your professional relationships, close more deals, and advance your career. Keep in mind that every unanswered email or call is an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and dedication. So, the next time you’re hesitating to follow up, remind yourself of the potential opportunities you might miss by not reaching out. With thoughtful, well-timed follow-ups, you can turn silent leads into valuable connections and stalled projects into successful outcomes. You have my best wishes!

*Would you like to get a group/one-on-one customised training on speaking/writing? Feel free to contact me at [email protected] for training solutions.

*Dr Oji is a Senior Lecturer of English at the Institute of Humanities, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos