![[]](/modules/ubercart/uc_cart/images/bullet-arrow-up.gif "Expand cart block."){kind=icon}
There are no products in your shopping cart.
A Real Life, Front Line Client Situation – only names have been changed to protect the guilty…
Jerry,
After much thought, prayer and reading... I am excited to share the following with you. I have been replaying the conversation we had about Joe Smith in my heart and now believe we have an answer and a strategy moving forward. Bear with me...
Joe made a promise to get you (us) a proposal as soon as he got back from our visit. It didn't happen. Several attempts were made to track him down and see where he was. No response. Frustration set in as expectations weren't met. Then after 3 (or so weeks) we get a proposal emailed to us. (This is not how I would have handled it, but I don't know what Joe was dealing with when he got back home...)
Now the question is "How?" we (Jerry) will respond. I hear the frustration in your voice. I agree that you shouldn't run out right now and fully embrace this proposal and jump into business with Joe hastily. But I wonder about the balance of Grace & Truth that Joe needs right now. And I wonder if the feelings on our end are proper without the information missing that caused him to delay.
There are any number of reasons it took so long, and without knowing what the "real" reason is we are missing an opportunity to truly extend GRACE & TRUTH into his life. The sooner we speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15) the better off all parties will be. In my morning reading this took complete shape... (Randy Alcorn... The Grace & Truth Paradox) He states there are two types of Christians... 1) Those who speak the Truth without Grace... and 2) Those who are very nice (Grace) but never share the Truth. He then goes on to say that what we really need to see is a third type... 3) One who, in a spirit of Grace, loves them enough to tell them the truth.
Questions: If we wait weeks for Joe to follow up on the proposal he sent and not respond the first 2-3 times he tries to follow up which of the above are we acting like? What if there is a real, legitimate reason he was delayed? What if it couldn't be avoided? What if our Truth approach doesn't have enough Grace in it...?
The real Paradox - Jesus was 100% Truth and 100% Grace - John 1:14. This says He was full of both. I'm voicing my concern that we are not operating this way in this situation right now.
If it was me... what I would do is pick up the phone and call Joe and find out why it took so long, share my concerns and then see how he responds. I would be happy to do this for the team if warranted. Thanks for reading and understanding where I have been with this issue.
I once had a person commit (verbally) to attend 3 different "Free Previews" to investigate what we could do for his business. These were very safe environments where there was NO SELLING... just information transfer. The 3rd time he blew me off I got frustrated and upset. I called him and as his wife answered the phone I made sure she knew how upset I was that he blew me off again... for the 3rd time! That was when she apologized saying he had had a heart attack Friday night which is why he didn't show up for our Monday luncheon. I could have extended both Grace & Truth into the situation by asking questions before assuming an accusation... Don't Make My Mistakes!
Love you.
Brent
About the Coach
================
Brent E. Long is living his calling as a life coach, business coach and sales coach, offering sales training to increase revenue for individuals and organizations in the Marketplace. He believes the Bible is the greatest book ever written, and draws on the relationship dynamics he finds there to help equip others. He believes that everything in Life must be paid for, and that secrets to finding provision are hidden in plain sight in Scripture. He has over 20 years of experience in sales, sales management, marketing management, sales training, coaching and consulting. He is married (Kris), is blessed with seven children (Aaron, Jenna, Joseph, Ellie, Kate, Brooke & Max), and resides in Westerville, Ohio.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Part Two! The Client Responds with Grace and Truth. . .
A Real Life Result from a Front Line Client Situation – only names have been changed to protect the guilty…
Men,
I got this email from Brent and then I called Joe. (Read Brent’s email before reading the rest of mine.) We talked and I realized I was looking for "truth" by saying I was disappointed in Joe not answering sooner and that he still did not have a proposal we could work with yet.
After talking to Brent, I felt the Lord telling me I should call Joe on my way home from Mansfield today. I did. We talked for 1 hour.
Joe shared with me that he and his wife have butterflies in their stomach because he is not producing work that has immediate income. He is trying to sell the products we saw as well as sell ads for Channel 49 which is a Christian station. He has hired two people and trained them to use a technique which he has developed by calling the receptionist and talking with her just introducing themselves. A second call asks more specific questions and the third call should get the doctor on the phone. This makes sense to me as I know someone can not call our front desk and get to me.
At the end of the conversation I told him how all of us were disappointed that he did not return our phone calls or emails and felt that sent a signal that he was not interested. He was quiet and then said he understood what I was saying. I suggested that he not use that tactic of not returning telephone calls or emails again with our leadership team. He assured me he would be more responsive.
I am thankful that Brent sent the enclosed email to me and that I tried to use "grace" with my opening comments and talking and used "truth" at the end explaining that I was disappointed.
I feel the bridge is rebuilt and that Christ was honored with my action. Pray that Joe does find a way to use personal telephoning as this will separate us from our competition.
Sorry this is so long. Let me know your thoughts.
In Christ
Jerry