Face to Face is Better: Meetings are Opportunities

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Face to Face

 

Face-to-face, phone or email: I’m often given the choice. And I always opt for in-person meetings when possible.

95% of people say that face-to-face meetings are essential for long-term business, building trust and encouraging strong relationships.

(Source)

Three reasons why face-to-face is better:

1. Your personality shines through.

Your passion for your work shows. Facial expressions, hand gestures, eye contact…the things that make you a good communicator…are more obvious in person.

2. Some people communicate better in person.

I can’t see you when we’re on the phone (unless we’re using a video conference platform). When you live and work in the same city as your clients, meet with them! It’s much easier to see their reactions to ideas in person.

Some people don’t like the phone.

They’re unable to really discuss a project like they could if you’re sitting right there with them. They can show you what they’re talking about.

And email can really be difficult.

A simple question? Email is great. Needing clarification on a project, or having a problem with the direction a project is going — this warrants at LEAST a phone call, if not a personal meeting.

3. Having visuals helps reinforce the assignment.

My biggest road blocks have come from trying to execute a project without a great creative brief and a meeting. There is a disconnect.

When my clients have examples of things they like (or don’t like!), their direction is clearer. Verbalizing is sometimes okay. But if I can see it, pick it up, feel the paper, flip the pages, it makes it easier.

If you are looking for a graphic designer, contact me and let’s sit down together to discuss.

Project Updates and Personal Thanks

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Tiny ThingsProject updates are one way I educate my clients and business associates on what I do. I might start my 60-second at my networking meeting with, “Today, I have these tasks on my to-do list…”. It gives people an idea of the range of products I work on.

Current Work

What are you working on right now? Maybe a company rebrand? Or are you updating your website? Perhaps creating new social media graphics for your social media channels?

My Project Updates

The past month has me:
– wrapping up a newsletter for one client
– creating food labels for a collaborative effort of two local companies
– creating a corporate brochure for a client that specializes in large mailings
– developing print materials for my new brand

Self Promotion

See how self-promotion is last on the list? That’s what seems to happen. As soon as I start working on my own brand, I get busy with client work. When I look at my website and see that my 30-day drawing challenge flopped early in the game. Finding time to do anything “extra” is tough.

Projects In the Groove

So I turn to the wisdom of the late great Steven Wright: “I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering.” I can always tell when I’m in a groove because time flies. A project that could take days wraps up in a few hours when I’m in my groove. This creative energy doesn’t happen on command. It’s the kind of energy that shows up after a vacation. Your mind is open and free of all the overwhelming onslaught of information.

Thank You

During this week of Thanksgiving, I am thankful that my work continues to be something I enjoy. I have great clients, and, most of the time, they give me creative freedom. They appreciate fresh ideas. If you’re looking for fresh ideas, contact me. If you’re already a client, my personal thanks go out to you for the work!

 

Olbrich Beer Garden Networking Social

Socializing With a Goal in Mind: 3 Tips for Productive Networking

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I’ve belonged to several networking groups, and I have found you get more out of the time you spend outside business referral group meetings. Coffee, lunch, drinks…it’s more casual. I’ve included 3 tips for productive networking below.

I aim to connect with three new people and set up meetings with them over lunch or coffee. If you wind up hanging out with the friends you already know, it’s pretty much a social. If you ask those friends to introduce you to people you don’t know, that makes it productive.

Eleanor Roosevelt said her private, relaxed gatherings were conducive to productive meetings. You learn a lot when you’re in a more low-key setting. You feel free to talk — share common interests. Those conversations create connections, trust and loyalty.

Recently, in one of my morning meetings, the energy was really high. People were chatting it up when the president finally called the meeting to order. We had a social planned for that evening, and the buzz about that social had us all happy and ready to face the day, knowing we had something fun to look forward to.

Here are three tips for productive networking:

1. When networking, ask people you know to connect you with new people.

It’s okay to hang out with your friends and business associates. And this is the perfect time to ask them to introduce you to their friends and business associates.

2. Connect with three new people and schedule time with them.

Make it a goal to meet three new people. Send a followup email or call and invite them to meet. Follow that up with a thank you, even if it’s via messaging. (A handwritten note is special.)

3. Spend your time doing what you enjoy.

Schedule meetings doing things you enjoy: a drink at your favorite watering hole, a walk by the lake, bowling! Meeting in an office or conference room has its place, but nurturing a new relationship should be fun. Doing things you enjoy will bring out the best in you. And your new acquaintance will get to know the real you.

We need to work, but we can make that work more enjoyable by being creative and including elements of fun. Isn’t that what life is about? Figure out your passions, the things that make you happy, and put those passions into your daily life. Contact me if you like to bowl or if you want to talk about your next design project!

Thanks to Crimson Sun Studios for the sweet picture!