How to Ensure Your American Colleague Follows Through on Their Commitments
Picture this! You are in a meeting with your American counterpart, and they mention grabbing coffee with you in the future, but you're not sure if they will actually follow through with it. In this article, I will give you some tips on how to ensure that your American counterpart will do what they told you they were going to do.
Be direct and clear: Americans value directness and clarity. If you want to make sure that your American counterpart will follow through on their promise, be clear about your expectations and ask for a specific commitment. For example, you could say something like, I would love to grab coffee with you. Can we schedule a time next week for that? In an email you could say: I'd like to follow up on our conversation about getting coffee. Can we schedule a specific time and date?
Follow up with an email: After your meeting or conversation, send an email to your American counterpart summarizing the discussion and the commitments made. This not only serves as a reminder but also provides a written record of what was agreed upon. You could also suggest a specific date and time for the coffee meeting and ask for confirmation. A useful phrase could be: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me earlier. To confirm our plans, I suggest we meet for coffee next Wednesday at 10 am at Starbucks. Please let me know if that works for you.
Be persistent: In American culture, persistence is seen as a sign of determination and commitment. If you don't hear back from your counterpart after sending the email, follow up with a polite reminder email. It's important to be persistent but not pushy or aggressive. Some useful phrases could be: I'm following up on our coffee plans. Is there a better time or place for you to meet?" Or: I understand you're busy, but I wanted to remind you about our coffee meeting next week. Can we confirm the time and location?
Respect their time: Americans value their time and may be hesitant to commit to something if they feel like it will be a waste of their time. Make sure that you are respectful of their time and offer to meet at a convenient location or during a time that works for them. If they are busy, suggest a shorter meeting or a phone call instead of coffee. Some useful phrases here: I know your schedule is busy. Would it be better if we scheduled a quick phone call next week instead of a longer meeting? Or: I appreciate your time. Where would be the most convenient location for you to meet?
Keep the conversation going: Building a relationship with your American counterpart takes time and effort. If you want to make sure that they follow through with their commitment, stay in touch and keep the conversation going. Share updates about your work or send them an article that you think they might find interesting. By showing a genuine interest in their work and staying connected, you will build trust and increase the likelihood that they will follow through with their promise. Some useful phrases could be: It was great meeting you for coffee last week. I wanted to share an article that I thought you might find interesting. Or: I hope we can catch up again soon. How's your project coming along?