I think Shakespeare said it best: Send a calendar link, or don't send one. Or something like that.
But it is a question not unlike William's that professionals ask themselves at one time or another. Being professional does not only mean scheduling meetings, but also adhering to certain rules of courtesy in the way they are organized.
New post-pandemic terms have crept into even our best office consciousness to describe exactly that norm: “appointment-booking culture” and “meeting scheduling etiquette,” to name a couple.
After all, sending someone a calendar link is a little forward, isn't it? You're saying "book an appointment with me," but not really saying anything. And therein lies the mistake: On the other end of that link is a person with their own Tetris-style calendar, just like you. According to recent etiquette comments on appointment-making courtesy , the public has largely ruled that this is a power move best avoided.
But sending a calendar link doesn't have to be risqué. Or a power move. Let's manufacturing directors email lists talk about 3 tips on the best way in 2022 (not) to send a calendar link.
Courtesy Tip #1: Set a tone for customer relations
Calendar meeting scheduling etiquette - customer relationship tone.
Protocol in scheduling calendar meetings: Establish a tone for the relationship with the client
My first tip is to set the tone.
Setting the tone means avoiding or softening the sending of your calendar link. Packaging a quick greeting with a little gossip about yourself or your day keeps this brief connection between you and the other person feeling very human.
Being vague when setting the tone isn't a crime, so keep any smoothing short and without details. Also, be sincere. Don't ask directly how someone is doing, for example, if there is no prior client relationship. Contacts are people too, remember?
Wanting to talk business doesn't mean prying into anyone's personal "business." Another best practice for setting the tone is to be mindful of your reservation language. Verbs like schedule, arrange, or reserve a meeting or discussion can be stress-inducing. Opt for lighter language to precede your calendar link, like mark, note, or reserve time for a chat or conversation. Sounds a little better now, right?
Is sending a calendar link rude? 3 polite tips for scheduling meetings
-
- Posts: 574
- Joined: Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:35 am