When I travel for work 30-75% of the trip consists of personal meetings with people. Let's face it, personal meetings with people you don't know in places you've never been is not easy, it's downright uncomfortable. As someone who hates to be uncomfortable I have developed processes to make the awkward a little less...well...awkward :)
So I will start with the assumption that your meetings are already scheduled, because I am not going to tell you how to do that...I mean I gotta keep some trade secrets right?
1. Reconnaissance: So you don't know where you're going. You got the address and a GPS, because you followed Travel 101 step by step and got one. But do you know what building? Do you know where to park? Do you know what suite? If you got time, and instead of watching Idol, take a trip to tomorrow's locations and scope the scene, if anything just so you don't get frazzled before the meeting, trust me you'll be more comfortable.
2. Timliness is idiotless: Arrive too early and experience awkwardness waiting around an uncomfortable lobby. Arrive late and look lazy and unorganized. They say in an interview arrive 15 mins early. In a business meeting I arrive between 30 seconds and 3 minutes early. I'll sit in the parking lot instead of having the receptionist call the person I am meeting early so I have to make them feel obligated.
3. Know who you are meeting: I can't stress this one enough. We live in a time of information, do some research on who you are meeting. Don't stalk them, I don't want you following them home and digging through their trash. But you can log on to the company website and get their profile or find a picture. Gather intelligence when entering the lobby or persons office. Take note of pictures and culture. Look for wedding rings or a lack thereof. One example: last month I was in a meeting and at the end I gave him a tote bag with our logo on it and said "Give it to your wife", then immediately noticed he didn't have a wedding ring. If I could have slapped my hand on my forehead right then I would have, but my hands were full.
4. Know your information, if not, it's okay to say "I don't know"...: "but let me get back to you on that." I work in a field where if I meet with people I need to know a lot about what I am presenting and the information is relayed to others in almost the exact fashion I give it. Therefore it either needs to be extremely accurate or vague enough where I don't give misinformation. The best thing to do is to study what you are selling/presenting and know everything about it. Can't teach this one, you'll learn as you go.
5. Shake hands before AND after: Hello I am ____, cue firm hand shake. I really appreciate you taking time out to meet with me, you must be busy. It was great meeting you, thanks again, cue firm hand shake. Enough said, its business practice, I always thought this was obvious until I saw people not doing it. What's this world coming to?
6. Leave promptly: and always thank the receptionist or person who brought you to who you were meeting. Sometimes people will ask their receptionists how the visitor carried themselves, how they treated the front desk and what they did while they waited. It says A LOT about a persons character.
7. Thank you letters/notes/e-mails: Always send a follow up, even if the meeting didn't go well. Never burn a bridge even if they diss you. You'll never know when you'll need to call upon this person again and if the last point of contact is a memorable thank you note, it will likely go in your favor.
Hope this information is useful, if not, follow me anyway :)
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