Step Two: Affirm their intention.
Just because you might feel bad about saying no doesn’t mean you need to make them feel bad about it.
Take a few sentences to value their idea. Or let them know you understand why they would want to get together (I can see that … I understand that).
Step Three: Don’t commit on the spot; ask for a follow-up.
I get requests almost every week to meet with people when they see me face to face.
I almost always tell them to send me or my assistant, Sarah, an email to set it up.
Believe it or not, more than half never do. Interpretation? The issue probably wasn’t that important to them … and the meetings likely wouldn’t have been a good use of either of our time.
But smile when you say this. Don’t blow them off.
If you have an assistant, this is a great place to get him or her involved. Give them your assistant’s email. If the request comes in via email or DM, send it to your assistant for follow up.
If you don’t have one, relax … the strategy works regardless.
Step Four: Let them know you can’t help, but someone else can.
If the email or text (I’m quite protective of my cell number, so I rarely get requests to meet via text because all those people are already on my priority list), that’s when Sarah and I start to redirect.
A bridge sentence helps so much here. Something like, “While I’d love to get together, I’m afraid I can’t …” or, “That’s such a great idea … I think I know someone who could serve you better … Let me introduce you” or, “While I’d love to, I’m afraid my schedule just isn’t going to allow it in the next while. I’m so sorry.”
