You need to respond.

I have a message in someone's email inbox that requires a response. I haven't received one yet. In the waiting, I am being reflective and wondering how many times I have failed to respond and kept people waiting and wondering.

I know we may tend to ignore emails, calls or attempts to connect for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the person is pesky, overbearing and too aggressive. Perhaps the person has offended, angered or betrayed us in some way. Perhaps we fear confrontation or dread telling the person the news. Avoidance can seem safer, but it really prevents closure and peace. If you find yourself failing to respond, consider this:

✔️ Do not delay the inevitable. If a response is required, get to it. Stop putting off tomorrow what can be done today. Face that fear. Look past the anger. Get that closure. Move on.

✔️ Often the dread is worse than making the call. Stop overthinking or playing every scenario out in your mind. Pick up the phone, write the email or stop by the desk. Dead the dread.

✔️ Do unto others. We have likely all been on the waiting end so remember to do unto others as you would them do unto you. Stop making them wait and make the call.

✔️ Not every connection requires a response. Learn to discern what requires a response and what doesn't. If a message doesn't require a response from you, then move on.

I'll strive to do better to not leave people hhanging and waiting. Care to join me?

-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP