People often say that they are reluctant to follow up someone of the opposite gender, after meeting them at a lunch/cocktail function/meeting, for the fear that it will be misinterpreted as a ‘non-business’ approach. Here are 4 suggestions to make it feel more comfortable:
- Start by sending them an article or piece of thought leadership
- Send them an email, before calling to arrange the meeting, stating the topics you would like to discuss
- Take along a colleague to be part of the first discussion
- Make the first meeting a meeting, rather than a coffee catch up or lunch