Humans are really easy to understand if you think about what makes us tick, gets us excited, scared, angry, etc. Yes we are emotional beings. And we only care about ourselves. I know, someone out there is saying to themselves right now. I don’t only care about myself. I put others before myself. Blah, Blah, Blah. Maybe you do. But what if I told you your were fired. You wouldn’t be thinking about the money you spend each month on your charity of choice. Nope. The first thing you would think about is how you are going to pay your mortgage, car, or put food on the table.
This week, I was reminded again, how selfish most humans really are.
As a sales manager, I not only sell but I also manage a sales team. In my business, some sales reps stay for a while and there are some that stay for a season and move on. Thats okay. It happens, what we do is hard.
I get the resignation letter and we have a conversation. The employee tells me they are willing to work out the two weeks. I really needed that person to do that so we could get things in place to make a smooth transition. They weren’t going to a competitor, so I was good with it. We get three days into the two weeks they are to work, and the person goes awol. They don’t return my phone calls. They are not sending emails or returning my texts.
Look I am a pragmatist. I have been in business long enough that I understand that when people have made a decision to leave their position, in their minds they have already left the position. Most likely, they left the position weeks or months ago. But now it is just final, because they finally let their manager know. So the fact they weren’t returning my calls. I understand. No hard feelings. We will both move on. However, don’t expect to get a two-week paid vacation; in between jobs at my expense.
After the third day of no return calls, texts, or emails. I left a message for the sales rep. It sounded something like this.
“I was just calling to let you know that this will be your last day on the payroll. I appreciate your willingness to work out the two weeks, but it is evident that you have already moved on. And that is okay. But we will be ending your employment as of today.”
Again, I am not upset at this point. We both are moving on. That is life.
So after leaving voice mails for three days and not getting any response. I leave the above voicemail. And wouldn’t you know, I get a call back within one hour of leaving the message.
So we talk about what needs to happen and everything is ok. They were a good colleague and in the future we will most likely do business together.
But as I was talking with a colleague of mine about this situation, they reminded me of what a great illustration of how to leave a voicemail that the person receiving the message will actually care enough to return.
As my story illustrates very vividly. When we leave a voicemail with someone we must communicate what we offer and how it could directly impact their bottom line, as it did in this case, it creates the urgency for them to take action. I have no idea why they didn’t return my calls the three days prior, and it doesn’t matter. However, when you do finally strike a nerve that impacts them directly, emotionally, and in this case financially, it will cause action to occur and they will return your phone call.
So today as I making phone calls to prospects I will be reminding myself constantly about this interaction. If I want to get my phone call returned, I must leave a message that states how the person can either benefit by calling me back or lose something if they don’t call me back. We are all interested in anything that can help us.
To your success and your future.
Pennies into Fortunes 
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