Productivity Hacks: Why I Don’t 'Do' Coffee


This post is part of a series in which LinkedIn Influencers share their secrets to being more productive. See all their #productivityhacks here.

Probably like many of you, I get tons of requests for meetings—people who want time with me, and who are usually willing to come see me where I am, or who want to give something in

exchange for my time so they offer coffee, lunch or a dinner. It’s very flattering, and I enjoy (decaf) coffee and stimulating conversation as much as anyone, but I turn down these invitations 99.9% of the time.

For me, these requests pour in more than 20 times a day. Earlier in my career, I used to pursue these meetings with gusto and was grateful to those who graciously met with me. But now, I am seeing my inbox overflow with these requests for my time. I think the prevalence of LinkedIn has made it easier to find me—and see what I’m up to and whom I know.

I’m delighted to help people with an introduction or some coaching — it’s so important for people to have mentors who are not tied to their companies — but I found that all of these meetings were an enormous time vortex. It’s always a bigger commitment than a 30 or 60 minute meeting as both parties have to travel to get there, and often someone is late.

So, about a year ago, I shifted my strategy and implemented a screening process. Now, unless I know the person well, I no longer take the first meeting. Instead, I ask them in email to spell out what they would like me to do and why. Then I connect them to the appropriate source. When there is a request that goes beyond opening doors, perhaps they are looking for personal

advice, I ask them to send me an email with their questions. I find this also focuses them on what is most important, and there’s no time wasted in polite chitchat about the weather. I spend 5-6 hours a day on email and I send back answers usually within days, which is way faster than the time it would take someone to get a meeting with me — if that were even possible. I find that instead of feeling rebuked, people respond that they appreciate this method, which is efficient for both of us.

With this strategy I am able to help far more people than I could if I had to personally meet with them, and I also have many more hours a week to focus on my priority endeavors, including deciding on finalists for investments, helping current portfolio companies, working on our mentoring company Everwise, and helping with my board work. I also have a lot more time to see (and eat and share coffee with) the people I care about most—my family.

Photo: Peshkova / shutterstock

Joe Girard

Sales Leadership, Systems, & Performance Consultant

9y

I love this topic and the comments were exactly what I expected. There are always varying factors for your decisions on whether to take a coffee meeting or not, and each person is different. The only thing I would add is to just have a set time budgeted for these kinds of meetings if you are going to do them. Otherwise, you will get caught in the "vortex" as you say. Great post - I linked to it on my post today as well http://joegirard.ca/coffee-meetings/

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Nic Stover

Real Estate Advisor at Engel & Völkers, Vero Beach

10y

I feel a little like Gandhi when I say this, but: In the business world there are buyers and sellers. We can each benefit from trying to understand the challenges of the other.

Beatriz Santiago Gonzalez

Author ,Writer,Motivational Speaker, Mentor of Life Red Global de Mentores

10y

I think the same way!!!!

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Gregory Olson

Marketing Consultant and Member of JUG Team Alliance

10y

Interesting. Most of us are running some version of the "Busy" program in our mind. To the extent we have capacity to give away some of ourselves, it can be valuable for both parties. I don't screen in this same way Maynard does because I'd be screening out things and people that don't fit my existing patterns. That is exactly the way to NOT grow, learn, and be innovative. I am conscious however of how much I take on. For that I created a 1 page sheet I reference throughout the day. I call it the Daily Flight Plan. I use it everyday to prioritize my face-to-face, phone calls, and other activities, much like a pilot filing a flight plan for the trip they are about to take. Download and use it for free if you like. http://www.delightability.com/2014/01/18/free-q1-calendar-tool-to-make-2014-sing/

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Douglas Berdeaux

Sr. Cybersecurity Consultant

10y

engaging conversation via email in stead of face to face? what a retro concept and useless article! awesome!

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