Recently, I connected with a brilliant therapist who desperately wanted to grow her practice.
The conversation flowed like honey – deep, sweet, natural. By the end, her voice sparkled with possibility.
We agreed she’d review the proposal and get back to me Tuesday.
Tuesday came.
Tuesday went.
So did Wednesday.
So did Thursday.
Silence stretched longer than a winter’s night. So did my patience and my anxiety. Do I reach out? Do I give her more time?
Sound familiar? That stomach-churning dance between following up and giving space. Between serving and pestering. Between caring and clinging.
I’ve been there. Oh boy, have I danced that tango! That place where every unanswered email feels like rejection. Where every passing day without response spawns a thousand stories in your mind. Where you begin to question everything:
- Did I say something wrong?
- Should I reach out again?
- Am I being too pushy?
- What if they need more time?
- What if they hate me now?
- What if… what if… what if…
Stop.
Breathe.
Listen close now, because this is important:
You are not pushing them off a cliff, dear one.
You are extending a hand.
You are opening a door.
You are lighting a path.
You are showing up – again and again and again –
Because that’s what servants of the heart do.
That’s what leaders do.
That’s what YOU do.
Let me show you how to follow up with grace, with power, with purpose. How to nurture without nagging. How to persist without pestering. How to serve without compromising your integrity.
The Bridge-Builder’s Blueprint
First things first: Every conversation needs a bridge to the next conversation. Don’t leave your prospect stranded on the island of good intentions. Build them a way forward.
Before any meeting ends, get crystal clear on these four pillars:
- The Next Step – What exactly needs to happen?
- The Who – Who’s taking that step?
- The When – By what specific date?
- The What-If – What happens if that date passes?
Here’s what this sounds like in real life:
“Karen, I’ve loved exploring how we might work together. You mentioned wanting to review this with your business partner – would you be able to do that by next Friday? Perfect. And would you like me to follow up with you then, or would you prefer to reach out once you’ve had that conversation?”
(Pro tip: I almost always volunteer to do the following up. Why? Because while they might have the best intentions, this isn’t their top priority. It’s mine. So… if they say they will follow-up… add on the following:
Awesome. I look forward to hearing you [state their commitment]. And, because I know things come up, don’t worry, if an extra day or two passes and I don’t hear from you – fear not, I’ll go ahead and reach out via email to check in”
This way, you are still giving yourself permission to follow-up, and setting expectations for them that you will do so.)
The Follow-Up Formula That Feels Like Love
When that agreed-upon date arrives, here’s your template for following up with heart:
Hello [NAME]!
I hope you’re doing well, and [PERSONAL NOTE BASED ON YOUR CONVERSATION].
When we spoke, I felt so energized by [SPECIFIC BENEFIT FOR THEM]. I heard you wanted to [WHAT THEY NEEDED TO CONSIDER/REVIEW], and I wanted to check in on how that’s going. Have you gotten the clarity you need? Anything specific standing in your way?
I’d love to hear where you’re at – whether that’s a yes, no, or need more time. No pressure intended; what matters most is that you feel solid in moving forward with your whole heart.
If you have questions or want to think through any challenges, I’m here.
With deep appreciation,
[YOUR NAME]
But What About The Fear?
I hear you. Lord knows, I hear you. The fear of being pushy? The worry about pestering? These fears come from a beautiful place – your heart of service.
But here’s the truth:
It’s not helpful to make decisions for other people.
It’s not useful to interpret their silence.
It’s not healthy to assume their story.
What you can do is show up. Consistently. Clearly. With an open heart and clean hands.
Add these paragraphs to address the fear head-on:
“By the way, [NAME], there is no pressure whatsoever about making a decision. Please take your time and make sure that you have everything you need to feel solid in your choice. I’m here to help bring clarity if you need it.
Also, I know how busy life gets, and emails have a way of sliding into the abyss. I’m happy to keep following up weekly unless you’d prefer otherwise. My intention isn’t to pester but to take the burden of tracking this off your plate. Just say the word if you’d rather not receive these gentle reminders.”
The Long Game of Love
Some prospects need days.
Some need weeks.
Some need years.
I’ve had people circle back after YEARS of my gentle follow-up, finally ready to begin. Why? Because life has seasons. Because timing matters. Because persistence paired with patience is a rare and beautiful thing.
For these longer-term follows, keep it simple and sincere:
“Hey [NAME]! You crossed my mind today, and I remembered our conversation about [SPECIFIC DETAIL]. Would love to hear what’s unfolded in your world since then. No agenda – just genuine curiosity about your journey.
Hope you’re thriving, and I’m here if you ever want to reconnect.”
Of course, I’m not sending weekly follow-up if they haven’t replied after two months. I taper off over time, but will continue to send sincere, personally written, hand-typed emails from my heart to check in until they reply, or I get some other indication that it’s no longer in their or my best interests to continue. At that point, it’s easy to let go.
The Sacred Truth About Selling
When you make follow-up an act of service…
When you approach each touchpoint with genuine and sincere care…
When you trust the timing of each soul’s journey…
That’s when magic happens.
That’s when relationships deepen.
That’s when business becomes sacred.
Remember:
You’re not chasing.
You’re not begging.
You’re not desperate.
You’re showing up.
You’re staying present.
You’re being consistent.
And sometimes, that’s the most sacred thing we can do.
Keep following up.
Keep showing up.
Keep serving up.
The right people will respond at the right time.
And you’ll be there, ready to serve,
Just as you always were.
