Buzz
If you're tired of sending those dreaded "just checking in!" emails to follow up on someone who promised to help but hasn't yet, here's a smoother way to check in without making them feel pressured.
The email newsletter Gareth’s Tips, Tools, and Shop Tales suggests a cleverly timed “thank you” email:
This one’s a little crafty. When you ask someone to do you a favor online and they agree, hold off on saying “Thank you” right away. Wait and see if they follow through with the request. If they don’t (within your expected time frame), then send your “Thank you.” It’ll act as a gentle reminder without the risk of irritating them with repeated emails.
This approach is clever, not creepy. People often forget their promises, and sending a reminder can be helpful, but pestering them is annoying. So, transform the nagging into a cheerful reminder that genuinely expresses appreciation for what they are about to do. A ‘thanks’ email boosts their mood, whereas a nag might make them regret agreeing. (If a polite, non-persistent email makes them wish they'd never said yes, they probably shouldn’t have agreed in the first place.)
This technique isn't foolproof. If you don’t word it right, your “thank you” might come off as passive-aggressive or sarcastic. Timing and phrasing are key. Here’s how to get it right:
Send your ‘thank you’ email a few days or within a week. This is a typical time frame for someone to forget or overlook an email and then get back to it. (Consider using Gmail’s snooze feature or Boomerang.)
Be genuinely thankful. If it’s hard, find a previous email where you expressed appreciation for a similar favor, and model your message on that.
Explain why what they’re doing is helpful. Show the significance of the deadline. For example, ‘Forgot to say: Thanks a lot for reviewing my résumé! It’ll help me feel much more confident when I apply to Zombocom on Thursday.’
Avoid saying “Thanks in advance.” Some people find it presumptuous or rude.
When relevant, mention that a smaller version of the favor would also be appreciated. (It's better to suggest this when you first ask for the favor.) Having this option can make it easier for them to tackle the bigger task.
If it’s a favor and not something the person is obligated to do (like a colleague’s report), only send one ‘thank you’ email. Multiple follow-ups are never a good idea, regardless of how politely phrased. If you need to remind them, it’s better to do so offline.
Thank you so much for the kind words! I really appreciate you sharing this on LinkedIn! Let’s grab drinks soon!
