Quick tip! Permission-based language for the win

If you know me, you know I prefer using permission-based language with donors and prospects. I listened to a great podcast by Nikki Rausch, "When not to say, 'Thanks for Your Patience'."In it, she talks about the phrase, which I have used before.

"...There's such a difference between assuming permission and asking permission," Nikki notes. That hits the nail on the head! She talks how, "Thanks for your patience" can be a rapport breaker. Her suggestions to use instead:

• "Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Would you be willing to give me some time to research this and get back to you?"
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• "Please forgive me for this misstep. With your permission, would you give me some time to come up with a few possible solutions and get back to you by [timeframe]? Would that be acceptable?"
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• "I apologize for dropping the ball. Would you be open to giving me another chance to rectify this? Let's get on the phone in the next few days to talk about how I can best resolve the situation to your satisfaction."

Try these when you need to apologize for something that's happened or when you have inadvertently dropped the ball. Changing the intent can help you and the donor to find better solutions - and satisfaction.