Legends of San Francisco 14,
If someone asks you to make a referral, don’t just flick a name at them!
Invest the 5 – 10 minutes it takes to do some matchmaking.
And if someone asks you for a referral for something that’s entirely outside your area of expertise, help them find the right person.
For example, Bruce Gerstman (SF11) asked for a referral to a German Immigration Attorney. So:
1. I gave Bruce Ellen von Geyso’s information.
2. I I told Ellen that I’d sent her a referral.
3. Then I connected Bruce and Ellen. Make sure this connection is expected and thoughtfully made, not coerced. So don’t force a referral by CC’ing someone in response to a request without advance permission.
Why it’s worth doing these extra steps:
1. It makes Bruce feel that I care about his friend.
2. As she offered, Ellen will make sure Bruce’s friend is taken care of, knowing that they’re referred by parties she’s in touch with.
3. Ellen will view me as a source of referral. Next time she needs an immigration attorney to attend a green card interview with her San Francisco-based client, she’ll probably think of me.
4. Ellen will view me as a connector. Next time she needs a referral to an SF-based trust advisor, I’ll connect her to one of you Legends. I’m forwarding the complete exchange for your reference.
5. If she was a PV member, I’m making it easy for Ellen to give me a testimonial.
At this week’s Maximizing Membership Masterclass our Leo Manzione facilitated a lively workshop on how to handle referrals for matters that are outside your area of expertise.
MMM’s are held every fourth Tuesday of the month. They’re a priceless opportunity to learn best practices for making the most out of your Provisors membership.
Upcoming MMM’s appear on the Calendar page of https://sanfrancisco14.com/
Saja ❤️