Business Culture Tip: The Follow up Rules

There’s some general follow up from meeting someone interested in partnering or wanting your product. Here they are:

1. Send a friendly e-mail recapping the conversation and stating when you can have the next step done.
2. They respond saying ok and that they look forward to hearing back from you.
3. Complete what you have discussed you’d do.
4. Message or e-mail them that you’ve completed that next step and ask them to review and give feedback.
5. In 2 days contact them again asking if they reviewed and ready for the next step or meet up.
6. If they don’t respond give them 2-3 days then e-mail them again.

They respond and you continue to move ahead with the discussions or business deal.
In much of Myanmar business conversations it’s a bit different. It’s more about grabbing attention and pushing them to move to the next step. Many business owners and executives seem to be trapped by the urgent important. Whatever is in front of them to do they will do. They also will respond to whoever is loudest (there are cases this isn’t true). Here’s the process.

1. After meeting send a friendly e-mail recapping the conversation and stating what the next steps will be.
2. No response.
3. You e-mail after you have done the next step.
4. No response.
5. You e-mail again 2 days later.
6. No response.
7. You call and they apologize and say they are busy. You ask for a second meeting.
8. 2 weeks pass and they finally get back to you and want to meet that day.

Now this isn’t every time or every person that you may come in contact with in Myanmar. It is quite common in how Myanmar company owners or Executives operate. The key is to be persistent if you want to get their business or partnership. They will let you know if they aren’t interested but it will take multiple e-mails and several phone calls. Communicate often and early for the best result.

Written By- Mr. Ryan Russell (CEO of Myanmar Business Answers)