The Pitch Episode 17: Pitching “Hey” is for Horses
Learn:
If you want to be casual in your greeting, use “hi” or “hello” but dump the “hey” in the barn where it belongs. Learn how to ditch the “hey” habit for a more polished introduction.
Pitching “Hey” is for Horses
Read:
“Hey” is for horses, not for the opening of your pitch or any professional communication. If you want to be casual in your greeting, use “hi” or “hello” but dump the “hey” in the barn where it belongs. When I’m greeted with a “hey,” I immediately feel unimportant and unimpressed with the range of vocabulary coming at me from the person pitching. Mostly used by people unintentionally, “hey” can be a hard habit to break and it may be embedded in more of your communication than you care to admit. Before you pitch, review your greeting. Depending on the stage of your pitch adjust your greeting to reflect your relationship status with the person you are pitching. “The Pitch” challenge today: find the hidden “hey’s” in your communications. Make sure you eliminate them from your voicemail message, any automatic email responses and then pitch the “hey” habit by repeating the mantra, “Hey is for horses,” in your head every time you hear “hey” as part of someone’s greeting. And if you really want to be bold, say it out loud as a response to anyone who hits you up with a “hey!”
Apply:
What’s your go-to greeting word?
Do you change your greeting word based on the person? How?
What more formal greetings can you get comfortable with for business interactions?