Asking for anything can make us feel inadequate.
After all, of course, everyone else is thinking about us all the time, how they can help us, and we shouldn’t have to say anything. Right?
WRONG!
Here are some guidelines when asking for something - specifically a referral or introduction:
Know what you have will benefit the other person. As an attorney, you solve problems. What are the problems someone has?
Be specific. Too often we hint … “I’d be happy to be a resource” - not bad. However, if you explain that “I saw in the news that xyz issue is happening in their industry and I’ve solved that before” - it’s better.
Write the introduction yourself. Instead of saying to someone, please give me a referral - ghostwrite out the introduction yourself. The person can cut and paste and the intro is on the way.
Assume others are busy. You may not get a phone call immediately. It’s understandable to take it personally. Instead, think of how you can add value.
LinkedIn - be sure your profile looks professional and ready for others to check out. (If you need help with that, let me know.) It’s disconcerting when someone makes an introduction, the recipient looks at their LinkedIn and wonders … are they in the witness protection program?