A brief conversational video about etiquette in sales meetings: the speakers argue that saying "I'm sorry I'm late" lowers a salesperson's status and instead recommend framing delays as appreciation (e.g., "I appreciate your patience; I'm a little behind schedule—I was just with a client") to maintain professional authority.
So let's say you're late to a.
Zoom meeting with a prospect. What do most salespeople say? They say, I'm.
So sorry.
That I'm late. We might think.
Like, oh, well, what's wrong with this?
I'm just being polite. I'm just apologizing.
Do you feel like when you say.
I'm sorry I'm late, do you feel.
Like that really raises your status in.
Their mind as an expert or maybe lowers your status?
I would say probably lowers your status.
I had to learn this the hard way. So what if I said.
Hey, I appreciate.
Your patience. I'm just a little bit behind schedule today. I was just with the client.
Hey, John, I appreciate your patience.
I'm just a little behind schedule. I just got done with xyz.
Okay.
See the difference there? Now it kind of raises my status. I appreciate your patience.
I'm a little.
Bit behind schedule. Sounds better than I'm sorry I'm late.
