• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Praxis

Praxis

A college alternative that leads to a full-time job.

  • Home
  • Success Stories
  • The Blog
  • Podcasts
  • FAQ
  • For Businesses
  • Apply Now
Written by T.K. Coleman

It’s Not In The Asking, It’s In The Following Up

“It is no secret that people lead busy lives and they cannot always remember to do all the things they want or need to do.” -Wanda Baader

The act of making a request is only one step in the process of getting a meaningful response.

The second step is following up on the request.

I define following up as the art of 1) recognizing that no one cares about the fulfillment of your requests more than you 2) refusing to stake your goals primarily on other people’s ability to memorize, care about, and focus on what’s important to you 3) taking personal responsibility for getting the answers and results you need from others and 4) developing a system of communication for reminding others about your needs without being offensive and unprofessional.

I spent most of my life being ignored and frustrated by my many unfulfilled requests. My frustrations were compounded by the fact that I was always very good at making my requests clear. Yet, no one ever seemed to follow through on the tasks I needed them to perform. I quickly developed a habit of saying things like “I already asked, but never got a response” or “I emailed them, but never received a reply” or “They never called me back.”

Here’s a simple lesson I’ve learned from my frequent disappointments:

Asking for what you want is overrated. The power of a request is not in the asking, it’s in the following up.

A question is merely an expression of something you’re curious about. An answer is a reward for sticking with a question until its resolved.

An answer isn’t a gift that someone gives you; it’s a prize that you have to go out and get.

Success requires work. Getting the information, cooperation, and feedback that you need from others in order to be successful is a part of that work.

Ask, ask again, and keep asking not just until you’re heard, but until you’re answered.

If you want others to follow through, hold yourself accountable to following up.

If you’d like to follow up on the importance of following up, here are some resources you may find useful:

  • Follow Up Without Being a Pest
  • Follow Up Tips: What To Do When Your E-mail Goes Unanswered
  • The Power of Follow Up
  •  

You might also like:

Education vs Experience: What Really Matters to Employers
Why Building Your Personal Brand Matters and How to Do It
Changing Careers: The Ultimate Guide to Taking the Leap

T.K. Coleman

T.K. Coleman is the Education Director for Praxis. He helps participants translate learning into value-creation.

Primary Sidebar

What is Praxis?

Build your skills and your network. Praxis is a college alternative that leads to a full-time job. 

Top Posts

You Don’t Need to Get A Second Degree — Here’s What to Do Instead

Why a Professional Apprenticeship is Better than More School

Don’t Be Prepared: Why the Best Learn to the Task, Not the Test

5 Skills I Acquired Working at a Tech Startup

Praxis Resources on Interviewing

Unleash your potential.
Apply Today.

or

Footer

Praxis Logo
  • Contact Us
  • 1-800-679-9367
  • Team
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy