#557 second best

In college admissions, a significant number of prospective students inquire about a school but never bother to complete an application.  The admission counselors are responsible for calling all these inquiries to assess their interest level and either encourage an application or inactivate the file.  

What counselors have come to understand, and students would be better off if they learned, is that the second best answer is "no".  Sure, counselors would love to have calls that connect with delighted students who are going to finish their application that very evening.  But hearing an honest answer from a student who is no longer interested is the next best thing.  It allows the counselor to cross them off the list, move on and stop spending time and money to cultivate someone who has no interest in attending.  

What happens instead is that a) the student doesn't answer the phone/email/text and it causes the school to keep trying to reach them or b) the student gives a vague answer and feigns interest, even though there really is none.  Again, it just prolongs the outreach.

The same thing happens in other lines of work.  Prospective clients are afraid to tell a business that they have no interest in their service/product.  People lead on sales agents and waste time instead of ending the conversation when a decision has been mentally made.

Do those on the receiving end a favor, and if your answer is going to be no, give that answer as soon as you know it.  No is far better than a "maybe".  In fact, "no" is only second to "yes" of what the seller wants to hear.  Really.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com