15 Comments

Thanks you for your post! Intuitively knew it, but helpful to sharpen messages. 🙏

Expand full comment

Such a good lesson! Forwarding on to my team and sales lead.

Expand full comment

"You're asking me for a favor, and you want me to schedule around you? GTFO.”

- me, me every time someone cold-schedules me

Expand full comment

Wow. I never even considered that, looking back I was definitely too free with my Calendys 😅

Terrific article!

Expand full comment

I couldn't agree more! I've always felt self-conscious about the "here's my calendar/ grab time with me" approach. In principle, it is a time saver for both me and my clients. But it's also brusque., entitled, and blatantly canned. Thanks for the fabulous rewrites of these ubiquitous messages.

Expand full comment

Hello Wes! Loving 🥰 all your ‘spiky point of view’ writings! The best!

Expand full comment
Dec 13, 2023·edited Dec 13, 2023Liked by Wes Kao

Just yesterday I had this internal debate.

Finally, I sent my scheduling link but added: “If you don’t find a suitable spot, please let me know your availability.”

Expand full comment

Nice piece, Wes. Super interested to know how Calendly’s product team thought about and overcame this blocker to their success. To what extent has this helped or hindered their progress?

Expand full comment

brilliant! that's exactly how I feel it, thanks for putting it into words 😊

Expand full comment

Ah love this post Wes!

My goal is to reduce the amount of back & forth emails so before calendly, I'd end the email with dates & times to meet.

My focus was to make sure the other person only had to say "yes" or "no" to having a meeting.

I didn't want to do the email dance of figuring out the availability.

Expand full comment

Specific and timely advice - thank you

Expand full comment

I loved this lesson; thanks for sharing.

I always try to be polite regardless of the power dynamics between the recipient and me. It's just the kind thing to do…but I’ve received so many commanding emails from directors, VPs, and C-levels. I consider those to be simply rude.

Expand full comment

Good lesson. And it's transferable to any communication where the power dynamics play the role, often unrealized.

Expand full comment

I usually send emails internally and of course outlook provides the availability on staff’s calendar. I try to accommodate best available for the most needed on the meeting. After all that work, top of the invite is,

“If this doesn’t work, please suggest a time”

Basically I want the meeting done and over quickly since most of my meetings are about getting, perspectives, sharing, feedback before the stuff goes to production.

Expand full comment

Loved this post. I’ve been thrown off at times while receiving a calendly invite - left me wondering was that really my need or the opposite person’s? This definitely balances the emotion. Thanks!

Expand full comment