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Proposals: Meeting Your Commitments |
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I wonder at times if people really understand the commitment that goes with asking for or agreeing to a proposal.
When you ask for a proposal (or even agree to consider a proposal), you are also committing to respond to the person submitting the proposal. Whether from an external or internal source, a proposal is like a contract. Yet, so many people just do not get back to you with their answer.
Time and energy are required to prepare and submit a proposal, and the person doing the work is committed to hours or days to meet their side of the commitment. It is amazing to me the number of people who ask for a proposal, receive it, and then never get back to you. What is wrong with them? At the least, it is a breach of business etiquette. Bottom line, not getting back to someone is dishonoring a contract and that says a lot about that person's credibility.
Your side of the commitment in asking for or agreeing to a proposal is to read the submission and provide an answer within a reasonable time period (generally two to three weeks and no more than a month). That is the deal.
An answer in a timely fashion is the price of the contract. Yes - a great answer. No - just as acceptable. Not making a decision and avoiding giving a response is not acceptable. Tossing off the proposal and not even bothering to read it is simply disrespectful. How many times does someone energetically request a proposal and then never get back to you. You meet them at an event three months later and they say, "Oh, great to see you, I was meaning to call you". No - you are a coward who didn't have the decency to respond to my proposal with an answer and now you are caught. Maybe you didn't want to hurt the person's feelings by saying no, but it is worse not getting back to someone and letting them hang out there after investing time in preparing a proposal for your consideration. How can people trust or have confidence in someone who does not meet their commitments? Maybe it seems like a small issue - just a proposal - but it speaks loudly of how you honor your commitments and respect other people's time. Just say yes or no and meet your commitment.
In accepting a proposal, you are making a commitment to provide a response on a timely basis. All it takes is a call or email to provide your response within a two to three week period. That's it. People can take the no and deal with it; it can actually be a learning experience for their next proposal.
Think about your commitment before the proposal - not asking or agreeing up front is more than reasonable if you are not prepared for the commitment. But once you commit, do your job.
Just my opinion …
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