THE SWEETEST SIGHT

I was meeting with a media representative the other day. We had talked by phone and set up the meeting, but this was the first time for us to be face-to-face and exchange cards. One look at hers and I gasped....her name is Alyson, but anywhere I had made notes about her I had spelled her name as Allison.

She asked what was wrong with her card. I told her it wasn’t her card that had me concerned, it was my misspelling of her name. Everything was halted while I updated my calendar to reflect the correct spelling, which I think she genuinely appreciated.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s not a big deal as long as you pronounce it right. Trust me, the other person will somehow become aware of your misspelling (email, invoice, note, etc.) and it will create an awkward moment where they may wonder how much you really care.

If there’s a client or prospect or colleague whose name you are unsure how to spell, ask for their card. Tell them you need another one for a networking opportunity (but only if you intend to network for them). Or that you need another one for your personal file.

If the sweetest sound to a person’s ears is the mention of their name, surely the sweetest sight must be their name spelled correctly. Get it right the first time, or make the correction as soon as you discover the problem.