Responding To Helpful Email When You Didn't Need It
May 29, 2013 9:42 PM Subscribe
How do you respond to a helpful "intro" email when you've already connected with that person and you want to make sure the "introducer" feels adequately thanked.
This might sound silly to some, but I want to make sure I do this right. This is kind of a "polite wording" question.
I was CC'd on an "intro" email to someone that I had already connected with. The "introducer" is someone I highly esteem and I'm quite flattered that he reached out to me to write this email.
He already said he was sending it, and I thanked him already (I didn't know who he was intro'ing me to).
HOW do I respond? I was thinking something along the lines of "how funny, [the other person] had reached out to me about a week ago, and we started talking about entries for the festival. Thank you so much for writing this into, I genuinely appreciate it."
Is that OK? I'm second guessing myself so much because I don't want this person to feel like his help was unnecessary, or that I already "beat him to the punch" so to speak and didn't need his help. BUT I also want to respond.
Or perhaps a response isn't necessary? Because he ended it with "I'll let you two take it from here." And I already had thanked him.
I could send a simple "Thanks, [name]!" and leave it at that, but what if the other person already said we had been in touch? That's something I don't know, and if I just say "thanks" then it might look even worse.
Anyway. Seems silly, but in my little art niche I just want to make sure I'm appropriately polite and don't want to offend people higher up who are reaching out to help me.
Just felt like throwing this out there to AskMefi since everyone here seems well-versed in polite responses and things of that nature.
This might sound silly to some, but I want to make sure I do this right. This is kind of a "polite wording" question.
I was CC'd on an "intro" email to someone that I had already connected with. The "introducer" is someone I highly esteem and I'm quite flattered that he reached out to me to write this email.
He already said he was sending it, and I thanked him already (I didn't know who he was intro'ing me to).
HOW do I respond? I was thinking something along the lines of "how funny, [the other person] had reached out to me about a week ago, and we started talking about entries for the festival. Thank you so much for writing this into, I genuinely appreciate it."
Is that OK? I'm second guessing myself so much because I don't want this person to feel like his help was unnecessary, or that I already "beat him to the punch" so to speak and didn't need his help. BUT I also want to respond.
Or perhaps a response isn't necessary? Because he ended it with "I'll let you two take it from here." And I already had thanked him.
I could send a simple "Thanks, [name]!" and leave it at that, but what if the other person already said we had been in touch? That's something I don't know, and if I just say "thanks" then it might look even worse.
Anyway. Seems silly, but in my little art niche I just want to make sure I'm appropriately polite and don't want to offend people higher up who are reaching out to help me.
Just felt like throwing this out there to AskMefi since everyone here seems well-versed in polite responses and things of that nature.
I'm having some trouble following the timeline of this email exchange and who is emailing whom, but your line how funny, [the other person] had reached out to me about a week ago, and we started talking about entries for the festival. Thank you so much for writing this into, I genuinely appreciate it sounds fine to me.
Personally, I would respond to both people on the introductory email, and say something like "[Introducer,] thanks for the introduction. [Person to whom I've been introduced,] it's a pleasure to meet you. XYZ."
posted by dfriedman at 9:46 PM on May 29, 2013
Personally, I would respond to both people on the introductory email, and say something like "[Introducer,] thanks for the introduction. [Person to whom I've been introduced,] it's a pleasure to meet you. XYZ."
posted by dfriedman at 9:46 PM on May 29, 2013
It's fine to send a quick e-mail to the person who made the introduction saying thanks. I would just say something like "thanks so much. X is awesome and I'm grateful you made the introduction." (Dropping off the other person.) There's nothing untrue in that, and if the person later finds out you'd already met, no harm done. Honour their intent and express that you're thankful :-)
posted by Susan PG at 9:47 PM on May 29, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Susan PG at 9:47 PM on May 29, 2013 [5 favorites]
Yeah, what you wrote sounds fine. You could probably even spin it into a bit of a compliment.
"Man, you're clearly right on my wavelength -- they literally just reached out to me. Crazy! Thanks so much!"
posted by chasing at 9:49 PM on May 29, 2013 [4 favorites]
"Man, you're clearly right on my wavelength -- they literally just reached out to me. Crazy! Thanks so much!"
posted by chasing at 9:49 PM on May 29, 2013 [4 favorites]
Keep it simple:
"Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!
Take care,
christiehawk
No need to elaborate, explain, etc. You're thinking the introducer for making the effort, nothing more.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 9:54 PM on May 29, 2013 [11 favorites]
"Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!
Take care,
christiehawk
No need to elaborate, explain, etc. You're thinking the introducer for making the effort, nothing more.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 9:54 PM on May 29, 2013 [11 favorites]
Yes, why do you have to highlight that you and the other person were already in touch. A quick thanks to the introducers would be sufficient.
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:10 PM on May 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:10 PM on May 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: 1) Reply
2) Move the other person to BCC, so that they receive your note, but don't keep it going as a conversation or feel compelled to respond again.
3) Thank them politely for the introduction. Use the opportunity to thank them for their support in general.
4) Send it and be on your way.
The receiving person will see that you 1) read and responded to their email, 2) are now in touch with the other person in an outside conversation, 3) see that you have expressed your gratitude, and 4) will note that you are a responsive and grateful person, and 5) move on to the next email.
--
Dear Introducing Person
(Person XX moved to BCC)
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this introduction. I really appreciate it and your on-going support.
Kind regards,
christiehawk
posted by nickrussell at 2:53 AM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
2) Move the other person to BCC, so that they receive your note, but don't keep it going as a conversation or feel compelled to respond again.
3) Thank them politely for the introduction. Use the opportunity to thank them for their support in general.
4) Send it and be on your way.
The receiving person will see that you 1) read and responded to their email, 2) are now in touch with the other person in an outside conversation, 3) see that you have expressed your gratitude, and 4) will note that you are a responsive and grateful person, and 5) move on to the next email.
--
Dear Introducing Person
(Person XX moved to BCC)
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this introduction. I really appreciate it and your on-going support.
Kind regards,
christiehawk
posted by nickrussell at 2:53 AM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Stay low-key!
"Wonderful, thank you, christiehawk"
posted by thinkpiece at 4:03 AM on May 30, 2013
"Wonderful, thank you, christiehawk"
posted by thinkpiece at 4:03 AM on May 30, 2013
I like your drafted note. I'd send it just to the introducer and also tack on a more general thank you. "I want you to know how grateful I am for your guidance and support - truly means so much."
posted by amaire at 4:52 AM on May 30, 2013
posted by amaire at 4:52 AM on May 30, 2013
If the introducer was endorsing the person as someone who will do a good job, rather than just passing along a name of someone they know of but don't know well, you could add to your message, "I am even more excited about working with [other person] given your enthusiasm!"
posted by BrashTech at 5:05 AM on May 30, 2013
posted by BrashTech at 5:05 AM on May 30, 2013
Why on earth would you go out of your way to mention you already made the connection, suggesting that the favor was unnecessary? Just be gracious and thank them for their support in a short email to both parties. There's also no need to make a charade of "Oh nice to meet you" to the other person--they'll understand, and they're not going to say anything. Your email is both a show for the introducer (who should be fluffed up for their influence) and the other person (who gets to see how tactful you are).
I'd just say "Thanks [introducer]--I really appreciate your interest and support. You've been really great, etc. [Other person]--I drop you a line shortly, and I look forward to working/talking/collaborating with you!"
posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:21 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd just say "Thanks [introducer]--I really appreciate your interest and support. You've been really great, etc. [Other person]--I drop you a line shortly, and I look forward to working/talking/collaborating with you!"
posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:21 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
I agree with you that you should be clear about what happened. It is quite trivial, but clarity is the best way to prevent later misunderstandings. Your note is good.
posted by SLC Mom at 5:22 AM on May 30, 2013
posted by SLC Mom at 5:22 AM on May 30, 2013
Gratitude is free, so thank people for effort or result, whichever can be spun best in their favor. If someone does you a small favor that turns out huge, you thank them as if they were solely responsible for the hugeness of the effect; if someone goes out of their way to do you a huge favor that turns out to not really lead to anything, you thank them based on the hugeness of the effort rather than the fact that it didn't pan out. Don't mention that you didn't need the favor.
posted by Etrigan at 5:51 AM on May 30, 2013
posted by Etrigan at 5:51 AM on May 30, 2013
Best answer: Email is weird for this kind of thing. I'd respond with the usual brief and sincere thanks note, and maybe mention in passing when I saw them in person next time. "So funny that you connected us that day! Not one week earlier we had already spoken about X. I wanted to thank you again for making sure we got in touch, it's been helpful in ABC ways."
posted by juliplease at 7:21 AM on May 30, 2013
posted by juliplease at 7:21 AM on May 30, 2013
Response by poster: Well this was such a strange situation. I didn't get the email right away, so I have no idea if the other person had responded to him privately yet.
I went with the "Just thank them" and don't mention that we had already talked route. It seems the lesser of the two evils, and seems the best consensus here.
Yes, a very minor situation but I could NOT for the life of me figure out what to write in response. I second guessed myself so many times.
I'm sure it will be fine. The next time I see him I'll thank him again, but that might not be for a while. But he's a pretty cool cat so it should be alright.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions!
posted by christiehawk at 9:34 AM on May 30, 2013
I went with the "Just thank them" and don't mention that we had already talked route. It seems the lesser of the two evils, and seems the best consensus here.
Yes, a very minor situation but I could NOT for the life of me figure out what to write in response. I second guessed myself so many times.
I'm sure it will be fine. The next time I see him I'll thank him again, but that might not be for a while. But he's a pretty cool cat so it should be alright.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions!
posted by christiehawk at 9:34 AM on May 30, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
There's nothing whatsoever wrong with that.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:44 PM on May 29, 2013 [2 favorites]