B2B Appointment Setting: The Gatekeeper Dilemma

The process of B2B appointment setting requires a lot of tact and expertise, but there are still some elements that are constantly volatile and regardless of how much one plans ahead, they always seem to bother and serve as constant hindrances. One such aspect of the overall chain is the gatekeeper, the proverbial grumpy security guard who just won’t let you pass, and doesn’t seem to have any reason for his/her actions! However, since the roadblock is going to be there in any case, it’s better to know how to get past it.

First of all, it’s essential to understand that while one sees the gatekeeper as an obstacle, he/she would obviously have other jobs at hand as well. So, being polite is the first most important step. It’s obvious that the other party would not be as courteous, but then again, if one has to get the job done, it’s important to make the extra effort. There’s only so much information that can be transmitted if one is being aggressive. The trick is to get the information across with tact, so that at least the other person sees that by letting the call through, he/she would not be reprimanded by the senior person, who is already very busy.

It’s also important to know where the person who is the gatekeeper, stands in the company structure. This helps in modifying the calling script and helping the other person do his/her own job. Quite obviously, if he/she is not in a position to help the firm make headways in the B2B appointment setting process, there’s not use knocking on the wrong doors. Instead, the person can be politely asked to redirect the call to someone who can take it to the next level. By employing such simple tactics, one can achieve greater success without having to struggle.