“How are you doing” means “I am a robot”
You answer the phone (thinking it is somebody else…or before the days when we had caller ID).
The person on the other end says, “Hi, Cathy. How are you doing today.”
Right away you know. It’s a sales pitch. The marketer is making cold calls to anyone on their list.
They don’t know you. They don’t care. They want to pitch what they have.
They want to create a friendly environment.
When asked, “How are you?” most people will soften and say “Just fine.”
I say, “I was fine until you interrupted what I was doing. I don’t need this.”
When I get a message on LinkedIn or Facebook, the sender often says something similar. Like, “How are you today?” Or “How are things going?” Or “How’s business.”
They’re often a complete stranger, not an old friend.
Think about going up to someone at a networking event. You’re carrying your coffee. They’re holding theirs.
Would you say, “How are you?” Or “How are things going in your business?” I suspect you wouldn’t.
If you’re creating a cold connection, find something in common. If you were live you could comment on what they’re wearing. Or you could ask how long they’ve been a member. Online…
