Getting Passed the Gate Keeper

It's happened to all of us at one point or another. You're face-to-face with a gatekeeper, and no matter how well prepared you are, there is something about the person that makes you feel like they're on top. It could be the position they hold in the company. It could be their age, or their experience. You can't help but feel like you need to be at that person's level, which is the opposite of the approach you should take when dealing with a gatekeeper.

First, let's look at this from a technical perspective. You do not need to go into a situation where someone is already at their level and challenge them. You have something to offer them, so it's better to bring something that they want or need and give it to them, rather than trying to get ahead of them or outshine them in some way. This goes against everything we've been taught by the "I'm better than you" gambit, even those who are much wealthier and more experienced than us were telling us this all along.

This is a very important concept to understand. You are not trying to get ahead of the gatekeeper, or get something from them. It's not a competition, it's a meeting. You are there to help them solve a problem so that you can move on with your deal and they can move on with theirs. As long as you remember this, you'll be successful in getting past that gatekeeper.

"Come Down To My Level"

Most people think they need to go up to the gatekeeper's level, that they need to prove their status before getting past the gatekeeper. The truth is that you need to go down to their level. The gatekeeper is there for a reason. They are there to stop the wrong people from getting access to someone who can make a decision and move on to something else. You need those people in order to make your business deal happen, so you must do whatever it takes in order for them to see enough value in you that they'll want you around, which is what you want anyway, right? So how do you do that?

First off, don't tell the gatekeeper anything about your deal or ask them any questions about it. Let them make the first move. Let them ask questions about you and your deal. Answer the questions in a way that tells them what they need to know, but don't give them anything that would be considered confidential. You're going to want to find out as much as you can about what they do and how they do it, just so it's easier to get past them.

This is also where having a strategic plan will come in handy. If you have planned every step of this process out, then you already know what the outcome needs to look like when you get past this gatekeeper. Now let's look at some of the things you need to do to set things up so that you get the results you want.

Give them a gift. It can be something small, like flowers or a nice pen, but give them something. Give them something that relates to what they do or care about and makes them feel important. If it is information, be sure that it is not being used for anything negative at this time. You don't want this person in any way to negatively affect your deal by having any knowledge of it left following your meeting with them.

Use your skills and make yourself useful to the gatekeeper without taking over their role. When you come in, provide them with what they want and be sure that it is something that is tangible. Something the gatekeeper can easily see and understand will work best. You want to get them on your side before you hand over anything that would be considered confidential material or information.

Make your entry into their world seamless. Make sure that when you come in, everything is set up so that it's easy to begin a conversation about what you want without dragging the gatekeeper away from their work or other responsibilities. When you are there, make it a point to disrupt their day as little as possible.

Make yourself available for them at all times during your conversation with them. You want to be available when they need you, and make sure that you do not leave them even for a second. You want to build the relationship with them so that the gatekeeper can sense that you are there for their needs, not to take over their world.

This is how you get past any gatekeeper, no matter how big or important they are. You must be willing to go down to their level, even if it means sacrifice. It may mean giving up your status or being seen as a lackey by those who don't understand what you're doing or what it takes to make a deal happen, but in order to make your business deal happen, all of those things must be sacrificed. You must do it for the benefit of your business deal, not for anything else.

It's important to remember that these are people. You will be dealing with the gatekeeper, not them or their position, not their rank or their experience, but people nonetheless. If you understand that they are simply people and that they can make difficult decisions based on things they see in you and the values you're offering them, then you will be able to get through any gatekeeper without a problem.

People like to be helpful in making our businesses happen. They want to help us. All we have to do is give them the opportunity and they will make your business deal happen. When you work with someone who is successful at what they do, they will be able to give you some insight into other situations that they have dealt with in the past that will make getting through them easier. They will help you without a second thought, because it's what they do.

When we look at our lives like a business deal, things suddenly become easier. When we think about our business deals as opportunities for growth, instead of just money or success, we get through difficult situations faster and easier than ever before.

Conclusion

Getting past a gatekeeper may seem like something that is hard to do, but when you understand that they are people and they want to help you at every opportunity they get, then it's easier than you think. All you have to do is help them first.

If you are looking for something that will help your business deal happen, contact Biz Tech Media , the experts in strategic plans for business success.