Why "let's get coffee" can be the worst

We’ve all done it.

Sometimes, especially when we’re in a hurry, we end professional conversations with the phrase “let’s get coffee sometime”. I’m guilty of it; the statement comes with a genuine intent on my behalf, and usually, a follow-up to make it happen. But the downfall is this: it’s not always as easy as just coffee.

For a busy person the consuming part of “getting coffee” is that it takes some time to set up, travel to the meeting place, catch up (or initially get to know someone) on a personal level, finally get down to business, and then travel back to your office. And, usually, there is a follow up promised as a result of the meeting. That doesn’t mean that getting coffee isn’t an absolutely worthy (and enjoyable) investment of time.

It just means that we need to make the phrase “let’s get coffee” the most effective that it can be for our busy schedules.

1. Determine reason. I recently had a LinkedIn connection request from someone I had never met and he simply asked if we could get coffee sometime. I didn’t see an immediately obvious reason why so I kindly asked if there was something specific he’d like to connect about. There wasn’t really, other than to use my network. I don’t mind that; I genuinely enjoy making valuable connections, but his request was not specific enough. In this case, when you aren’t certain what “getting coffee” really even means, ask to set up a phone call. This way you can really understand what this person is looking for, and ask questions to see if there is something relevant that you can work on together.
2. Have a plan. What do you need to accomplish at this meeting? I’m not telling you to craft and print out a set agenda for your coffee meeting (unless that works well for you) but having a few bullet points in mind, or in your notebook, can keep you on track. Wear a watch so that you can keep an eye on how much time is being spent on certain topics (without checking your phone) and keep the conversation moving along if needed. If the obvious needs to be stated here, I don’t recommend being rude or interrupting; just be aware and respectful of your time as well as that of your associate.
3. Schedule strategically. Think about what time of day is the best for you to be out of your workplace. For instance, I like to schedule coffee meetings right away in the morning on the way into work. This is efficient because it doesn’t require me to stop what I’m doing to leave the office. Depending on the meeting, I try to choose a location within walking distance, or I’ll request that we meet halfway. If the meeting is with someone that you also consider a friend and would like to chat with longer on a personal level, schedule it at the end of your work day so that you can fluidly shift into happy hour.

My approach to getting coffee is very different when it comes to someone who I’d consider a friend or mentor. And, of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, when even the most strategic agenda is overpowered by great ideas and necessary tangents (those can often be the most empowering meetings).

Sometimes getting coffee is for the sole purpose of being imaginative, seeing where the conversation goes, finding inspiration and dreaming up new ideas.

The most important thing is to be mindful of your purpose. How do you manage to make the phrase “let’s get coffee” work for you?