Alvin Barnes from Jackson, Mississippi, on Polite Directness in Southern Business

You can get straight to the point and still honor people. In the South we value pleasures like warm greetings a kind word and a moment to settle in. Those touches matter. They build trust. They keep doors open. The goal is not small talk for its own sake. The goal is respect. We are humans first.

Try this simple flow. Begin with respect. Offer a sincere greeting and one line of human connection. Name your purpose. One sentence that says why you are here and what outcome you want. Share the value. One or two facts that show the benefit to them.

Make the ask. One clear next step with a time and a method. Close with hospitality. Thank them for their time and invite a follow-up, even if the answer is not today.

Good morning, and thank you for making time. I hope your day is going well. I know you might have a busy day, so I won’t keep you long. I would love to help you cut invoice time in half this month. Here is the one-page plan and a client result from Jackson. If this is useful, I can set you up by Thursday. Would you like me to send a short kickoff checklist this afternoon? 

Direct does not have to be cold. Warmth and clarity can sit at the same table. That is how we do business well in the South.

Learn more from Alvin Barnes from Jackson, Mississippi, at Barnes Ventures LLC.

https://medium.com/@alvinbarnesjacksonmississippi/alvin-barnes-from-jackson-mississippi-on-polite-directness-in-southern-business-186c8f6ad38f