The Digital Handshake
First impressions are made in the first 60 seconds of a Zoom call. A well-structured opening sets a professional tone, establishes authority, and ensures the conversation stays on track.
The 3-Step Opening
1. Gratitude
Acknowledge their time and build immediate rapport.
Acknowledge their time and build immediate rapport.
2. Time Check
Respect the “Hard Stop” to show you are a professional.
Respect the “Hard Stop” to show you are a professional.
3. The Agenda
Introduce the HCC framework: Discover, Plan, Build, Do.
Introduce the HCC framework: Discover, Plan, Build, Do.
The Live Script
Greeting: “Good [morning/afternoon], [Client’s Name]. Thank you so much for joining the call today. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with us.”
Hard Stop: “I understand you have a hard stop at [Time], is that still correct? This will help us manage our time effectively and ensure we cover all necessary points.”
Setting the Agenda: “Here’s what we plan to cover today. We follow a four-stage process:
- • DISCOVER your current needs.
- • PLAN potential solutions.
- • BUILD a strategy tailored for you.
- • DO (Implement and act on the plan).
Does that sound good to you?”
💡 Why this works: Confirming the “Hard Stop” early removes the client’s anxiety about the meeting running over. It proves you value their time as much as your own.