If you’re reaching out to an executive (or anyone) to get their time and/or attention, here’s what actually works (and what usually doesn’t).

I get a lot of messages that are basically, “Hey Jane — can we grab a quick coffee?”

Totally get the intention. But here’s the truth: my calendar is chaos, and vague asks are almost impossible to say yes to.

If you want better luck at getting a reply, try these five tactics:

  1. Lead with the why (in one sentence). What are you trying to learn/decide/understand?
  2. Be specific about the guidance you want (and make it relevant). Pick a topic I can actually help with based on what I do — career path, a business area, a skill you’re building, how to approach a decision, etc. “Would love to connect” is hard to act on. “I’d love your take on ___” is much easier.
  3. Make it clear you’ve done a little homework. One line that shows you know what I do and why you chose me.
  4. Keep scheduling simple — let the exec drive it. Counterintuitive, but helpful: don’t send a bunch of proposed times. If I’m interested, I’ll tell you how to book time (or I’ll offer options). Your job is to make it easy to say yes, not to manage my calendar.
  5. Earn the yes with a tight message. Three to six sentences. Busy people aren’t reading essays in LinkedIn DMs.

Here’s an example that works:

“Hi Jane, I’m early in my career in beauty and I’m trying to get sharper on how to think about trend vs. timeless in retail strategy. I’m reaching out because your path at Sephora is exactly the lane I’m exploring, and I’d really value your guidance on how you’ve made those calls. If you’re open to it, I’d love 10-15 minutes for two to three quick questions — whatever is easiest on your end. Either way, thank you.”

So there you go. Keep it thoughtful and specific; most people are happy to help when they know exactly what you’re asking for.

This article was originally published on LinkedIn and has been republished with permission.