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GUIDELINES FOR VOLUNTEER VISITORS <br /> <br /> <br />Purpose of Guidelines: To ensure that the visitors and firms enjoy doing the program and that good quality <br />data are collected, leading to the retention and expansion of local firms and jobs. <br /> <br /> <br />1. Tips on Scheduling the Firm Visits <br /> <br />Who schedules the visits? You or your partner. <br /> <br />Suggested conversation when you telephone the firms assigned to you: <br /> <br />“Good morning, my name is ________________. You may have heard about the Lake Elmo Economic <br />Development Authority’s Business Retention and Expansion program. This is an effort to see what can be done to <br />improve the business climate for our local businesses and to help them improve their profitability. Part of the <br />program involves volunteers like myself visiting with business owners or managers to get their opinions on these <br />questions and to review the survey in that letter. <br /> <br />My partner, __________________, and I would like to schedule a visit with you next week. What would be a <br />convenient time for you?” <br /> <br />When? Call within a week. Visit within 2 weeks. <br />Who should be visited? Owner or operator of the business. <br />Where? At the firm’s office or home of the person you are interviewing. <br />How long does it take? 45 to 60 minutes. <br /> <br /> <br />2. Tips on Introducing Yourself During the Firm Visit <br /> <br />Break the ice and express thanks for the firm’s economic contributions to the community. Give firm owner <br />an extra copy of the survey. Cover the two important survey ground rules (confidentiality of results and the <br />skip-it rule—if they don’t want to answer a particular question, they can just say “I’d like to skip that one.”) <br /> <br /> <br />3. Tips for Person Asking Question <br /> <br />Ask every question. <br /> <br />Ask the question exactly as worded. <br /> <br />No matter how bad the question seems, don’t change it. However, if you want to ask another question in addition to <br />the one on the survey, one with slightly different wording, that is okay. If you ask this new one, write down both the <br />new question and the answer. <br /> <br />Listen carefully (count silently to ten). <br /> <br />As a visitor, your job is to listen to the opinions of the firms. They really like that. If necessary count silently to ten <br />as a means of staying quiet. <br /> <br />Repeat the question if necessary. <br /> <br />Never suggest answers, even if you are positive you know the correct one. <br /> <br />Probe answers.