10. When they haven’t replied for weeks Instead of sending another soft follow-up, try: “Should I assume this is no longer a priority?” It’s direct. But not aggressive. And it works because people find it hard to leave an incorrect assumption uncorrected. If they’re still interested, they’ll respond. If not, at least you get clarity. Most follow-ups fail for one reason: They ask for an update, but don’t give a reason to respond. “Any updates?” forces the other person to think. “Is this still a priority?” allows them to decide. “Is something blocking this?” allows them to explain. “Should we keep this open or revisit later?” allows them to close it.