Hi Everyone,
Throughout the activities of the day I could not stop thinking about how much we communicate on a daily basis. If we aren't skilled at communicating well then there are consequences. Processes at work can suffer and in social settings people can even misunderstand us. As sales professionals we always want to be sharp no matter the mode of communication. The trust and relationships that we build with our customers depend on mastering excellent communication skills. Take a few of these tips for example from this week's newsletter from Sam Geist:
- Be clear, organized and to the point. Less is more. Look for signs in the listener that indicate lack of understanding - glazed expression, frowning, fidgeting.
- Keep the listener's perspective at the forefront of your thoughts... and words. (My son, Joshua has reminded me on several occasions, "It doesn't much matter what you send out - it only matters what I receive.")
- Know the listener - what is important to them, what turns them on, what riles them.
- Show trust and respect for your listener.
- Rehearse your message for clarity, tone and speed of delivery. Remember to match the speed (and choice of vocabulary) to the listener's capacity for comprehension.
- Ask questions along the way to confirm that the message has been received and understood as you intended it to be.
