|
|
Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! |  |
|
Sales Training – Top Doublespeak Traps Salespeople Want to Avoid
| Guest post by: Patricia Weber |
Article Overview: Salespeople who focus on product knowledge training to the detriment of communication skills often fall into the trap of doublespeak. Here are the top four doublespeak traps to avoid.
 |
Free Download - Top 10 'Pain in the Business Butt' Reasons to Collaborate By Patricia Weber |
Sales Training – Top Doublespeak Traps Salespeople Want to Avoid
The annual Doublespeak Award is given to some public figure whose language is deceptive, evasive, jargon or confusing or euphemistic. While usually associated with public figures and corporate environments, some salespeople easily fall into the doublespeak traps without knowing it! Here are the top four doublespeak traps and how they can hurt your sales results.
The deceptive trap. My son is in the computer security industry and is a highly sought after speaker. While there are many technical terms that he clarifies, his language is clean in particular when explaining a problem. He calls a software bug a bug; he calls a software fix a fix. It would be wise to ask questions of someone who might use the deceptive double speak term, “a reliability enhancement.” Just how true, how clean, is that communication? How true or clean do you speak?
The evasive trap. What’s your title? Health counselor, and you sell a health product? Insurance specialist, and you sell insurance? Strategic Alliance Manager, and you are in sales development? Come on salespeople! These kinds of titles are acceptable only after you at least admit to yourself that you are selling something or you’re in marketing. Then if you want to clarify that you are interested in educating, or that you have a certain expertise, or that you value a long term relationship, add the rest of the title.
The jargon trap. Every industry has its jargon! If you’re a financial planner, why not use the word profit, or return on your investment instead of yield? Using jargon with your sales manager, with other people on your sales team, and other people who you work with might be acceptable. However, it can be annoying to a prospect of customer, so start speaking clearly with them and leave the jargon at home. If you’re a realtor,
The euphemism trap. George Carlin has a ten-minute tirade about words that tend to attempt to soften or hide reality - euphemisms. From shell shock, to battle fatigue, to operational exhaustion and now the euphemism, post-traumatic stress disorder – almost disguising the mental and emotional pain soldiers suffer from being in war. Consider the absurdity in this general business example: wasting time gets called project research and then technological survey. Carlin is emphatic that it is the context, the user and the intention behind words that make a word good or bad. What words for your product, service or industry do you use to cover up something that is lower quality, a problem or otherwise negative? Just use words that speak the truth. I’m with George on this.
You say doublespeak is no big deal? William Lutz, professor of English at Rutgers University, authored The New Doublespeak: Why No One Knows What Anyone's Saying Anymore. What does that tell you about the big deal of it? It destroys your communication and is a barrier to trust. It both clutters understanding and puts a salesperson who uses it in a bad light.
A Toasted Bagel and Five Minutes to Understand the Impact of Sales Training
Five Strategies to Help you Break Free of What is Standing Between You and Your Success - A Bit of Context
Right Salespeople in the Right Roles and the Right Seats
Why Corporate Sales Training Often Fails to Deliver Results
How Many Salespeople Shouldn't Be in Sales
|
About the Author: Patricia Weber RSS for Patricia's articles - Visit Patricia's website Click here to visit Patricia's website   Sales Training What Happens When Salespeople Start Their Day Off Like a Pop Tart Truths for Introverts Who Sell What We Dont Need To Learn The Extroverted Hard Way Part Three Sales Training SelfConfidence is What Top Salespeople Build and Maintain Sales Reluctance In Any Part of Selling Networking Tip 5 MORE Social Networking Ways That Benefit Introverts |
Related Forum Posts
7 words or less for Structogram
- Some "7 words or less" (more or less) for Structogram for your comments:
Training to get your message across(6)
Secrets to get your message across (6)
Training so people will listen to you (7)
Helping you get your message across (6)
Training to learn to get your message across (8)
Communications training for yourself and your team (7)
Online Sales and Marketing vs Traditional
- Hi Evan,
I am noticing that many of the posts in the Sales/Marketing section deal with online marketing, SEM and and SEO and Affiliates. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to separate that section into two; 1) Online Sales and Marketing; 2) Traditional Sales and Marketing
Re: Online Sales and Marketing vs Traditional
- [quote="ltrahan":31w9r2iz]Hi Evan,
I am noticing that many of the posts in the Sales/Marketing section deal with online marketing, SEM and and SEO and Affiliates. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to separate that section into two; 1) Online Sales and Marketing; 2) Traditional Sales and Marketing[/quote:31w9r2iz]
I second the request...
The 11-7-06 NEFA Meeting went very well!
- The NEFA meeting held Tuesday November 7th went very well.
The meeting was very well attended and Mary Tomzack of FranchiseHelp, Inc. presented her unique perspective in regards to franchising. Mary also distributed a copy of her book, "Tips & Traps of buying a franchise".
The next NEFA meeting is January 23rd, when the IFA Chairman "Doc" Cohen, an American Cookie Company multi unit franchisee with make a presentation.
I'll post more information when the date gets closer.
Thank you!
Re: Search Engine Friendly Web Development
- I would like to add some more things in search engine friendly web development.
1. PPC campaign
2. Viral marketing
3. Social Media Marketing
Avoid flash in website and other use CSS files to shows the content style.
Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.
Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
by: 
4 Building Blocks of an Effective Talent Management System
Simon Fuller Quotes
Lesson #3: “Tell ‘em quick and tell ‘em often”
Searching for the Stars: How Yang and Filo Took Their Business to New Heights
Salesperson Wimp-Out: I Need Help 
Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Quick Tips on Buying a Business
Presenting Yourself With Impact at Work
Angel Investors Where Are You?
Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.