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Don’t Throw the Rolls! Communication Tips that Will Help You Survive the Holiday Season

Guest post by: Brian Sullivan

Article Overview: Here are some tips for survival during your upcoming Communication Skills Dinner Table Boot Camp, to turn anybody in a fan...even your paying customers.

Don’t Throw the Rolls! Communication Tips that Will Help You Survive the Holiday Season

It’s that time of year when you may find yourself sitting across the Holiday dinner table from your less than favorite Aunt Phyllis or Cousin Jeb. While the temptation may be to pick up a slice of turkey and sling it across the table, you must try to look at this joyous occasion as the perfect venue to practice communication skills with some of your toughest customers. Because if you can turn them into fans after a healthy dose of Tryptophan and Tannin laced truth serum, then you can turn ANYBODY into a fan…even paying customers!

So here are some tips for survival during your upcoming Communication Skills Dinner Table Boot Camp:

Show interest- The easiest way to bring down the walls of resistance is by actually caring about others. And the best way is to ask questions that get others to open up. The more they talk about themselves and what’s important to them, the better they feel.

Be positive- What’s worse than the guest or host who looks like they would rather be a guest on the Jerry Springer show. Resist any temptation to talk negatively about ANYBODY. You have the power to set the tone in any setting…be it personal or professional.

Eye contact- Quit looking at the apple pie on the counter! Somebody’s talking to you. And resist the temptation to pick the piece of lettuce from the corner of your Uncle Ernie’s mouth. By looking people in the eye, you show that you are listening (even if you’re not!).

Listen- This is the greatest asset of great leaders and salespeople. And it doesn’t matter if you don’t care what your sister-in-law thinks about who won Dancing With the Stars. Because the listening skills you practice will make you better when it’s time to listen to interested prospects.

Don’t interrupt- The easiest way to get your spouse to give you the death stare is to interrupt. This season, wait until you can identify the last word spoken by others, count to three, and then respond. It’s not easy but it will lessen your chances of others blasting you once you walk out of the room. Plus, you just might learn something!

Now that you’re ready, let the party season begin! Armed with these tips (and maybe an adult beverage), you will find you have the tools to become the life of the party. But more importantly, by practicing with tough customers (who you really love), you will be prepared to make 2012 the year you became a master communicator. And those skills will help you find new customers, sell more to current ones and create a customer experience that creates fans for life!

Happy Holidays from the Sullivans!

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Article Tags: insurance sales training, medical sales training, sales and marketing training



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