Becoming A Successful Communicator

Good Morning,

Today we are going to discuss different ways to become a great communicator. Great communication will open many doors of opportunity in your life. You can achieve great results by having outstanding communication skills.

If you are a salesman, than you need great communication skills. There are three steps in initiating a positive result in getting someone to say yes.

1. Open the conversation with an "open-ended question". In other words, do not open a conversation with a yes or no question. An example: A customer walks in your store, you greet the customer and say, "good morning, can I help you?" The customers first response to this is to say, "No, just looking." A better way to start a conversation with a customer might be, "Good morning, what brings you into out store today?" Now, by asking this question, it wouldn't make sense for the customer to say NO! They have to respond in some way. Now, at this point they could respond by saying, "We just came in to look around." But, that's better than saying NO. You then can keep responding with open ended questions. "Oh, OK. What type of furniture are you looking for?" Again a "NO" or "Yes" response would not make sense. So, that's number one, start conversations with open-ended questions that make people talk instead of just saying YES or NO.

2. Listen with complete understanding. If your asking open-ended questions and your not really listening to what they are saying. That would not be good. You must listen to what they are saying and let them know that your listening. "Oh, OK, I understand." This is also called "Active Listening."

3. Offer a solution, and end it with a question. "Well, I have this furniture over here, this sounds like what you are looking for. We can go ahead and get your order now, how does that sound?" Now, you want to offer solutions that meet there needs. If you were asking the right open-ended questions you should have an idea of what will meet there needs. If they told you they were looking for a black sectional, don't offer the solution of getting a blue one!

These three steps can help start and end conversations successfully. Not just in sales, but in everyday conversations. Do you think you would communicate better with your spouse if you started using the power of "Open-Ended Questions?" You bet it would, because they would have no choice but to open up. "Open People Up by Using Open Questions" When you Open people up, they will enjoy a great conversation. Enjoying a great conversation, makes an enjoyable relationship.

So, try it today. Talk to your spouse or significant other. Don't just ask, "Did you have a good day today?" Ask instead, "So what was good that happened today?" Stay away from YES and NO questions and enjoy a great conversation.

Until next time, always be aware of your decisions that shape your destiny!