Search Results for: blog trying to make a sale watch your body language

How’s Your Poker Face?

There are plenty of times when a warm, friendly smile and a gregarious handshake is just what your business needs. At other times, perhaps when you are discussing money or negotiating, when what you need is a successful “poker face.” The trick to a good business poker face is to maintain a pleasant demeanor, while being as neutral and calm as possible. It is important to neither grimace or smile–or really make any kind of face at all. This includes little things like tightening your neck or raising your eyebrows. Keep your face relaxed and neutral. It is important not … Continue reading →

Cultivating a Reputation for Honesty and Integrity

While you may feel and be a person who is honest and trustworthy in your home business, you may not be getting that point across to your clients and customers. There are some communication and body language techniques you can cultivate to let your customers and clients know that you are a trustworthy and honest person of character and someone with whom they can have confidence doing business with: It is important to be direct and honest with customers and clients from the very first interaction. Be careful that you don’t make any promises that you won’t be able to … Continue reading →

Sales Skills Help in Matters of the Heart

In my local newspaper, I stumbled across a little 4-inch article tucked away in the business section, suggesting that those who utilize salesmanship and sales communication skills in their more personal relationships have better luck in love. Here are the tips suggested to take one from the board room to other personal interactions: First, it is suggested that a person doesn’t put too much information about themselves into the first date or first meeting, or even the first introduction. It comes across as sounding too self-absorbed and self-centered. This means that exchanging lists of “I’m the type of person who…” … Continue reading →

How’s Your Handshake?

I remember several years ago, when there was a bit of a focus on “how to do” just the right business handshake. Recently, I was in a meeting and when I stood up to go, the man I was meeting with refused to shake my hand, muttering something about an injury and I realized how incomplete and unprofessional the meeting felt as soon as the handshake was abandoned. I thought this might be a good place and time for a little refresher course on the handshake: The rule is to remember the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and … Continue reading →

How Social Competency Can Help Your Business

I think of “social competency” as just a fancy way of talking about basic social skills. I’m of the belief that social skills are something that can be learned, practiced and mastered just like driving or tying our shoes—and not that it’s some mysterious secret talent that only some people are able to access. I also believe that social competency and growing a business go hand-in-hand. Here are some tips for assessing your social competency and elements to focus on to make improvements: I think the first step in being socially competent is to be socially motivated. By this, I … Continue reading →

When to Take “No” for the Answer

Were you taught that a good sales person never takes “No” for an answer? In fact, sometimes “No” is just the answer you should hear and absorb and move on to more productive work and prospects. If you are working with a potential client or customer and they are resisting and hesitant, how can you tell if you should continue to pursue and cultivate, or take that “No” and move on to someone and something else? There are times when a potential customer’s “No” may not mean no forever. Some of these prospects can be persuaded, nudged and generally “sold” … Continue reading →

Getting Comfortable Talking About Money

Talking about money does not come naturally and comfortably for most of us. Whether we are talking about how much money we make, the price we’ve paid for items, or negotiating salaries and sale prices, money chat just seems to make us uncomfortable and nervous. However, being in business for ourselves means that we need to be able to negotiate prices and work with clients and customers when the subject of money comes up. Getting comfortable talking about money can actually help us build our businesses. Even if you have a lot of emotional and well-buried baggage when the subject … Continue reading →

Trying to Make a Sale? Watch Your Body Language

Body language and nonverbal communication are more important that you might think in your overall communication style. You may be saying all the right words and wondering why you are not getting anywhere with a prospect or customer. Here are some things to watch out for in your body language and nonverbal actions when you are trying to make a pitch or sale, or trying to influence other people: Watch that your body and facial expressions are open and comfortable and that they do not convey that you are closed, resisting, uptight or unapproachable. This can come across like you … Continue reading →