Communication starts with someone uttering a single word. Usually, this would cause the other person to respond, again using words. However, as we all know, the words used have a lot of power. Words can hurt, bring joy and inspire. There is no business in this world that exists without the use of words to start it, continue it and yes, even end it.
The words we use in that business can make it successful or not. Which words are you using to make sure that there is a desirable outcome for all involved? After all, ‘words are free, it’s how you use them that may cost you.’
A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting in a bar/restaurant on a Saturday evening to watch my son play hockey. When I walked in, I was struck by the fact that there was one bartender, one server and one person in the kitchen and that was two too many people working. The only other patron was a young lady who was there to watch her husband play; he played for the opposition which created great banter back and forth between us. I asked the server: “It’s kind of slow tonight. What’s happened?” Last year this place was packed and to get a seat to watch my son play was a challenge at the best of times. The response from him was quite telling.
You have a great product/service, of course you do, or why else would you be selling the product/service, but for some reason, you have been unable to get the traction that you thought you would have and you are now questioning whether it is really a good product/service. It may not be your product/service; it may be you.
How many times have we heard that? How many jokes do we make about that particular question? Truth be told, they are doing something that we, as business people rarely do.
This week, I was witness to a sales ‘train wreck’ that I thought I would never see. Where the ‘value’ of a product was so cheapened as to make me, and I’m sure others, to actually question its true worth. We have seen it all before, but it is generally reserved for late night, or, early morning infomercials and not by what I thought were, but obviously are not, true professionals.