Good conversations with peers, co-workers and customers help create long-lasting business relationships between brands and consumers. To do so, you will have to truly get to know and understand individual consumers in order to provide them with the most suitable product or service. This involves conversations with customers and clients, business partners to form valuable connections.
We understand the importance of getting vital conversations with customers, colleagues and co-workers right. Hence, here are some interesting tips to initiate conversations and talk what matters most in business, such as to increase brand loyalty and create positive brand image.
While these tips might not get you to become an excellent conversationalist, which is an art in itself – however you can get help in communicating the right message to the prospects in brief and concise manner.
Being present in the moment brings about focus to listen attentively and act wisely. This helps you to be in complete control of your words and actions. Individuals must not think about anything else, they need to do but be focused on the present conversation.
If you want to state your opinion without any opportunity for response or argument or pushback or growth, write a blog. For conversation to be interesting to the listener, it is important to remember to not to preach but to bring in humor to keep the listeners engaged.
It is important to listen to what consumer’s desire and then make appropriate suggestions. Also allow time for understanding and to seek responses.
Use questions that start with who, what, when, where, why or how. One-worded answers do not provide any real information, so try to seek beyond to understand people and why they react in a particular fashion.
Just because a thought or a question enters your mind does not mean you have to vent it out or go expressive about it immediately. Listen to what the other has to say and if the question is the right fit to probe deeper for specific answers, then ask. However if it doesn’t, then let things go with the flow. Otherwise it might seem as being disinterested or not been listening.
See: Tips for Inspirational Leaders to Create a Climate of Trust within Organisations
Remember that there is no point in lying to colleagues, co-workers or customers, they will see right through this. Honesty is always the best policy. If you don’t know the answer to a question, offer to go away or seek to find out answers to help.
All experiences are individual, varied and more importantly, it’s not about you. Don’t compare your situation to those of others or how you will react to a particular situation, because it will never be the same. Conversations should not be presented as a promotional opportunity but as an experience to share, care and learn.
People tend to take their point and rephrase it over and over again, with an over thought this could help convincing customers or either themselves. However, such means of holding conversations turns out to be a pretty boring exercise and condescending. You might soon end up losing the attention of the recipient in a while.
People don’t really care about the names, the dates and all those details that are hard to remember. What people are more interested in is to be able to build a rapport, develop strong connection and care about businesses they like with shared interests.
Listening is perhaps the most important conversational skill a person could develop. Listening to the consumer will tell you almost everything you need to know about likes, dislikes and preferences.
A good conversation should be short enough to retain interest but long enough to cover the subject. Always keep your conversations brief, and specific to the point – such as to allow room for questions and answers.
Also read: Closed-Door Conversations at Work: What Do They Really Say About Business Leaders?
Image credit: wnyc.org
