I am often asked what is the one communication skill small business owners should possess in order to be as successful as possible. The best adv...
But what’s most important to remember is to always keep in mind your client or prospect. If you pay more attention to your clients and prospects and put yourself in their shoes, you’ll be practicing empathy. And empathy is the most important communication skill a person can have at work or at home. By putting yourself in the other’s place, you’ll get a sense of how it feels to be bombarded with 20 emails in a week from the same person trying to sell you something, for example. You’ll understand how it could take a little while to make a sale until the other person knows you and your business and feels you are trustworthy.
Empathy is different than sympathy. Sympathy says, “I understand.” But empathy says, “I feel your pain.” And THAT’S what people most want. We want others to “get” us in a way that understanding alone cannot bring about. Here are a few tips to help you express empathy for your clients and prospects:
By following these simple guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to practicing empathy regularly. Once you do, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by the results!
Public Speaking as a Powerful Tool to Get Business
Believe it or not, I know dozens of people who have put off completing a college degree because they were afraid to take the dreaded public speaking class. I have met business owners who have avoided opportunities to present their products or services to potential prospects because they were terrified of getting up there in front of an audience.Effective Business Plan Presentations
Peter Drucker, American educator and writer once said, “Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.” As you put together your business plan, remember that as a planning document for your business, you will need to present your plan to several audiences in order to get those people to commit to taking action in accordance with your plan.Five Tips to Keep Your Valentine’s Day Romantic Feelings Going Strong Year-Round
Ah, Valentine’s Day. The flowers. The candy. The cards. The fancy schmancy dinner in a “nice” restaurant. Sharing one decadent dessert with two forks. The romance. The soft music. The candlelight that makes everyone look amazing. How wonderful. Then comes the rest of the year.