There is a big difference between listening to someone and hearing them.  Listening skills are an extremely important component to our ability to understand what our clients needs are. Too often the person you are attempting to communicate with really is NOT listening to a word you say.

Females speak twice the number of words (20,000 per day) which is more than males do.

ARE YOU ALL TALK?

You will learn more by saying less.  How many times has someone talked over you?  Frustrating isn't it?

 That when your brain is engaged in talk mode you are unable to listen. 

Have you ever noticed how small a hippo's ears are?

WAYS TO IMPEDE YOUR PROGRESS

Not allowing the person speaking to finish their sentence.

Jumping to conclusions, before the point has been made or established.

Deliberately ignoring or failing to comprehend what the person speaking is attempting to tell you.

And lastly, imparting only your own opinion and drawing no new information from the exchange.

WAYS TO CLARIFY CLOUDY COMMUNICATION

Reiterate what a person has said.

Confirm their concerns

Provide good feedback

 GIZMOS AND GADGETS

It is not a gadget, a gizmo or the latest techno trendy tool

It cannot be downloaded, uploaded, or scripted. 

It is rudimentary.

The ONLY tool you need to succeed are your ears.  What is between them will work much better. It is called listening.

The single most important thing you can do to increase business, improve your professional standing, or get ahead in life in general, is to be like a Rabbit.  Have big ears and a small mouth.

In my market area St. Cloud-Florida we have a diverse and eclectic field of buyers. Most have "heard" that it is a "Buyers Market"-  many have misconceptions as to exactly what that means.

Let them talk- Hear them out, then explain that they have competition-because they do.

Respect the customers price range- help them assess their wants from the needs.

And above all listening carefully when calling for showing instructions.

Sales are being achieved at a greater level than they were a year ago.  But in order to tap into the market, you must have good listening skills a well as effective communications skills.   This applies equally to consumers as well as professionals.

Good Luck and Sell Well!