As society and culture change over time, it is wise to review what worked best in the past in order to adapt it to the new age. Long ago, Theodore Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”
In today’s world, that big stick may have us viewing the use of technology for business development purposes. It’s difficult to comprehend the impact technology has on business growth with just a few minutes of time usage each day. However, on LinkedIn, you may soon be linked to millions of people. For growing business that is certainly a very big stick.
The “speak softly” portion of the President’s quote refers to diplomacy. This philosophy will hold true throughout time because without diplomacy, few will remain long-term clients. More than that are the associated communication techniques that have you almost softly whispering to the minds of your prospective clientele.
Speaking softly includes several complementary communication avenues. Hearing what is not being said and asking questions of the other party as to why specific information was omitted sheds much light. This line of questioning will further your progress in the sales cycle.
Observation of body language and facial expressions provides clues as to what the other person is truly thinking. And recognizing whether your prospect is an auditory, visual or kinesthetic type personality will enable you to more easily communicate on their terms.
All of these nuances of communication serve to build the relationship and trust. Doing so establishes your personal brand and enhances the likelihood of the pending sale.
Through the social media sites, we are more adeptly able to communicate with a wider range of people. Including pictures, links, articles, blogs, video and all else new at the time, along with your posting, makes a greater impact upon the person receiving your information. An even bigger impact is made when others share your information with their connections. And larger than that is when you form a group dedicated to sharing one another’s content. The reach for each of you becomes exponential.
The increased and combined sharing of information today is ripe for headlines with the media. As the media interviews increase along with requests for articles or combination postings from you and your peers, your activity will be seen and read worldwide. The more active you become online, reaching huge numbers, and share valuable information that your intended clientele can use, the greater the likelihood awards may come your way, too.
Likewise, the ability today to remain nimble with technology is of importance. We are transitioning from high-end desk top computers to pads and phones that are lightweight, easy to carry and offer highly effective apps for ease of business execution. For example, Twitter and LinkedIn apps make it almost easier to grow connections with apps than on the traditional desktop computer.
The process of speaking softly and using strong technology with expert communication skills, and effective marketing strategy, move you to becoming unstoppable. Implementing these ideas will enable you to attract a much larger clientele and find the Smooth Sale!
