Now
then, let's say you have 2 salespeople - an extrovert and an
introvert. The extrovert is likely to talk - and talk – and talk –
which is exactly what you expect from a sales person. And in the
midst of all this talking, the extrovert will makes sales.
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But
the introvert will do something the extrovert commonly fails to do –
the introvert will ask questions and LISTEN to the answers.
I
don't mean they wait for the prospect to stop talking so they can
begin extolling all the many benefits of the product. I mean they
LISTEN. They want to know what's keeping the prospect awake at night
in relation to the problem the product solves. They want to know the
prospect's fears, desires, dreams, etc. They want to know what's
worked for the prospect, what's failed for the prospect, and what
that prospect really, truly wants so they can help this prospect get
it.
And
this same sales person will continue to use questions as they present
their product or service, questions that direct the prospect to the
desired conclusion - that this product is what they want and need.
Everything
else being equal, 9 times out of 10 the introvert salesperson will
outsell the extrovert – all because they asked questions and
listened closely to the answers.
Introverted
marketers have the same advantage as introverted sales people. They
dig to discover what it is their prospects truly want. They ask
questions, be in in person, over Skype, in forums, via email, etc.
And they pay close attention to the answers.
These
same marketers spend time researching what successful marketers are
doing. They don't assume they already have the answers – instead,
they look to those who've succeeded and they ask how it was done and
how it can be duplicated.
Now
mind you, extroverts can master the skills of asking questions and
listening to the answers as well as any introvert, if they try. It
doesn't come as naturally for them, but it will come with practice.
And
if you look at the most successful people in the world, what you will
find is they stand on the shoulders of those who came before. They
asked questions, got the answers and used this knowledge to carve
their place in the world.
Try
it. Next time someone asks you for advice, ask them questions first.
Next time someone asks about your product, ask them about their needs
first. Next time someone is on a forum looking for help, ask them for
more information. And then pay close attention to what they say
before you make your reply.
It's
an almost unknown fact that asking the right questions and listening
to the answers can be one of the highest paying skills in the world.
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