The Green Sheet Online Edition
May 5, 2014 • 14:05:02
Become a master communicator
Do you watch industry leaders in action at conferences and wonder how they can communicate so effectively in a range of demanding situations? Would you like to know how they can seem so at ease as they offer one intelligent comment after another
There is no secret formula. It is easy to cultivate certain habits to go from so-so communicator to superb communicator. Following are three tips to help increase your ability to communicate effectively.
Master your subject matter
When you know your industry, products and services inside out, you can talk about them with ease, and be unruffled when you don’t know an answer. It’s time to revisit the wealth of information on how to study provided to school students and apply it to your job. Follow the proven practices for taking notes, setting goals, managing your study time, and more. Don’t delay. Thorough knowledge of payments overall and mastery of your niche will enable you to relax when called upon to speak.
Focus on relationships
Just because you are well prepared for a meeting or presentation doesn’t mean you should flaunt it. Focus on taking a genuine interest in the people you meet at professional events. Someone might not need what you have to offer right now or be able to partner with your business immediately. But if you establish a good connection and reinforce that periodically by checking in via email or phone, your mutual needs might someday converge. If not, the relationships you build could lead to referrals to customers who are a better fit. Good long-term relationships also bring satisfaction to your life beyond what hefty earnings can provide.
Listen to understand
Listening well goes hand in hand with relationship building. Outstanding communicators are always adept at comprehending what others have to say. They do not stick with rigid scripts or become preoccupied with what they want to say next. They listen closely in an effort to truly understand. They ask questions for clarification and to gain insights into the situation of the person they’re speaking with so ultimately they can be of help.
In the sales world, what could be more important than stellar communication skills?
Whether you want to upgrade your POS offerings, find a payment gateway partner, bone up on fintech regs or PCI requirements, find an upcoming trade show, read about faster payments, or discover the latest innovations in merchant acquiring, The Green Sheet is the resource for you. Since 1983, we've helped empower and connect payments professionals, starting with the merchant level salespeople who bring tailored payment acceptance and digital commerce tools, along with a host of other business services to merchants across the globe. The Green Sheet Inc. is also a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals.
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