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In
Sales, Words Just Don't Compute
By
Virden J. Thornton
In studies conducted by Motivational
Systems of West Orange, New Jersey,
researchers found that 72% of the 12,000
participants reported that, in first time
meetings, non-verbal communication carried
significantly more weight than a verbal
message (words). Only 6% of the respondents
paid the slightest attention to what a
person said at a first time meeting. This
finding parallels Dr. Al Mahribian's research at UCLA, who reported that only 7%
of a person’s communications effectiveness
comes from words, while 38% is made up of
tone of voice and 55% from non-verbal
communication like eye contact, gestures,
body language, dress, facial hair, etc.
Ninety three percent of what is effectively
communicated is non-verbal.
Think about it. Isn’t it true that when
you first meet someone new that your
impression of them is based on how they look
and sound? Even after you’ve known a
person for a long time, you have a tendency
to believe someone’s body language more
than the words that are used—and if the
words don’t match his or her body
language, you may reject what is said
altogether.
Sales
Letter Templates That Work
Remember, it is impossible to talk a
person into having a great first impression
of you or your company, no matter how hard
you try. Also remember, how you look and
act, rather than what you say is what gives
you “an edge” with your customers,
clients or prospects. A firm handshake, good
posture, self-assured smile, professional
manner and the way you dress are what people
tune into. Sales representatives who try to
talk or persuade a prospect into buying are
totally ineffective. It appears that in
selling, listening skills and not speaking
skills are more important than the words
that describe your products.
From the studies cited above and your own
common sense, you can see that if you truly
want to build a trusting relationship with a
prospect, client or customer, you need to
say as little as possible and get the other
person to do most of the talking. When
communicating with another person, always
keep in mind that your words just don’t
compute!
To acquire a system where people talk
themselves into buying, just click on http://TheSellingEdge.com/manual1.htm
and then apply the techniques outlined in
this unique self-directed learning manual in
each of your sales transactions:
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VIRDEN
THORNTON is the founder and President of
The
$elling Edge®, Inc.
a firm
specializing in sales, customer relations,
and management training and development.
Clients have included Sears Optical, Eastman
Kodak, IBM, Deloitte & Touché, Bank
One, Jefferson Pilot, and WalHMart
to name a few. Virden is the author of Prospecting:
The Key To Sales Success and the
best selling Building
& Closing the Sale, Fifty-Minute
series books and Close
That Sale, a video/audio tape
series published by Crisp Publications, Inc.
Menlo Park, California. He has also authored
a Self-Directed Learning series of sales,
coaching & team development,
telemarketing, and personal productivity
training guides. To obtain a substantial
discount on two of Virden's new manuals, 101
Sales Myths and Organizing
For Sales Success, just click on
either of the titles above.
Note:
You
can contact Virden at virden@TheSellingEdge.com.
You can also see an expan- ded biography
at http://www.TheSellingEdge.com/bio.htm.
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