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You Are Here: Home - Newsletters - "Organized For A Living" - Article
Having spent many years working with difficult people, I've learned my fair share about turning them into my ALLIES. Here are some valuable tips on how to turn that difficult target audience into your special niche, one of your best customers and your partner.
CARE ABOUT THEM
It is often difficult to care about someone who comes across as unreasonable. However, consider the fact that most business people, especially business managers, are under a lot of STRESS. People react to stress differently. By showing your difficult customer that you are interested in their success, you will break down BARRIERS that they may have built up over the years.
SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE
This is a simple observation, yet vastly misunderstood. People don't trust others that don't communicate at the same LEVEL. Words have different meanings for different industries. Get closer to your target audience by learning their "language". I speak 4 foreign languages. When I visit one of the countries whose language I speak, I find something truly amazing. Even if the people I'm working with speak English -- when I make the EFFORT to speak their native language, they OPEN up to me. They treat me as more of an equal. The same goes for learning the jargon and key industry phrases of your customers. They will indeed open up to you more.
BECOME A FRIEND
People follow people that they LIKE! If they like you, if they see that you care about them then they will follow you. It is much easier to talk to your customers if you keep this simple tip in mind.
DISAGREE WITH COMPASSION
Many times you will disagree with your customers. They think they know better, after all it is their job to know. You may be right but don't ARGUE about it. Disagree with compassion. Even if you are right, make every effort to communicate your point without belittling your customer. If they feel "put down", I guarantee you that you will loose them as a customer.
DO NOT FOCUS ON WEAKNESSES
Don't ever try to "CHANGE" your customer. No one likes the feeling of another person trying to alter their behavior. When you work with a person and provide a focus on things that excite them, things that they feel proud of, then their major weaknesses start to deteriorate.
MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Take a personal interest in your customers… even the difficult ones. Once you do, they will begin to SUPPORT you in response to the way you support them. They will become your ally and quite possibly one of your most loyal clients.
Carol Nicolaides is President of Knowledge Innovation Group offering business and personal coaching / consulting in Leadership, Organizational Development, and Knowledge Management. Visit her website at www.kminnovation.com. Want to receive these kind of articles via e-mail each month? Sign up for a free subscription. Click here to return to "Organized For A Living" -- December 2003... Add this page to your Bookmarks!
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