To be ‘interesting’ you have to be ‘interested!’
You don’t demonstrate that you are genuinely interested in others by being totally self-focused. This is the mistake many businesses make; everything they do and say is all about me, me, and me!
Have you ever been out for coffee with someone you just met and all they did was talk about them the entire time? I bet you left the exchange somewhat drained of energy and totally disinterested in this person. Businesses, like people, are much the same.
When you get the opportunity to speak with and meet a new customer, don’t make the conversation all about you, make it about them. What makes you more interesting in business than your competitors is your capacity and willingness to be genuinely interested in customers. Furthermore, this interest should always transcend into a valuable relationship that benefits them in a unique or compelling way.
Let’s forget selling for a moment. I consult and train salespeople for a living, and I can categorically state ‘traditional selling’: essentially ‘what you can do for me’ – is a waste of time. Much more effective is an approach that enables you to align values and add-value to create and develop a relationship that is about them, us and we, (never me.)
How to be ‘interesting’ in business tips:
- Make what you do and say all about your customers
- Lead with getting to know others first, before getting others to know you
- Listen with your heart and feel the underlying emotions of what is really being said
- Always communicate in benefit terms
- Never sell – Always align values and add value
Inspire,
Trent Leyshan
