Module Four Communication Skills The Importance of Communication

Module Four Communication Skills

The Importance of Communication An Expert’s Viewpoint: Lisa Taglianetti is an account manager for Office Depot Business Services Division. Lisa and her sales team were working with a major medical center. . . they were not there just to sell product, but to establish a mutually valued business relationship. Consequently, the initial goal was to gain information about the prospect’s current situation that might assist them in discovering potential opportunities that the medical center was missing. . . Action

The Importance of Communication An Expert’s Viewpoint: Result. . . as a result of increased levels of interaction and communication, Office Depot is now the single source provider for office supplies.

Sales Communication as a Collaborative Process What’s the difference between “talking at the customer” and “talking with the customer”?

Verbal Communication: Questioning Salespeople skilled at questioning take a strategic approach to asking questions so that they may: • Control the flow and direction of the conversation • Uncover important information • Demonstrate concern and understanding • Facilitate the customer’s understanding

Types of Questions: Controlling Amount and Specificity of Information • Open-end Questions How do You Feel?

Types of Questions: Controlling Amount and Specificity of Information • Open-end Questions • Closed-end Questions Do You Feel Good?

Types of Questions: Controlling Amount and Specificity of Information • Open-end Questions • Closed-end Questions • Dichotomous/Multiple-Choice Questions Do You Feel Happy or Sad?

Types of Questions: Strategic Purpose • Probing Questions – designed to penetrate below generalized or superficial information 1. Requesting Clarification • “Can you share an example of that with me? ” 2. Encouraging Elaboration • “How are you dealing with that situation now? ” 3. Verifying Information and Responses • “So, if I understand you correctly… Is that right? ”

Types of Questions: Strategic Purpose • Probing Questions • Evaluative Questions – use open- and closed-end question formats to gain confirmation and to uncover attitudes, opinions, and preferences of customer. – “How do you feel about…? ” – “Do you se the merits of…? ” – “What do you think…? ”

Types of Questions: Strategic Purpose • Probing Questions • Evaluative Questions • Tactical Questions – used to shift or redirect the topic of discussion – “Earlier you mentioned that…” – “Could you tell me more about how that might affect…”

Types of Questions: Strategic Purpose • • Probing Questions Evaluative Questions Tactical Questions Reactive Questions – refer to or directly result from information previously provided by the other party. – “You mentioned that … Can you give me an example of what you mean? ” – “That is interesting. Can you tell me how it happened? ”

Guidelines for Combining Types of Questions for Maximal Effectiveness Discussion and Interpretation Confirmation and Agreement Choice from Alternatives Amount of and Specificity of Information Desired Explore and Dig for Details Gain Confirmation & Discover Attitudes/Opinions Change Topics or Direct Attention Follow-Up Previously Elicited Statements Open-end Questions Designed to be Probing in Nature Open-end Questions Designed to be Evaluative in Nature Open-end Questions Designed to be Tactical in Nature Open-end Questions Designed to be Reactive in Nature Closed-end Questions Designed to be Probing in Nature Closed-end Questions Designed to be Evaluative in Nature Closed-end Questions Designed to be Tactical in Nature Closed-end Questions Designed to be Reactive in Nature Dichotomous or Multiple-choice Questions Designed to be Probing in Nature Dichotomous or Multiple-choice Questions Designed to be Evaluative in Nature Dichotomous or Multiple-choice Questions Designed to be Tactical in Nature Dichotomous or Multiple-choice Questions Designed to be Reactive in Nature

Verbal Communication: Strategic Application of Questioning • • Generate Buyer Involvement Provoke Thinking Gather Information Clarification and Emphasis Show Interest Gain Confirmation Advance the Sale

Situation Questions Definition: Finding out facts about the buyer’s existing situation. Examples: How many people do you employ at this location? How do you manage your customers and contacts? Impact: Least powerful of the SPIN questions. Negative relationship to success. Most people ask too many. Advice: Eliminate unnecessary Situation Questions by doing your homework in advance.

Problem Questions Definition: Asking about problems, difficulties or dissatisfactions that the buyer is experiencing with the existing situation. Examples: Have you ever had trouble managing your time & customers? Which parts of the system create error? Impact: More powerful than Situation Questions. People ask more Problem Questions as they become more experienced at selling. Advice: Think of your products or services in terms of the problems they solve for buyers—not in terms of the details or characteristics that your products possess.

Implication Questions Definition: Asking about the consequences or effects of a buyer’s problems, difficulties, or dissatisfactions. Examples: What effect does that problem have on your productivity? Could that be impeding your ability to develop good relationships with your customers? Impact: The most powerful of all SPIN questions. Top salespeople ask lots of Implication Questions. Advice: These questions are the hardest to ask. Prepare for these questions by identifying and understanding the implications of various suspected needs prior to the sales call.

Need-Payoff Questions Definition: Asking about the value or usefulness of a proposed solution. They seek the buyer’s opinion as to what life would be like if the problem was solved. Examples: How would better time & customer management help you? Would you like to discuss how we can do that for you? Impact: Versatile questions used a great deal by top salespeople. These questions help the buyer to understand the benefits of solving the problem. Advice: Use these questions to get buyers to tell you the benefits that your solution can offer.

ADAPT Techniques for Needs Discovery Assessment Questions • Broad bases and general facts describing situation • Non-threatening as no interpretation is requested • Open-end questions for maximum information Discovery Questions • Questions probing information gained in assessment • Seeking to uncover problems or dissatisfactions that could lead to suggested buyer needs • Open-end questions for maximum information Activation Questions • Show the negative impact of a problem discovered in the discovery sequence • Designed to activate buyer’s interest in and desire to solve the problem. Projection Questions • Projects what life would be like without the problems • Buyer establishes the value of finding and implementing a solution Transition Questions • Confirms interest in solving the problem • Transitions to presentation of solution

Verbal Communication: Listening Pay Attention Monitor Non-Verbal Make No Assumptions Effective Active Listening Paraphrase & Repeat Encourage Buyer to Talk Visualize

Types of Listening Social Listening Serious Listening Requires Concentration and Cognition

SIER Hierarchy of Active Listening Responding Evaluating Interpreting Sensing

Verbal Communication • Organize Thoughts • Paint Word Pictures • Watch Grammar

Nonverbal Communication • • • Facial Expressions Face Eye Movements Placement and Movements of Hands, Arms, Head, and Legs Body Posture and Orientation Proxemics Variation in Voice Characteristics – Speaking Rate and Pause Duration – Pitch or Frequency – Intensity and Loudness Head Arms Feet Legs Posture

Personal Distance • Public Zone: >12 feet • Social Zone: 4 - 12 feet • Personal Zone: 2 -4 feet • Intimate Zone: 0 -2 feet You Me

Common Nonverbal Clusters Cluster Name Cluster Meaning Openness, flexibility and sincerity Defensiveness, skepticism, and apprehension Evaluation and consideration of message Deception Dishonesty and secretiveness Readiness Dedication or commitment Boredom Lack of interest and impatience Body Posture & Orientation Movement of Hands, Arms, & Legs Eyes & Facial Expression • Open hands • Removing coat • Unbutton collar • Uncrossed arms & legs • Slight smile • Good eye contact • Rigid body • Crossed arms & legs • Minimal eye contact • Glancing sideways • Pursed lips • Tilted head • Leaning forward • Hand on cheek • Stroking chin • Chin in palm of hand • Patterns of rocking • Fidgeting with objects • Increased leg movement • Increased eye movement • Frequent gazes elsewhere • Forced smile • Sitting forward • Hands on hips • Legs uncrossed • Feet flat on floor • Increased eye contact • Head in palm of hands • Slouching • Drumming fingers • Swinging a foot • Brushing & picking at items • Tapping feet • Poor eye contact • Glancing at watch • Blank stare • Moving closer • Leaning forward • Dropping glasses to lower nose