Keep the Decision-Maker Talking: Breakthrough Communicator Tip #8

Hello everyone,

This is Christopher Peck with Speak Into Action Communications.

When we ask open-ended questions, we create room for our other to share about their needs, desires, and feelings--one of our absolute favorite things to do.

It is an essential technique for building trust and rapport, information-gathering, and deepening our personal and professional relationships.

But it can easily be undone with one crippling mistake.

We see it time and time again.

And I'm willing to bet every single one of us has--myself included--committed this detrimental error.

Do...

Not...

Interrupt.

Do not interrupt.

Breakthrough Communicators create this awesome, necessary space for their connections to open up, be transparent, and be authentic.

Nothing shuts this earnest vulnerability down faster than interruption.

Think about the last time you were sharing a story, idea, dream and someone cut you off.

How did you feel?

Perturbed?

Disempowered?

Less than?

Ignored?

Did you feel anything but negativity and maybe a little shame?

Maybe your protective armor was even triggered to protect your child in charge.

Breakthrough Communicators stay connected with the real Decision-Maker by listening more and talking less.

Let them share.

Let them complete their thoughts.

Let them really answer questions.

And please, please, please don't assume--halfway through their thought--you know where it's going and don't have to listen anymore.

You will accomplish nothing through interruption except disengaging the child in charge.

So add this to your communication repertoire:

In addition to asking more open-ended questions, don't interrupt the answers.

Build more intimate, constructive relationships with prospective and current clients, friends, family, children, by encouraging them to keep talking.

Thank you for reading; as always like, comment, and share this blog with fellow Breakthrough Communicators. Let's build a world of richer, more satisfying relationships.

This is Christopher Peck with Speak Into Action Communications; helping businesses perform better by training better performers.

Enjoyed the read? Every blog is available on my Youtube channel in video format along with other great content. Subscribe today!

Hold Anyone's Attention: Breakthrough Communicators' Tip #6

Hello everyone,

Christopher Peck with Speak Into Action Communications.

Breakthrough Communicators build instant rapport with real decision makers, or the child in charge, by focusing intention and expectation through direct eye contact. And to master these skills, they practice every day.

But how do Breakthrough Communicators grab and hold the attention of these decision-makers?

Use.

Their.

Name.

There is no faster, and more positive way to immediately secure the attention of another.

Imagine walking through a crowded park event--pre-pandemic of course--and someone shouts "Chris!" No less than twelve people will instinctively turn around because there's always at least a dozen Chris's around and because we are conditioned to respond to our name.

We like our name.

We like how it sounds.

We like when other people say our name.

And Breakthrough Communicators use names to build deeper, more secure personal and professional relationships.

You see, when you ask someone's name, you indicate they are important enough to build a deeper relationship with.

When you say someone's name, you immediately draw them into your conversation.

When you remember someone's name, you demonstrate they are an important member of your personal or professional community.

And believe me, the child in charge wants to be a part of a community.

So use their name.

If you don't know it, ask.

If they have a name tag. Take advantage of it.

If you're engaged in conversation, use their name multiple times. It encourages your other to maintain attention and reinforces their name in your memory so you can quickly refer to it in a conversation in the future.

Personalize relationships by using names.

Lower defense mechanisms by using names.

And give those names an upward inflection!

Make the name something exciting to say. People want you to say their name. They want to hear it spoken positively and enthusiastically.

And if you can use their name while making eye contact, finding that iris...

Well, this is what breakthrough communicators do.

Thank you for reading everyone, share in the comments section your favorite way to memorize names. I like to use a name no less than three times in a conversation to help it stick. What works for you?

As always like, comment, and share with those who would benefit most from being a Breakthrough Communicator.

This is Christopher Peck with Speak Into Action Communications; helping businesses perform better by training better performers.

Enjoyed the read? Every blog is available on my Youtube channel in video format along with other great content. Subscribe today!