11 Ways to Get What You Want - Be a Clever Customer!Written by Martin Haworth
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Ask Something Else When they are answering your questions, ask them, once or twice, a little more about what they have told you. This shows that you have been listening and value their information. This powerfully builds bond even more between you! Open and Closed By asking some open (what, how, why, where, when, which) and some closed questions (those which only need a 'yes' or a 'no'), you will vary pressure they feel under. Being able to say 'yes' or 'no', as well as giving you lots of information, means that they get a few breaks and don't feel quite so 'interrogated'. Say Thank You At end of their answers, whether you have reached a satisfactory conclusion or not, thank them for their help - make them feel valued. Invest It's great to invest time in spending a little time in 'chat' mode with your sales person. If they have time - you have to judge from their manner, whether they are in mood to spend time with you. It varies from person to person, time of day and location. But it's worth being aware of. Part Well At very end of transaction, make sure that you add a smiley 'thank you' to mix. Selling stuff all day is tough in itself, without all extra clutter that sales people have to do for their organisation. So by 'making their day' you will be creating a relationship which will be valuable to you for years to come. And For Exceptional Cases Make sure that you are aware of their name, and write and tell their boss - better, their head office. This may or may not do you any financial benefit, but hey, it sure will make you feel great that you have 'made someone's day' by telling rest of their organisation about them!Being smart as a customer can get you benefits that you never expected. Being an awkward, 'clever' or downright obnoxious customer will never help you. By using these tips, you will receive more than you might expect, not every time maybe, but sometimes - and that has got to be a win.
© 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, www.coaching-business-to-success.com.
| | Internal Prisons: The Thief of Productivity and Quality in our WorkforceWritten by Troy Evans
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RECIDIVISM Turnover. In prison you want them leaving early and never coming back. Within your company you want them staying forever. How can both be accomplished? Prisons need to stop being all about incarceration, and nothing about rehabilitation. Companies need start caring about personal lives of their people. Since diversity in workforce is an HR issue, I will conclude with something that is very close to my heart. An ex-con can be your most dedicated, grateful and hardworking employee. If you have one within your company you know what I’m talking about, if you don’t, it’s time you discovered this truth. But before this can happen on a large scale, our prison systems across country need to give offenders a chance to succeed. Because of budget cuts most institutions are forced to spend their precious funds on security related issues, and that leaves almost nothing for vocational and educational programs. Let’s do some simple math. It cost $35,000 per year to house one inmate (and this is a conservative figure). It would cost a fraction of that to educate that same inmate. I have seen studies, which show that re-arrest rate of those who come out of prison with at least two years of prison, an Associates Degree, is 10%. Those who come out with no schooling at all have a re-arrest rate of nearly 60%. The numbers speak for themselves. Hire an ex-offender and contribute to a human being once again becoming a productive member of our society- you may just find that they prove to be your best employee(s)- especially if you let them know you care about their internal prisons. Troy Evans is a Professional Speaker and Author who resides in Phoenix, AZ. He can be reached at: The Evans Group, 3104 E. Camelback Road, #436 Phoenix, AZ 85016, 602-265-6855, troy@troyevans.com and his website is www.troyevans.com
Troy Evans is a professional speaker and author who resides in Phoenix, Arizona Troy travels the country delivering keynote presentations, and since his release from prison has taken the corporate and association platforms by storm.
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