In addition to my coaching, and my usual comings and goings this past couple of months, I’ve been in
real estate business, selling my own home, and working with a coaching client who wants to buy a house in Alabama. I’ve seen a lot of people trying to sell things lately and thought I’d share with you High EQ, Low EQ in
sales world. EQ—Emotional Intelligence—is all those “soft” skills that drive a hard bargain in
marketplace. Research is showing what a powerful performance differentiator it is, separating
outstanding performers from
average performers.
The four domains of Emotional Intelligence are: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Within these groups there are 18 competencies, one of which directly predicts good sales people, and all of which contribute.
Now, selling something is nothing so much as relationship, conversation. It means being able to present your item to
person in such a way they’ll see
benefit to them and want to buy it. To do this, you must assess
person and speak their language.
For instance, you cannot sell
best heater in
world to a freezing Intuit if any of
following takes place: ·If you do not speak Intuit and they do not speak English ·If it is taboo in their culture to have an electric heater ·If you inadvertently insult or offend
Intuit because of lack of knowledge of their culture, or low EQ skills
The more multicultural we get,
more flexible most of us are, but there are some things considered inexcusable in every culture that are best avoided. If you’re spending a lot of time with folks from that culture, it’s best to read up, or study with a coach.
We’d all agree, for instance, that to show up to look at a house naked is inappropriate, in any culture, at any time. Beyond that, your particular shopper may be sporting a nose ring, fishnet hose, a 3-piece suit, blue jeans, a sarong, a toupee, a 10 carat diamond ring, or grease and oil all over his shirt and fingernails, and may show up in a brand new Jaguar, or a 7-year-old Chevy truck.
Each of these markers is a nonverbal clue to you about
person, how best to relate to them, and how best to sell your product.
Okay, here’s
EQ Quiz:
Showing
House:
Paul walks
clients through saying little, and when he does, he says, “Nice living room,”or “beautiful fireplace, don’t you think?” Mary walks
clients through talking a good bit of
time saying things like, “This looks like it would be big enough for your music room,” and “There’s
perfect spot for your fig trees.”
Question: Who’s most likely to make
sale, Paul or Mary?
Romancing
Homeowner:
Robert
Realtor wants Harriet
Homeowner to lower her price. He leaves
customers in
living room and walks into Harriet’s study where she’s at
computer. “So you’re ready to move?” he says. “Where are going to?” “Dallas,” she replies. “Well, you’re gonna become a great Dallas fan, huh? Big game this weekend. If
Cowboys can keep them off of Carter long enough to get
ball downfield, there could be plenty of big plays from
receivers. You’re gonna love those Cowboys.” Then his cell phone rings, he pulls it out of his pocket and starts talking.