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Strategize your professional communication to cast the first impression!
Von admin | 22.Juni 2009
In the corporate realm, your first impression is the last impression and there are no second chances! When you are targeting at winning over your client, your talking has to be much more than just mere words. Right from your body language to your facial expressions to even the color of your hair – every impression counts. Whether the series of your communication begins with simple email or a telephonic conversation, make sure your ice-breaking first statements are the most impressive! When you carry a conversation, adopt an approach based on a thorough understanding of your client and his goals, so that he sees a potential partner in you for his varied business endeavors.
Here are a few tips on how to leave an impressionable impact on your potential client through your professional communication strategies.
1. Cast your best impression on a new client by cracking a winning first statement. Your first statement can be the door to success and ensure the opening of new horizons of business opportunities. Your opening line should be between 15-40 seconds to create interest in your client for your company. The key to a successful opening statement is to show your immense knowledge on your clients’ products rather than just boasting your own products. Make sure that the opening statement is not replete with in-appropriate jargons and mispronounced names. Keep the statement short and focused.
2. It is important to prepare your first ever communication before you fix up a meeting with him. Conduct comprehensive research work on the profile of the client you are addressing and his company. Read the company’s progress status through surveys and channel strategies to help the company aspire for new business goals. Knowledge on the company’s history would position you better to analyze the prospects of your client’s needs. Address these aspirations and goals in your first interaction so as to convince him of your capabilities.
3. It is good to keep a list of questions you want to subject to your client handy, however, reserve them for the end of the interview when you see him quite impressed with your answers. Let the client get over with his 30 minutes of speech on his expectations from you and your prospective role in his company and then you can shoot with your questions one by one.
4. Before going for the interview or another round of discussions it is always better to structure few of your statements before you get started with the client. Structuring of sentences on one hand instills confidence for facing the client and second, it helps you to pen professionally correct statements. As per the rule, your statements should not end as open-ended questions. For example, “We had set up a meeting, didn’t we?” Your statements should be informative, plain with a conversational tone, rather than a questioning tone.
5. Avoid verbal ticks like, “you know, ummm, like” etc. These are unnecessary pauses that cast your bad impression on your interviewer. This also gives a sign of your lack of confidence and nervousness. Ignore butterflies in your stomach and present a more calm and confident self of yours. Instead of using verbal ticks, take a pause of 1-2 seconds to think and gather knowledge before responding your client. The key lies in starting on with the information which you know the most. This will give you a push to carry even hour’s interviews.
6. Your body also speaks of a language which is as important as your verbal language. The posture of your body, eye contact, hand-shakes, style of walk all reflects signals of your personality. A good eye contact shows that you are interested in what is being said by your client. A pleasant smiling face expresses your pleasure at meeting him. Therefore, in the interview with your client, every body action reflects signals of your mind-frame and thus your interest. So, plan your move and rehearse for the interview before fixing up the appointment with your potential clients. Make every move count as an impression to interest your client and show your core capabilities at handling his projects.
7. Your interview with your client isn’t really the appropriate place to test your funny bone. Many people, out of nervousness or as an attempt to meet a common ground indulge themselves into cracking jokes to create a light environment. This on the other hand is your interviewer’s job to soothe a tense environment for you. Instead of you cracking the jokes, you must concentrate on giving them short and targeted answers to their questions. Remember, your interview is your test to check your professional skills and not your socializing skills.
8. Never badmouth your previous boss while sitting for the current interview. Even though your previous recruiter was next to a Hitler, badmouthing him is a serious professional offence. You ought to talk about your attributes and achievements in your previous company than badmouthing them.
9. Talk about your failures as your accomplishments. This can be achieved by stressing how your failures have been major landmarks in your life and how much you’ve learned from them. Presenting your mistakes as achievements project you as a growing person eager to learn from your mistakes.
10. Talk about your goals and aspirations you’d like to meet while working with this company. Where would you like to see yourself five years down the line in this company? Talk about what kind of changes would you like to bring for this company. It is imperative to address these goals to your interviewer lest he takes you for an un-ambitious and lazy person. He ought to see a potential employee in you, so, give him what he expects from you. However, make sure that you do not portray your goals in an exaggerated manner as that might cast your fake impression on the interviewer. The key lies in conversing focused, short and targeted sentences and avoiding fluffing of sorts.
Do you agree with this ten points?
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