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The Importance of Relationship Building in Sales
- Business Development, NLP, Sales Process
- Lifepuzzle
“When it comes to making sales… The simple truth is that we do business with people we like. That’s why relationship building in sales is so important.”
~ Chandell Labbozzetta
When you’re trying to build your business and make sales, it can be difficult to come across as genuine and friendly. You don’t want to seem fake; you just want people to see the value in what you sell. That’s why I believe it’s important to work from the inside out and build relationships rather than rely on tricks and techniques. Your prospects have a BS antenna, just like you do. Luckily, there are plenty of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and communication tools to make building relationships in sales an integral part of your personality instead of a conscious facade. Read on for six simple ways you can work on building relationships to make more sales by being more self-assured and authentic.
Be a Confident Sales Person
Many people find it difficult to be confident salespeople or they don’t know how to convey confidence in themselves and their sales abilities to others. They can come across as over-assertive or pushy and that is never a good look.
The challenge is to communicate genuine confidence, not the fake kind. You can boost your confidence by thinking positively, doing a little exercise, and practicing to make yourself feel better.
The problem is that positive thinking takes will-power, and sometimes we’d rather just drift along. That’s where a specific NLP technique can get you back on track and keep you from getting down when things aren’t going your way, and it also helps you stay enthusiastic when things are going well. Even if you don’t understand NLP, here’s a habit that anyone can develop:
- Write down three things you are good at as a sales person – (your notes app on your phone is a great place to do this)
- Also write down three things you are not so good at.
Every time negative thoughts start to pop into your head, add to both these lists by writing down another three things you are good at and three things you are not so good at.
Over time, you’ll collect a robust list in both of these areas. That way, instead of worrying about the things you cannot control, you’ll be focused on the things you can control. Here are a few more tips that can help boost your sales:
Speak from Your Core Values
If you want to make meaningful connections with people, you have to speak from your core values. When you do this, people feel a stronger connection with you, are more likely to value your products and services, and want to get to know you.
A great way to boost the number of people who understand and appreciate your core values, is to start by telling your story in a more personal way. This doesn’t mean that you spend hours talking about yourself, though – that will just make people think that you are self-absorbed. Instead, find a simple way to connect your story to your core values using metaphors and analogies.
Your team members should also speak about their core values – and hopefully they share your esteem for the business you all work in. It’s ok to acknowledge that your product or service doesn’t suit everyone – in fact, that’s a great way to frame your questions and dig deeply for information about the person you are talking to. If you ask the right questions, just about everyone (except for undercover ASIO agents) likes talking about themselves.
Show Yourself and Your Team in Real Life
One of the best ways to convey your core values and build relationships in sales is through non-business-life examples.
We all know that people have a life outside their work, and when you can communicate that you often find unexpected links and connections with your prospects. I’m a keen golfer and as long as I don’t talk about it too much with people who have no interest in golf, it’s a great way of developing a relationship with people who share my interest.
It’s the same for your team members. Encourage them to engage with prospects appropriately and build rapport via non-business interests in pets, hobbies, etc. You should always remember that everyone has a human side no matter what their role in the company.
Stay Flexible and Adaptable
One of the core principles of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is that “The person with the most flexibility controls the conversation.” In sales, it’s your responsibility to make adjustments to the conversation and offer so that you highlight the factor that whoever you’re speaking to is most concerned about.
It’s important that you don’t let these adjustments lead to you losing control of the sale and letting your prospect dictate the terms of the sales and delivery. If you aren’t getting the results you want, you and your team should gather information and discuss it carefully. Businesses need to adapt to market conditions, competitors, and prospects’ needs and you should be prepared for this kind of adjustment.
This is also true when you’re having a conversation. Just because you’d planned to spend more time discussing a particular benefit of your product, if you realise that your prospect has not interest, then move on and find the point of pain where they are really interested. If the point you wanted to make was critical to their buying decision, you can circle back to it later using a lateral chunk.
Help People Feel Good About Themselves
If you want to build lasting relationships in sales with prospects and clients so that you keep doors open for further deals, then you’ll need to make a concerted effort to boost the amount of time you spend helping others get what they want. Zig Ziglar used to say, “You can get anything you want in life if you spend enough time helping others get what they want.”
That is an important principle to keep in mind. Figure out what your prospect wants and find a way to position your product or service so that it helps them achieve that. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time, but it will not only help others, but it also helps you feel good about yourself.
NLP Can Help You Build Better Relationships in Sales
There’s probably a reason why NLP didn’t become a formal discipline until the 1950s. It’s most likely connected to the fact that up until the early twentieth century people lived a lot closer to each other and were far less mobile.
That meant that you already knew most of the things you had in common with the people you did business with, and you didn’t need to work so hard to build trust. The chances are that others already knew you from school, family, and church settings, and that you had had plenty of opportunities to develop your communication and conversation skills over time.
It’s different now, which is why people who want to excel try to enhance their understanding of how people think, act, and react… And why NLP tools and techniques are important to help us build relationships in sales.
At Life Puzzle, we are proud to offer the best NLP courses in Australia. Our courses are guaranteed to improve your or your team’s sales skills as we offer a mix of both theoretical and practical NLP sales training. Our NLP courses are designed to provide you with all the tools and techniques you need to be a successful salesperson.
We cover everything from understanding the psychology behind why people buy, to learning how to build rapport and connect with people in a practical way. Our NLP courses are suitable for both beginners and experienced salespeople as we offer a range of courses that cater to all levels. If you are looking for NLP training in Australia, then contact us today to find out more about our NLP courses.
Through expert sales training, NLP coaching, and business development consulting, we’ve helped professionals refine their communications, accelerate their sales and supercharge their personal satisfaction and confidence. Do you want to be one of our success stories?
