Great communication is the backbone to great sales. By being able to convey your message accurately and concisely, people will be more willing to purchase from you but what goes into communication?
It can be divided into two groups – verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication looks at what words you use and how you pronounce them. Non-verbal communication looks at the messages you send through your body language. In this article we will be focusing on how to improve your verbal communication so that you can increase sales.
The tongue is the instrument which you need to master when it comes to verbal communication. There are two aspects to consider:
Tone of voice
Your tone can make or break a deal. If you saying something even if it is encouraging but it has a harsh or sarcastic tone, then you will lose the deal. People are sensitive to the way your voice sounds. You can exercise your tongue by doing tongue twisters to ensure that the way you pronounce sounds is more accurate. You should also match your tone to that of your client as this will make them feel more comfortable in the conversation.
Vocabulary
Words are the basic building blocks to verbal communication there are certain words which need to be avoid. They are:
a) Filler words
These are words which are used but add no value to what you saying. Um and ahh are the most often used by people when they are trying to think about what to say. If used too often you will lose the attention of your audience. You should record yourself and see how many times you use um and ahh and try to minimize it especially if you say um 15 times in a five-minute conversation. You can control this by ensuring you have all the knowledge about the product or service you are selling. The word “basically” is another filler word to avoid. Listen to these two sentences: “Well basically here is how it works” vs “Here is how it works” the second sentence has more power because it is concise and direct. Try to cut it out of your vocabulary.
b) Crutch words
These words are used when we losing our footing while speaking. They are not good to use because they impact the force of what we saying. They dilute our conversation and weaken the points we make Here are some example of crutch words to avoid.
- “Honestly”: when you use this word your audience will wonder if what you have been saying up to that point has been honest. They will doubt your integrity. So don’t use it.
- “Obviously”: some things are not obvious to your client, so try not use this word in your vocabulary. If you should use it, it must be sparingly and correctly.
- “…right?”: this is one of the words used when we make an awkward ending to a sentence we haven’t thought through properly.
You can learn more about crutch words here.
You can improve your public speaking by attending your local toastmasters group and learning more about how to perfect your verbal communication. They will help you with impromptu speaking as well as making great speeches.
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