The term speaks for itself. You have to be active to listen properly, do not just hear listen.
We focus on the sighs and tutts and know the objection is coming. Knowing is not enough, you must do something about it. What most of us do is instead of pre-empting the objection we race through our sales pitch in the hope that something we say may generate an interest.
Most convictions occur due to the information we provide when questioned. Evidence alone is seldom enough as in sales the product is not enough, the advantage we have as sale people is that customers don’t have lawyers telling
them to say nothing.
As we call customers they give us the ammunition we need to sell however we are often too busy thinking of what we can say next to actually listen to the what the customer is telling us. Even if it is only a rapport building opportunity
that you have missed, it could be the trust factor that loses you the sale. More rapport, more trust.
Nobody likes to be spoken at, nor sold to. Involve the prospect in the discussion and you will gather the information you need to sell them a solution. With the right questions you will uncover frustrations that you may be able to relieve customers of. The true art of selling is not selling, it’s have
the customer buy. We all have needs and wants, what are your customers?
Stop selling and start listening
Selective Listening
This is choosing to hear certain parts of the conversation that they want to hear. This is often done when we are talking with someone who rambles on.
Pretend Listening
This is showing the signs of listening but not listening at all. “Yeah, uh-huh, Right
Attentive Listening
This is when we pay attention and focus our energy on the words that are being said
Empathic Listening
Listening with the intent to understand, seeking first to understand, then to be understood
Ignoring
Not listening at all. Having no interest in the subject and choosing to Shut-Off from what the other is saying