Transcript Chapter_04
© 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
McGraw-Hill/Irwin
CHAPTER 4
Using Communication Principles to
Build Relationships
Some questions answered in this chapter are:
What are the basic elements in the communication process?
Why are listening and questioning skills important?
How can salespeople develop listening skills to collect
information about customers?
How do people communicate without using words?
What are some things to remember when communicating via
technology like phones and e-mail?
How does a salesperson adjust for cultural differences?
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Two-Way Flow of Information
The sender
(seller) encodes
a message.
The receiver
(buyer) decodes
the message.
Who then becomes…
Who then becomes…
The receiver
(seller) then
decodes the
buyer’s message.
The sender
(buyer) who
encodes a reply
message.
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Sending Verbal Messages Effectively
• Words are tools
• Words have different meanings
in different cultures and
subcultures
• Word pictures
• Delivery of words
–
–
–
–
Pace
Volume
Inflection
Articulation
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Active Listening
80-20 listening rule
Salespeople should
listen 80 percent of
the time and talk no
more than 20 percent
of the time.
Speaking-listening
differential
People can speak at
a rate of only 120160 words per
minute, but they can
listen to more than
800 words per
minute.
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Active Listening (continued)
• Repeating information
• Restating or
rephrasing
information
• Clarifying information
• Summarizing the
conversation
• Tolerating silences
• Concentrating on the
ideas being
communicated
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Reading Nonverbal Messages
from Customers
•
•
•
•
•
Positive
Body angle
Face
Arms
Hands
Legs
Power and authority
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Underlying
tension
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Patterns of Nonverbal Reactions to
Presentation
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Body Language Patterns
• No single gesture or position defines a
specific emotion or attitude
• Consider the pattern of signals via a
number of channels
• Signals customers are hiding their true
feelings:
– Contradictions and verbal mistakes
– Differences in two parts of a conversation
– Contradictions between verbal and nonverbal
messages
– Certain nonverbal signals such as hesitation in
the voice, small shrugs, and so on
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Encouraging Forthright Discussion
• “Perhaps there is some reason you
cannot share the information with
me.”
• “Are you worried about how I might
react to what you are telling me?”
• “I have a sense that there is really
more to the story than you are telling
me. Let’s put the cards on the table
so we can put this issue to rest.”
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Sending Messages with Nonverbal
Communication
• Using body language
– Facial muscles
– Eye contact
– Hand movement and
hand shaking
– Posture and body
movements
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The Role of Space and
Physical Contact
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Appearance
• Consider the geography
– The temperature
– The local cultural norms
• Consider your customers
– Their appearance
– Their expectations of your appearance
• Consider your corporate culture
– Norms for your industry
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Appearance (continued)
• Consider your aspirations
– Top levels of your organization
– Dress above your position
• Consider your own personal style
– Wait until you have the halo effect
– Be reasonable
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Communicating via technology
• Face-to-face conversation
– 40 percent: words
– 10 percent: voice characteristics
– 50 percent: nonverbal communications
• Telephone
•
•
•
•
•
•
Practice
Prepare
Don’t be rushed
Smile as you talk
Active listening
Set objectives
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Comparison of Various Methods of
Salesperson Communications
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Technology Tips
• Immediacy does not equal intimacy.
• Learn how the customer likes to
communicate.
• Avoid “techno overkill.”
• Make the conversation meaningful.
• Customize your messages when using
technology.
• Use speed to impress customers.
• Don’t deliver bad news via email.
• Use proper etiquette when leaving voice
mail messages.
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Adjusting for Cultural Differences
• Salespeople need to recognize that
business practices differ around the world
• Terms have different meanings
• Time perception
Low-context
cultures
Most of the
information that flows
between buyer and
seller is in the
spoken words
themselves.
High-context
cultures
More information is
contained in factors
surrounding the
communication.
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Differences Between
High- and Low-Context Cultures
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Using English in International Selling
• Use common English words, e.g. stop
instead of cease.
• Use words that do not have multiple
meanings.
• Avoid American slang expressions.
• Use strict rules of grammar.
• Use action-specific verbs.
• Never use vulgar expressions, tell off-color
jokes, or make religious references.
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Summary
• The communication process consists of a sender, who
encodes information and transmits messages, and a
receiver, who decodes the messages.
• Effective communication requires a two-way flow of
information.
• When communicating verbally with customers,
salespeople must be careful to use words and
expressions their customers will understand.
• Listening is a valuable communication skill that enables
salespeople to adapt to various situations.
• About 50 percent of communication is nonverbal.
• Salespeople can use nonverbal communication to
convey information to customers.
• Two-way communication increases when salespeople
adjust their communication styles to the styles of their
customers.
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