The 70/30 Rule

Have you ever been asked how you were doing and then after a few seconds the other person launches into a ten minute monologue of the things they really wanted to tell you? This is one of the most common mistake people make in communication. Toby Keith produced a song several years ago titled, I Wanna Talk About Me. In the song his girlfriend talks all the time about herself and he never gets to talk about what he wants to talk about. A funny song that gets to the heart of how you can damage your personal and business relationships. A healthy conversation would include you talking 30% of the time and the other person 70%. You have heard the saying, "God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason." By dominating the conversation you send a message that I really do not care what you have to say. Salespeople can be so excited about their product that they fail to slow down and ask enough questions to find out if their prospect wants or needs what they are selling. The rule is simply talk less and listen more. Have a great week! Pierce P.S. Quote of the week: Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They're either speaking or preparing to speak. They're filtering everything through their own paradigms, reading their autobiography into other people's lives. ~ Stephen Covey