Social Skills
It never fails - when I go to a conference and we take a break, the networking and collaboration have come to a grinding halt. As if captured by some mind ray, you see a sea of business-dressed junkies face down in their late model smart phones. It could be a business crisis, updating Facebook status (conf is lame, let's do drinks l8r), or trying to figure out what to do with 4 U's in "words with friends". Whatever it is, you'll see tons of people inches from each other NOT TALKING!
Here's some advice - be prepared with some networking questions that are irresistible whenever you find yourself or someone you are trying to do business with in a smart phone coma. Here's a few to get you thinkin':
At a conference/meeting:
"How did you break into this industry?"
"If you were in charge, what would you change?"
"What is your most memorable business meeting?"
When selling to a Smart phone addict:
"Tell me about Your first house purchase." (if this IS it, beware! they should be paying more attention!)
"What is the most amount of money- yours or your company's - that you've EVER spent on one thing?"
and, if you are REALLY stuck -
"Tell me about the fastest car you ever drove.".
This will undoubtedly solicit a "Huh?", to which you have an opening, and nothing to lose.
"Well, you didn't seem to want to talk about Anything else!" This usually turns into an embarrassed smile, removal of the smartphone, and an interesting story.
These examples are cool because they tap into a different part of the brain, and the listener's head must raise! It is almost uncontrollable, if they are contemplating your question at all, they have to access their long term memory, usually easier done by looking...up!
Now go sell somethin'!
Here's some advice - be prepared with some networking questions that are irresistible whenever you find yourself or someone you are trying to do business with in a smart phone coma. Here's a few to get you thinkin':
At a conference/meeting:
"How did you break into this industry?"
"If you were in charge, what would you change?"
"What is your most memorable business meeting?"
When selling to a Smart phone addict:
"Tell me about Your first house purchase." (if this IS it, beware! they should be paying more attention!)
"What is the most amount of money- yours or your company's - that you've EVER spent on one thing?"
and, if you are REALLY stuck -
"Tell me about the fastest car you ever drove.".
This will undoubtedly solicit a "Huh?", to which you have an opening, and nothing to lose.
"Well, you didn't seem to want to talk about Anything else!" This usually turns into an embarrassed smile, removal of the smartphone, and an interesting story.
These examples are cool because they tap into a different part of the brain, and the listener's head must raise! It is almost uncontrollable, if they are contemplating your question at all, they have to access their long term memory, usually easier done by looking...up!
Now go sell somethin'!
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