The Situation

You listen intently as a woman tells you what she needs (i.e., is looking for or wants in a product or service, or from life). You nod your head, mistakenly assuming the gesture implies that you’re listening and you understand. Wrong.

In “womanspeak,” passive, non-verbal responses signal a lack of interest and understanding.

Communication Action Tip

Women require verbal acknowledgement and/or feedback.  

Step One:              Eliminate non-verbal responses when talking to women.

A woman’s communication style is a sharing process. She tells you something, and then you tell her something. Simply nodding your head or listening intently, without saying anything, doesn’t work well with women.

Step Two:             Instead, verbalize your understanding of what she has expressed.

Whether you’re speaking to a woman in a selling situation or in a personal conversation, it works best to give feedback to show your understanding of the highlights of her needs, ideas, wants, etc.

Say: “So if I understand you correctly…” or “So what you’re saying is…”

Final Thoughts

Put it in words!
To build and/or strengthen your professional and personal relationships with women, verbalize that you “get” her and “understand” her. Then send me an e-mail and tell me how much of a difference this made.
© 2008 Kelly McCormick, All rights reserved.

About Kelly McCormick
Speaker and Entrepreneur Kelly McCormick’s insider secrets on selling and women increase sales, from both sides of the counter. Frequently quoted in national media, Kelly offers insightful and entertaining presentations. Her How to Sell to Women and Selling Skills for Women sessions are a hit with corporations, businesses, franchises, and associations, both nationally and internationally. Kelly’s unique ability to customize her presentations to meet the specific needs of her audience continue to make her a highly sought after speaker. Born in Canada, Kelly now resides in Southern California. For more information or to sign-up for Kelly’s Communication E-tip visit www.outsellyourself.com.

Permission to Reprint
You have my permission to reprint this information. Please read the full Terms and Conditions of Use: Click Here