Consider the old saying that every salesperson knows by heart: People buy from people they like, trust and respect. They especially buy from people with whom they are comfortable -- people who make them feel at ease right from the start.
Seth Godin, author of several best-selling marketing books and writer of the most popular marketing blog in the world, believes this to be true, too. “Selling to people who actually want to hear from you is more effective than interrupting a stranger who doesn’t,” he says.
No matter what your particular profession happens to be, your success also almost certainly depends on how well you are able to relate to people you don’t know or know very well, such as prospective customers, clients or colleagues.
Furthermore, when you feel there’s something large at stake, be it a sale, or otherwise, it's perfectly natural to be anxious about it. What will you say? How can you convince him or her to be on your side? How do you communicate to make a connection?
That is exactly why breaking the ice is so essential. If you can find a topic that most people like to talk about, then engaging a stranger or colleague gets easier. And, this is precisely when having a small amount of current sports knowledge will serve you well.
Whether or not sports is an interest of yours, it may very well be one of theirs. So, breaking the conversational ice with a simple sports comment or question could be just the ticket to put the person you want to talk to at ease.
Seth Godin, author of several best-selling marketing books and writer of the most popular marketing blog in the world, believes this to be true, too. “Selling to people who actually want to hear from you is more effective than interrupting a stranger who doesn’t,” he says.
No matter what your particular profession happens to be, your success also almost certainly depends on how well you are able to relate to people you don’t know or know very well, such as prospective customers, clients or colleagues.
Furthermore, when you feel there’s something large at stake, be it a sale, or otherwise, it's perfectly natural to be anxious about it. What will you say? How can you convince him or her to be on your side? How do you communicate to make a connection?
That is exactly why breaking the ice is so essential. If you can find a topic that most people like to talk about, then engaging a stranger or colleague gets easier. And, this is precisely when having a small amount of current sports knowledge will serve you well.
Whether or not sports is an interest of yours, it may very well be one of theirs. So, breaking the conversational ice with a simple sports comment or question could be just the ticket to put the person you want to talk to at ease.
How can you get the sports information you need? Well, links to ESPN's top sports stories are at the top of this blog. Or, check out this site (www.getsportssmart.com) for the week's top sports stories and/or a really well-done Water Cooler Wrap-Up.
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