Status Updates From You Said What?! The Biggest...

One of my best sales associates asked me for a raise. He does a tremendous job, but he always interrupts when I am speaking… When I sat down to tell him that he deserved the raise because he had exceeded his goals, he interrupted me and said that he was disappointed that I couldn't give him a raise, but he understood. If he had just let me finish, I think he would have liked my outcome a lot more than his.

Texting should be your last alternative when communicating with the customer unless that is how they like to communicate. Keep track and document all of the texts sent back-and-forth. Take the customer's lead when texting but realize that it does not ever take the place of a real conversation.

Email is one of the largest causes of communication breakdowns. It is fast, easy, and gets our message out there, but it does not take into account the emotions that can be read in the message.

In turn, when a person interrupts, they have the ability to halt opportunities and the chance to build relationships. There's nothing worse than trying to say something and someone else either finishes your sentence or interrupt you with something they think is more important.

When we ask people what behavior drives him crazy, interrupting is one of the most common answers. Interrupting can hold all communication. It makes other people think that you do not care about what they're saying.

This in the next page have a great list of ways you can look and act in a very professional manner so people perceive you in the best possible light.

"Perceptions affect the outcome of our communication. The way we walk, the way we hold ourselves, what we dress, how we carry a briefcase, the look of the briefcase, or smile (or lack of one) — the list could go on. The impression we make on other people often determines how well they communicate with us."

"Set goals for your interactions with others. Before going into any interaction, plan out how you will behave to meet your own A-game goal. "

"We have a choice during those times to be kind to others and to not react negatively. During any meeting or seminar in which we discussed reacting versus staying calm and being kind to people around us, the common thread is that those who are moody and reactive are perceived as less professional. No one wants to work with people who react with things go wrong. "