As a long time salesman, I’ve come across my fair share, and then some of difficult people. I know I’m not alone, as I once overheard a fairly new salesman tell a coworker that, ” Selling is a geat way to make a living … except for the people you sell to. “
I know how he feels, as I’ve ran into every available type of individual there is. From those that just plain enjoy making salesmen miserable, to intolerant, unreasonable, cranky, mean, overbearing and the worst of all – fools. I suffer them poorly.
Since we can’t pick and choose, we have to deal with whoever calls, we might as well get used to it and find a way, or two, to deal with those that are so self-important that they think of no feelings other than their own.
One technique that works on a majority of those that fit this description is to play to their self-inflated ego.
Pretty simple and simply effective.
What they want, even need, is for you to bow down to their mightyness.
For a good commission, I can do it all day long. Deep down inside, I know that I’m the winner in the long run.
You may think you won the battle, but I’ll win the war. You spent your money, I collected it.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner ! Or at least that’s what they say at Fuzzy’s Place.
The techniques I try to use when playing to their ego are :
1) Ask for their advice, not help, advice - This one never fails, even when you’re selling them something.
2) Make a favorable comment on some of the things they say - Don’t suck up, don’t flatter, compliment. There is a difference.
3) Repeat and remember what they say - I’ve already blogged about this.
There are several other ways to accomplish this and I’m hoping somebody will add to the list, expand on this post or help us all out by giving us their advice.
Don’t make me do all the work, join in and keep this thought train on track.
As for the image I used, I found Jeff Mowatt’s site and liked the look of things over there. I’ve not read any of his work, as of yet, but I thought I’d use this and see if any of you could give us some advice about his products.
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Recommend:
Trust in a Medical Setting. Hauppauge, NY: Novinka Books, Nova Science Publishers, 2006.
Award-Winning Finalist in Medical Reference Category, 2006 Book Awards, USA Book News.
Experience dealing with a host of difficult to impossible situations may help others in their encounters with these difficult and distrusting patients. These individuals may make up a small per cent of patients and family members, probably less than 2 per cent, but take up 90 per cent of energy in coping with day-to-day conflicts that arise from their behavior. Difficulties managing distrustful patients and family members must be dealt with on the spot, and they don’t go away.
Examples come from office experiences or wards, including situations that keep doctors and nurses and therapists awake at night, aggravate waking hours and poison leisure, that is, empirical, based upon experience and observation alone without science or theory. To survive an outrageous patient or relative requires resourcefulness, patience and imagination. Street wisdom learned the hard way is what I present, and without a guide or mentor to soften the bewilderment and sense of failure and frustration that accompanies these individuals. We seldom talk about these difficult, distrustful and sometimes threatening individuals amongst ourselves; rather we suffer and endure them silently, by ourselves. The problem is timeless as recorded in the world’s literature.
Out of the wreckage of human behavior comes valued experience leading to maneuvers and tactics of survival that are appropriate to almost all aspects and settings of human interaction including day-to-day medical care.
Links:
http://www.novapublishers.com
richardsmithmd.com
Wow ! Thanks for adding to the conversation Richard.
Your input was way beyond what we could ask for.
Thanks for stopping by and for taking time to comment.