How do you communicate with your customers and patients?
Rate yourself on a scale of 1 – 10.
To some people communication is easy, others find it hard, and many are not even aware of the repercussions of poor communication.
When people feel valued and engaged, they tend to be more loyal to your brand. They will be repeat customers and they’ll tell their friends to check out your shop, so you’ll be bringing in new customers too.
Don’t be shy. Greet your customers when they come in. Smile. They will feel more at ease, especially if they have never been into a dispensary before. Make them feel welcome. It really only takes a smile and a self introduction. Ask questions to create connection and get them talking, they’ll be more apt to make a purchase.
Do you have a website? A newsletter? It’s great to connect with your customers and followers whom you don’t see every day. Let them know what is going on at your store.
In person and through your social media channels, be sure to thank your customers and patients for their business. You can ask for any feedback they might have or how you can continue to strive for service excellence.
If you would like to step up your communication skills at work and in your personal relationships, you’ll want to join us June 19 & 20 for a special Communication Workshop, called Crucial Conversations.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
Some communication tips from Right Management worth sharing…
Communication skills, tops the list of fundamental skills needed to succeed in the workplace. A study was done in 2000 and years later, with the rise of social media networking and texting, communication is becoming more casual, even in situations where more formal ways of communicating are required. What this means is that people from the younger generation, may not know or even understand the importance of effective communication skills in the workplace. When you take a look at the greatest leaders, one of the traits they possess, is the ability to communicate effectively, which underscores the importance of communication skills.
Specific things to do that can improve your communication skills:
1. Listen, listen, and listen. People want to know that they are being heard. Really listen to what the other person is saying, instead of formulating your response. Ask for clarification to avoid misunderstandings. At that moment, the person speaking to you should be the most important person in your life. Another important point is to have one conversation at a time. This means that if you are speaking to someone on the phone, do not respond to an email, or send a text at the same time. The other person will know that he or she doesn’t have your undivided attention.
2. Who you are talking to matters. It is okay to use acronyms and informal language when you are communicating with a buddy, but if you are emailing or texting your boss, “Hey,” “TTYL” or any informal language, has no place in your message. You cannot assume that the other person knows what the acronym means. Some acronyms have different meanings to different people, do you want to be misunderstood? Effective communicators target their message based on who they are speaking to, so try to keep the other person in mind, when you are trying to get your message across.
3. Body language matters. This is important for face-to-face meetings and video conferencing. Make sure that you appear accessible, so have open body language. This means that you should not cross your arms. And keep eye contact so that the other person knows that you are paying attention.
4. Check your message before you hit send. Double check what you have written, to make sure that your words are communicating the intended message.
5. Be brief, yet specific. For written and verbal communication, practice being brief yet specific enough, that you provide enough information for the other person to understand what you are trying to say. And if you are responding to an email, make sure that you read the entire email before crafting your response. With enough practice, you will learn not to ramble, or give way too much information.
6. Write things down. Take notes while you are talking to another person or when you are in a meeting, and do not rely on your memory. Send a follow-up email to make sure that you understand what was being said during the conversation.
7. Sometimes it’s better to pick up the phone. If you find that you have a lot to say, instead of sending an email, call the person instead. Email is great, although sometimes it is easier to communicate what you have to say verbally.
8. Think before you speak. Always pause before you speak, not saying the first thing that comes to mind. Take a moment and pay close attention to what you say and how you say it. This one habit will allow you to avoid embarrassments.
9. Treat everyone equally. Do not talk down to anyone, treating everyone with respect. Treat others as your equal.
10. Maintain a positive attitude and smile. Even when you are speaking on the phone, smile because your positive attitude will shine through and the other person will know it. When you smile often and exude a positive attitude, people will respond positively to you.
