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Or better yet, what could you do?
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Everything Counts in First Impressions
What do your actions say? I liked this article from Bill Lampton.
Waiting at the baggage carousel at Logan International Airport in Boston, I noticed a young man walking by. Right away, he impressed me very positively.
- Confident and pleasant facial expression
- Posture that added to his “I’m in command” appearance
- A first-class business suit that boosted his professionalism
- His brisk stride made him appear energetic
- He was physically fit, even athletic looking
Then suddenly, in less than two seconds, my opinion changed. Why? He blew a bubble with his gum, and popped it. Suddenly, he was no longer the accomplished, sophisticated business man who had grabbed my attention. One simple flaw tarnished his image. He dropped from leader to another face in the crowd, just that quickly.
The incident reinforced a major communication principle: Everything we do, say, or look like either adds to or detracts from our first impression.
To score well during that all-important first encounter, realize that every detail counts. You’re not being frivolous or vain when you check yourself in the mirror and mentally rehearse the major points you will talk about.
Beware of these 20 destructive behaviors:
- Interrupting repeatedly
- Dominating the conversation
- Inconsistent eye contact
- Standing too close, invading “personal space”
- Taking a cell phone call or even letting it ring
- Chewing anything, unless you’re at a luncheon
- Arriving late
- Being longwinded
- Risky humor
- Wrinkled clothing
- Checking your watch frequently
- Not listening, missing key points
- Poor table manners
- Boasting (I call it “I” disease)
- Looking and sounding bored
- Complaining about anything
- Distracting noises, such as tapping on a table
- Notebook or briefcase needing replacement
- Power Point that won’t work
- Cluttered office when someone visits you
As Roger Ailes, President of Fox news said in his terrific book You are the Message 
Recall Ralph Waldo Emerson: “What you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear a word you say.”
Bill Lampton, Ph.D., helps organizations improve their communication, motivation, sales and customer service. His speeches, seminars, consulting and coaching share the advice included in his book, The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication-change Your Life!
Santa And His Amazing Customer Relationship Management Program
I really liked this article by Peter George, thought I’d share it with you!
It’s December, and you would think that Santa’s work is just getting started. But Santa, being the world’s greatest marketer, begins working on the upcoming year on December 26. I suppose he gets a good night’s sleep after he gets back from his ride around the world; he may have even slept in the next morning. But you can be sure that once he gets up, he gets right to work. And if he can’t take time off from his marketing efforts, how can anyone of us?
First of all, Santa has a brand, and everything he does enforces that brand. Could it be that you don’t think that there is a brand Santa? Well pull up an ice block, have a seat, and we’ll take a look. If I asked you to name who delivers gifts to children, who would be at the top of your mind? Santa Claus, right? Of course there are others; FedEx and UPS make deliveries, too. But then again, how many five year olds are going to say FedEx?
Since Santa doesn’t have printed materials or similar collateral, he utilizes other features to differentiate between himself and his competition. Instead of a large box van, he drives a big, red sleigh. His uniform of choice is a red suit with white fur trim. His trademark beard is equaled only by his hearty laugh. And his logo is his own image. (I wonder if that’s where Colonel Sanders got the idea.)
Managing relationships
Let’s take a look at everything he will have to accomplish this year. His most important asset is his contact list, and it’s forever evolving. He has to know who is to be added; who is to be deleted. Just as important as the contacts themselves is the knowledge he has about each of those contacts. This includes, but certainly isn’t limited to, such things as: interests, likes and dislikes, hobbies, accomplishments, family members, and how his previous interactions with each one of them panned out. His success is based on a never-ending commitment to the fact that everything is about them … not him.
Similarly, you should be always be updating your contacts and the information you have about them. As with many things in life, the little things mean a lot. So, if at all possible, do what you can to learn about your contacts’ spouses, children, hobbies, and anything else you deem valuable. Did his business achieve its revenue goal for the year? Did she reduce her expenditures as she had planned? How is competition affecting his company?
Once you have this information, use it! The next time you are with a client who enjoys boats, ask him if he will be attending the upcoming boat shows. Better yet, buy tickets and drop them in the mail. If a customer loves to cruise the Caribbean, and you read an article about the world’s newest, largest ship, be sure to send it to her. And when she takes a cruise, make sure you ask her about it when she gets back.
Giving leads to receiving
To Santa, it’s all about giving, and to a great extent, that’s exactly how you should think … especially in business. The more you give to your clients, the more you’re likely to get back. Customers look for many different things when the determine value of a product or service. Of course one of them is customer service. Yet many of us believe that extreme customer service — the kind that makes customers not only take notice but also tell others about it — is a myth. No it’s not, and those who want to take advantage of it have a tremendous opportunity.
Then again, extreme customer service is not easy. It’s planned, tracked, and redeveloped as needed. Santa knows this, and he spends what others would consider an inordinate amount of time working on it. He realizes that the results he reaps at the end of the year are based on the planning he sows at the beginning of it.
Don’t forget Rudolph
We all know that Santa relies on many reindeer to get him around the globe in one night. And we can learn a lesson from this fact. Many of us can name the nine well-known reindeer, but when asked to name only one, the vast majority of us name Rudolph. Why? Because this smart little reindeer has branded himself.
His unique value proposition — how he differs from his fellow reindeer and the benefit that difference offers — is known to all of us. He is the only one with a red nose that glows, meaning he can lead Santa’s sleigh through stormy weather. He also has his own song and television show. And, although others, such as Olive the Other Reindeer, have tried to do the same, they just haven’t been able to capitalize the way Rudolph has. Who ever thought that a reindeer would be an example for businesses of all sizes?
Article Source: Peter George
