Thursday, May 15, 2008

How to genuinely enjoy cold calling - Part 3

3. Be Yourself

Engage people in natural conversation.
The more natural you are, the more comfortable you will feel.
This makes the other person feel more comfortable as well.

Avoid playing a role, especially reading from a script. Most people can tell when you're using a script. There's nothing personal about it, and they pick up on that.
Being artificial puts you in the 'typical salesperson' category, which is exactly the role most of us detest.
It doesn't feel authentic. And unless you're a born actor, it makes you feel skittish about cold calling. Give yourself permission to follow the rhythm of natural interaction. Allow the conversation to 'breathe'. Let it be the kind of conversation you would have with a friend. Practice this and it can turn your cold calls into pleasant conversations.

And you may actually look forward to meeting that new person the next time you pick up the phone.

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