I attended a trade show recently as a visitor, not an exhibitor. The very first booth I stopped at, I tried to engage the woman to find out more about the business she was representing. At some point she asked me what I did. I gave her my one sentence statement that I usually use when asked that question.
We chatted a bit more (about her) and then I asked for and reached for one of the business cards displayed. She said, "Those are generic cards, they don't have my name." I asked if I could have one with her name. Her reply was, "If all you're planning to do is to try to sell me sales training, then I don't want to give it to you." I replied that it was not my plan; that I like to have resources that I can refer my clients to, but that it was OK, I would not bother her. And I moved on.
I will be exhibiting this week at a trade show and as a result of my experience above, I am reminding myself to:
1. Be kind to everyone.
2. Be courteous to all that are showing interest in some way.
3. Remember that I don't know who I'm talking to. They may be or know the very prospect I've been trying to do business with.
4. Have a nice way to send people on their way...after all they have been a guest in my office (booth) away from the office!
Am I forgetting anything?
3 comments:
She certainly could use your training, Debby. I do always think there's a backstory to bad behavior. Doesn't excuse it but could explain it.
You are probably right, Kate! I have found that when people are that defensive, that they are coming from scarcity.
Yes. I love how you handled the situation: being kind, not defensive. Perhaps your response helped her become less defensive as the day moved along. Such a good lesson for us all: to absolutely know without a doubt that everyone's dealing with his/her own stuff and not to take things personally.
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