Having just come off of a long weekend featuring massive amounts of small talk, I quickly noticed a trend: Most conversations are one-sided. A question is asked and the respondent, well, responds.
And responds.
And responds.
Lost in this equation is the fact that most people ask a question in small part because they want the answer and in large part because they want to share their own opinion on the subject.
Let them.
Get into the habit of quickly providing an answer but then turning the conversation around by saying something like, “What do you think?”
Remember, you learn nothing with your mouth open. A good salesperson is keenly aware of how much they are talking and how much they are listening. Not every cookout will provide you with a sales situation, but it’s a good laboratory to work on your skills.
But, maybe I’m wrong. What do you think?
