Effective selling requires sales professionals to build professional intimacy. The reality is that sales people only get one chance to make a positive first impression. Salesmasters International draws on over 17 years learning and development experience to provide structured skills training to support sales professionals in developing these skills. Modern Customer Centric Pacing effectively supports the sales professional to set up the dynamics that enable both parties to move a conversation forward.

Modern Customer Centric Pacing is the art of authentically aligning you to the client. The most effective way to dramatically improve your skills in customer centric pacing is to learn how effective communication builds professional intimacy. Communication occurs on a number of levels: 7% is through the words we speak; 23% is through the tone of our voice; and 70% is through non-verbal signs. Modern Sales Professionals understand this and have mastered building professional intimacy. Here are a few tips to assist you.

Tip #1: Demonstrate Empathy– Your ability to see a situation from another person’s point of view. Customer Centric Pacing helps to build trust and rapport with your client. Find your common ground and stay on it. People like doing business with people they like. Customer Centric Pacing is a relationship building exercise that enables sales professionals to create a true exchange of thoughts and feelings.

Tip #2 Consider First Impressions– You have one shot to make the best first impression. Customers notice shoes, hairstyle, clothes, posture and state of the surroundings, the way we walk and talk. Your first ten words are more important than the next 10,000.

Tip #3 Establish Rapport- Ask your client for their opinion on a non-controversial subject; ask them about themselves, their hobbies, pastimes, interests, listen to them actively; look them in the eye; display a positive attitude; be sincere; under promise and over deliver; tell the truth; be interested; don’t try to impress; and tell them something personal about yourself.

Tip #4 Matching & Mirroring - You can subtly lead the mirroring by turning into the person with whom you are dealing, mirror their rate, speed and volume of talking. Make the sales encounter a positive one – If is up to you as a Modern Sales Professional to match your prospect’s mood at the start, then lift the mood into a more positive one. When you moods are matched, effective communication can occur.

Salesmasters International’s Modern Selling development programs are practical. Modern Sales Professionals learn that Customer Centric Pacing must be practiced, once you have mastered it, selling is easy and fun! Get into step with your customers, raise their mood, and be positive, caring and friendly.