In this post, I'll reveal five common mistakes people make during communication that can be overcome by using a combination of techniques from several fields of study.
I've written this post especially for entrepreneurs and freelancers looking to become better at sales and marketing. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, you might find the tips useful even if you don't sell anything.
My first tip isn't exactly a strategy; it's more of an opinion based on experience. I believe that the art of effective communication is something that can be improved upon through education.
I have learned the importance of this subject the hard way. In my early 20s, I started a new company. Our target market was a specific demographic, but we weren't advertising in places that they were likely to see our ads. Within weeks, we had thousands of messages begging us to stop spamming their inboxes.
The lesson was pretty simple: you have to be seen in order to get the attention you want. Unfortunately, I didn't see the lesson until it was too late.
By using some basic principles from psychology, I was able to learn from my mistakes. Now, when I'm selling, I always begin by asking myself what kind of person would respond to this ad.
Asking yourself what kind of person would respond helps you get your message across effectively, even if the response rate is low.
A little bit about me...
I'm a psychology major with a minor in statistics.
I worked for a few years as a researcher at a large pharmaceutical company in New York. The company published two studies on a drug that was eventually approved by the FDA. I was able to use some of the concepts I learned while working there to develop a product for a small company.
Today, I work in the technology industry, mostly focusing on building websites, eCommerce platforms, and other digital products.
A few years ago, I discovered an obscure book by Eric Berne called "Games People Play." I loved the book and immediately started studying the ideas it presented.
Since then, I've studied a few of the other books listed here and have found them to be incredibly helpful.
Let's talk about the types of communication mistakes we make:
Mistake #1: We don't start the conversation by getting to know the other person.
"Getting to know" someone means listening to their interests, talking about their hobbies, and learning about their personality. This is a much different approach than asking questions like "what's your budget for this project?", "when is your deadline?", or "how much will you pay?"
When you ask the first question, you already put yourself in the other person's shoes and start treating them like an actual human being.
There's a reason why we have relationships, we spend time with friends, and we hang out with acquaintances. There's a reason why we go to the movies, visit our parents, and watch sports. All these things are social behaviors that help us get to know the people
Good strategies