How to Tell When a New Business Client is Lying to You

You’ll encounter a number of personalities as a business owner. Most are pleasant but some are downright rude. Others might be quirky, yet fun. Still, others can be flat-out nightmares. Then, there are those clients who demand too much, want to pay too little, and brag about their importance, yet still, have high praise for you. Of course, there are also niche personalities, people who possess less-than-desirable traits, such as individuals who take up way too much of your precious time, completely oblivious to the fact you must also take care of others. Fortunately, there are a few ways to cope with customers who tend to monopolize your time. Time-Wasting Customers Take a Big Toll It’s not just the boring, pointless conversations that are problematic. It’s the fact that you’re having to take time away from true priorities. Obviously, this can be very frustrating and even detrimental to your business. After all, if you can’t attend to matters as needed, it causes you to rush and that leads to mistakes. But, it also has other negative consequences. For instance, draining you mentally and straining your patience thin. Good salespeople understand how to walk a fine line between ignoring a client and spending too much time on him. As a sales professional, you need to learn how to use your time to maximum advantage. If a client or customer is monopolizing your time with no intention of buying anything, the ability to disengage without causing offense is vital. —Houston Chronicle Small Busienss When you experience such feelings, it can easily put you in a bad mood. A foul state of mind could also cause you to unfairly snap at your own team. Or, just ruin a good portion of your day. At the very least, you’ll probably become preoccupied and ruminate on your misfortune, which might lead you to become apathetic for the rest of the afternoon. How to Deal with Customers who Monopolize Your Time The thing is, a good percentage of time-monopolizers aren’t really conscious of their own behavior. (Unless it’s such an annoying trait, other people have made them aware.) Even if he or she knows their tendency, it’s a very difficult behavior to change. Which means it’s largely on you. Here are a few effective strategies for dealing with customers who monopolize your time: Redirect his or her attention. Instead of cutting off the conversation entirely, steer it in another direction. Ask about his or her specific interests in relation to your mutual business and give them a few options to consider. This creates a bit of a diversion and puts the onus on him or her to move the interaction along in a constructive manner rather than meandering from one thing to another. Reschedule and restructure. You can also reschedule a day and time to meet, with certain parameters so it isn’t open-ended. For example, excuse yourself with the caveat you’ll meet again soon. Set a time and also set a structure or an agenda so that he or she knows it’s all about getting things accomplished in a cooperative, timely manner. Get him or her to focus. If you sense he or she is about to go off on a tangent, grab his or her attention with a point or fact that moves the conversation toward a conclusion. This could be about a timeframe, price, quantity, or something else. It should serve as a way to complete the transaction at hand. Regardless of what strategy you choose, or even if you use a combination, always express your appreciation and let them know how valuable they are to your business. Don’t rush and take time to listen to his or her feedback so you don’t accidentally cause an unnecessary rift that could result in unexpected repercussions. What other suggestions would you give entrepreneurs who experience time monopolizers? Please take a moment to share your thoughts; it could be a big help to others when they need it most! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

If you’re anything like the average person, your parents probably instilled in you the courtesy to apologize. Saying you’re sorry is one of the most important keystones of polite society. So, it should definitely not come as a surprise that very politeness eventually turns into second nature compulsion. In fact, people use the phrase way too often and don’t really think about its effects. Now, in purely interpersonal situations, this is probably quite benign. But, when you’re running a business, this habit could cause a lot of unnecessary trouble. Apologizing isn’t Always Positive Of course, there have been academic studies confirming that apologizing too much tends to have adverse outcomes. It not only shows a willingness to capitulate, but it also underscores an underlying weakness. Furthermore, the same studies reveal that it can cause anger or resentment in others – two emotions you definitely want to avoid, if at all possible. After you hurt someone’s feelings or do something wrong, it turns out that saying sorry might not be the best solution. In fact, an apology might just add fuel to the fire, a recent study by researchers from Dartmouth College and the University of Texas has found. —Entrepreneur.com Apologizing too much doesn’t always result in dire circumstances. But, it may also easily create the impression that you’ll simply go along to get along no matter what. In other words, give the impression your preference is to avoid any and all confrontation, because it is too uncomfortable for you to handle. Obviously, none of these things are good for an entrepreneur, but this doesn’t mean you have to be stubborn, obtuse, or even mean. 3 Alternatives to Saying your Sorry When you apologize, you’re not only relating your own disposition, you’re sending signals to the other person or group of people. Fortunately, there are at least three handy phrases you can use in place of saying you’re sorry or apologizing outright: “I appreciate your patience.” Whether you’re late for an appointment or something is taking longer than it should have, save the apology and use this phrase instead. It has the same effect that you’re looking for but doesn’t put the blame solely on you and compliments the other person. “Thank you for working with me.” This is a great alternative when things aren’t going according to plan. In a sense, you’re still apologizing, but you are not doing so directly, and again you are giving the other person a nice compliment. “Here’s a slightly different perspective.” Rather than blurting out an apology for something you haven’t said yet, use this expression to bolster your credibility and get people to actually listen to what you have to say. This is a terrific way to join in on a conversation or to bring your point of view up. What other suggestions do you have for apology alternatives? Please, take a few moments to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Entrepreneurship is a journey that is full of challenges, and it is not uncommon for entrepreneurs to experience moments of self-doubt and a lack of motivation. However, it becomes even more challenging when the people around them are negative and tell them that they cannot succeed. How Entrepreneurs can Stay Motivated and Focused Even when People Around them Say they Can’t Succeed Negativity can weigh heavily on an entrepreneur’s mind – leading to a lack of focus and plenty of unnecessary second-guessing. So, let’s go ahead and discuss some strategies that entrepreneurs can use to stay motivated and focused even when the people around them are saying they can’t succeed. Believe in Yourself The first and most important thing is to believe in yourself. You must have confidence in your abilities and trust that you are capable of achieving your goals. If you don’t believe in yourself, it will be difficult for you to stay motivated and focused when others doubt you. Surround Yourself with Positive People Surrounding yourself with positive people who believe in you and your vision is essential. Negative people can bring you down and sap your energy. Seek out individuals who are supportive and can offer encouragement and constructive feedback. Focus on Your Vision Stay focused on your vision and goals, and don’t allow others to deter you from your path. (This isn’t easy because we all have self-doubts and are unavoidably influenced by the opinions of others – particularly the people closest to us.) Entrepreneurs have to make a lot of tough choices each day and it can take a toll. Throughout the rest of the day, though, they tend to limit decision-making to keep things simple. It’s a great tool for motivating entrepreneurs because it keeps them sharp when their abilities are needed elsewhere. —Inc.cdom Remember that success often comes after a series of failures and setbacks, so stay the course and remain committed to your vision. If you can put failures in perspective, you’ll have a much better chance of persevering when things don’t go right. Celebrate Small Wins Entrepreneurship is a journey, and it is essential to celebrate small wins along the way. Recognize the progress you’ve made, no matter how small, and use it as motivation to continue working towards your goals. Take Breaks and Practice Self-Care Running a business can be overwhelming, and it’s crucial to take breaks and practice self-care. Take time for yourself and do activities that bring you joy and help you relax. This will help you stay on task and keep your drive to succeed healthy in the long run. Keep Learning and Growing Entrepreneurship is a continuous learning process, and it’s essential to consistently grow and develop your skills. Attend seminars, conferences, and networking events to learn from other entrepreneurs and industry leaders. This will help you stay motivated and focused as you work towards your goals. Embrace Failure Finally, it’s essential to embrace failure as part of the learning process. Every entrepreneur has failed at some point, but what sets successful entrepreneurs apart is their ability to learn from their failures and use them as motivation to keep pushing forward. Summing it all up, staying motivated and focused as an entrepreneur can be challenging, especially when others doubt your ability to succeed. However, by believing in yourself, surrounding yourself with positive people, focusing on your vision, celebrating small wins, taking breaks and practicing self-care, keep learning and growing, and embracing failure, you can stay motivated and focused on your path to success. What other strategies and/or attitudes would you add to this list? Please, take a few minutes to share your own thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your perspective! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.