Four Taboo Topics to NEVER Bring Up
I admit I was having a hard time topping last week’s post about roller derby. I knew it would get some attention, and I am very grateful to you all for the many Comments that it got.
So this week I decided to go in the totally opposite direction. If last week’s post was wild and crazy, this week’s will be much tamer. Because we are going to talk about your behavior when you are spending time talking with your clients and prospects.
I am referring to the kinds of conversations that turn personal, whether you are at a ballgame, having dinner, or meeting in their offices. There are just some subjects that should ALWAYS be taboo. Today we are talking about being appropriate. Boring!
Boring? Maybe. But this post also might just save you the pain of losing business because you don’t understand what roads you should not take. Here goes.
RELIGION—It’s personal. Stay away from it. Don’t tell a Catholic joke even if the client just told you he is a “recovering” cradle Catholic. This will not be the first time you’ve heard me say this, and it won’t be the last. Take the high road. Be respectful. AVOID.
POLITICS—Even if you feel that your conversation partner is right on the same page with you politically, you should avoid making polarizing statements about your beliefs or anyone else’s. This is especially true when you are in a group. Because while one person might feel that Donald Trump would make the best president ever, another person in the group may be horrified by such a statement, and could judge you on your reaction. So keep it neutral.
The same may go for what news broadcasts you watch, what you listen to on the radio, etc. A lot can be gleaned about a person based on those preferences, and you would never want a buying decision to be made based on anything other than on your professional merits and those of your company.
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- Business Management - Marketing/Sales
Blogger, author, consultant, coach and all around evangelist for the graphic arts industry, Kelly sold digital printing for 15 years so she understands the challenges, frustrations and pitfalls of building a successful sales practice. Her mission is to help printers of all sizes sell more stuff. Kelly's areas of focus include sales and marketing coaching, enabling clients to find engagement strategies that work for them and mentoring the next generation of sales superstars.
Kelly graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and, among other notable accomplishments, co-founded the Windy City Rollers, a professional women's roller derby league. She is also the mother of two sets of twins under the age of ten, so she fears nothing.
