Treating People With Kindness And Respect Makes The Sale

While at the airport today, weather got the best of the flights, delaying everyone.   An angry guy, booked on my original flight, was in front of me demanding the customer service agent book him on the next flight immediately. 

Problem

The Problem: no flights were going out right away.  The more aggravated this guy got the less helpful the agent was.  I could see her frustration level changing; however, she kept her composure absolutely under control. 

He was so irritated he couldn’t see how he was affecting the one person who could help him.  She told him she could book him on the 9pm flight or he could try the other airline.  He stomped away livid.

Finally it was my turn. I walked up to the counter and commented on how sorry I was to see her being treated that way.  She said, “No problem, it happens all of the time.”  I told her, “I know, but it’s still not right” and joked that I could tell she was able to handle a lot of things, accept control the weather.  Ah, it was good.  I got her to laugh.  

Laughter

Laughter is such a great way to open a person’s heart and get them to relax and let you in.  Now she was ready to begin to help me.  And as I continued to treat her with kindness and respect, she was very helpful.  She ended up booking me on the 4:30 flight only after verifying that the plane was on the ground and going to leave for sure. 

Take the same attitude of helping your clients and prospects to lighten up their day with some laughter and treating them with kindness and respect in all aspects of your business relationships.  As a matter of fact, this is one of the key principles taught in Customer First Selling™.

This type of attitude helps salespeople to get through the gatekeeper, handle angry customers, keep clients, and win prospects.

In life, you will find you get more out of people when you treat them with respect and share a laugh.  Kindness, respect for others, and humor are rewarded in abundance.