Inside sales- communications skills at conference calls

Inside sales- communications skills at conference calls

“A man is seldom better than his conversation”- anonymous. It is imperative that communication plays a vital role in the functioning of an Inside sales team. The most important asset which we rely on is conference calls and hence it is essential that we use variety of communication techniques to both understand and be understood.

Communication is the process of sending and receiving information through speaking, writing, visual images and body language and at conference calls you can eliminate body language. The objectives to conduct a conference calls is to essentially change behaviour, to get action, to ensure understanding, to pursue and exchange of information. When you have six people talking in a two people conversation the efforts are only 70% and often it is misunderstood, misinterpreted, rejected, distorted or not heard.

The most common errors on a call would be to help finish other sentences, preparing an answer before the question is completed, multitasking while on a call, presuming meaning based on the orator, and talking on behalf of others. Mostly these days with the work from home option being available the attention paid on the conference calls is relatively less.

Ensure you join in a three to five minutes before the call starts, don’t start chatting with others until everyone joins, once you join in the call state your name and introduction if required, ensure you use the mute button and switch off or keep your mobile phones on silent.

Hence the best way to be prepared for conference calls is to have a pen and paper handy so you can stick to the outlined agenda, ensure you choose a location where you are not distracted and can focus on the subject, I recommend you to not stay away from your monitor unless you have to view the relevant business presentation because if you are then the chances are that you could respond to some email/instant message/review reports irrelevant to the subject and multi task. First essential factor is listening effectively, understand it completely before speaking, speak to be understood and seek understanding before proceeding further and most importantly repeat.

Please ensure you never, ever put on hold this is the most miserable experience on a conference call. Do not play with paper, move chairs or tap your pen or any distracting noises on the call.

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Happy Selling!