Are You Communicating With Your Customer On Their Level?

Are You Communicating With Your Customer On Their Level?

Now, there is an interesting point, as if you are not doing so, you really are missing the mark. There are various levels of communication, and you need to be sure that you are getting it right. This is important in personal as well as business communications.

We communicate on a casual level, which is generally surface level, and does not go really deep, perhaps just exchanging niceties, as you would in the supermarket, or with someone you bumped into, in the town. You may comment on the weather, and ask how they are doing, but it would be very superficial.

Another kind of communication could be where you are sidetracked, and your mind is on other things. I have seen this happen so many times in the business arena, where say for instance, two guys are talking, a third comes across, then one of the guys who had been speaking to the other, starts talking to the third guy, then they end up walking off together, and one has been left in the cold. Many times this is unintentional, but I have seen it happen so many times, and feel, as individuals, that we need to be aware of it. The most valuable thing that you can give someone is your time, but you need to make sure that you are focused, and so not leave anyone out in the cold.

Then you have intellectual communication, fact based, and also opinions, where each party have their viewpoint or opinion, and each feel that their viewpoint is right. With facts or casual based conversations, I do not think that you can get into arguments really, but when you get into communications where opinions come into play, sometimes that can be very different. I have a friend who says that opinions are like belly buttons, everybody has one, and they are not a lot of use. I am not saying that I agree with that entirely, but I am saying that where opinions are concerned, we need to be careful, that we deal with the people we are communicating with in a respectful manner.

Then you have people who deal on a feeling based level. These people very often can be hurt, and maybe it was not intentional, but it does happen. You do need to be careful to communicate with people at their level, otherwise you may not be reaching them at all. If you are on an intellectual level, and they are on an emotional level, you need to deal with them carefully, you may not understand where they are coming from, and they may not be making a lot of sense to you, because you are on a different level. They could sound irrational.

If they are vulnerable, you need to tread even more carefully. Try to go to that level with them, as you are not only missing the point, but you are missing their heart. You could unintentionally hurt their feelings, and you really do need to consider that. This is important, when you are on a higher level, the lower level person could feel you are talking down to them. It is important to communicate with all people on their level, and you really need to be asking, how can I reach them? How vulnerable are they?

Never be condescending with people or arrogant, snobby or haughty. Always care for people, and consider how they feel, treat them as you would like to be treated, regardless of where you are at.

I will finish this post with a quote I am very fond of from George Washington:

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life, you will have been all of these.” – George Washington