In business, you must be multi-lingual.
I don’t mean actual languages as we know them, however that never hurts. Every industry has its own language. They are rife with acronyms, jargon, idioms, and slang. Everyone on the “inside” seems to understand, and “outsiders” must try to pick it up to fit in. I’ve written of this in regards to on boarding new employees. In this missive, I want to delve in how being multi-lingual is essential to acquiring and keeping business.
I work with a myriad of industries and here is my observation; be prepared to understand what your potential and current client values. Some business owners want to understand the scope of work; in other words they value the process. You find this common in technology and manufacturing. Some business owners don’t care how you get there, they want to know how they will be improved and desire quantitative metrics like percentage of revenue growth, increased profitability, and reduction in turnover. Still others most desire qualitative results that aren’t easily measured; things like peace of mind, confidence, and improved employee morale.
Regardless, they all want one common result…how will they be improved and how will it be measured?
The trick is to uncover what your potential and current clients value. This can’t be rushed; but can still be done quickly. It takes research, patience, good questioning and listening skills, and (drum roll) failure. The only way to learn to ride a bicycle is to crash and burn, learn from your mistake, and ride better next time. The same is true here; however many professionals don’t take the time to learn the idiosyncrasies of the language.
Here’s my challenge to you today: Learn what language you speak. Based on your industry, experience, and background, what do you value, how do you express it, and how do you measure success? Then look at your current clients. You in some way managed to speak their language in other to gain their confidence. You may find similarities that drew you together, and that’s fine. To be most successful, learn other languages so you can make a bigger impact on more people, thus helping them and yourself.
Que tengan una buena semana, amigos.
Quote of the Day:
“Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.”
~ Lewis Carroll
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