Customers are saying ‘It costs too much.” “Business is slow I don’t need to advertise.” And most sellers have a prepared response. Unintentionally, these responses are often framed to prove the customer wrong. There’s a better sales technique. It’s very simple: You don’t need to have an answer. You only need a question!

If you consider yourself a “multi-tasker” and often reply “crazy busy” when people ask you how you’re doing, then you should listen up. A recent analysis from the business research firm Basex, estimates that extreme multi-tasking costs the US more than $650 billion a year in lost productivity. Here are a few tips to minimize multi-tasking and get more done.

Remember the thrill of hide ‘n seek? Finding the perfect place to hide out until “all was clear” and someone else was found so you could win the game? Unfortunately, some sales professionals are using the current economy as a reason to hide out until the economy picks up too. And while they are hiding, others are seeking and strengthening relationships and winning new business every day!

Who wants to be “told” or “pitched” information? Not many people. Most people want to be next to you exploring a topic and adding their input to the discussion. They want to be collaborators.

I often observe sales and service professionals who are so busy and who believe that multi-tasking during phone calls, conferences, while driving, etc. makes them more productive. My friend Kelly calls this “wearing your Busy Badge.” Does this sound like you? I know it can be me. That is why it was interesting to research information on the productivity of us busy people.

Recently, many of my “students” have told me they CAN’T set goals because everything is changing and they aren’t sure what tomorrow holds. Changing economies is exactly WHY we should set goals! Here is an easy 5-step process to make goal clarity efficient and successful.

Who wants to be “told” or “pitched” information? Not many people. Most people want to be next to you exploring a topic and adding their input to the discussion. They want to be collaborators.

A tough economy may seem like an improbable time to move current and prospective customers forward to a sale. Yet, it can actually be a great time – if you position yourself as a strategic consultant so customers realize they should not wait. Here are some ways to strengthen your strategic value.

Time. Such a fleeting thing for most of us. We can’t add a 25th hour in our day, so the question becomes, how do we get more time? The answer is by being more timely. And you can do that with sales meetings.

The benefits of sales meetings and consistent and timely connections outside the front line include improvement in readiness, recharging, repeatability and retention. If these benefits are important, then how do you ensure your meetings are timely? Here are several ways.