How do you prepare for your business conversations with prospects or business partners?

Do you just pick up the phone and wing it, hoping that your enthusiasm will come through? Do you read from a script or an outline? Do you take the time before the call to think about the person on the other line - what you know about their interests, challenges, strengths, and weaknesses? Is your elevator pitch ready in the event you run into your Dream Team prospect at the grocery store?

The thing is, there’s not one single way of approaching a conversation that’s the secret to success. While preparation is powerful, and will usually work to your benefit, there comes a time when you just have to pick up the phone and make the call. Depending on who you’re talking to and the context of the conversation, you may have all of the answers at your fingertips, or you might need to do some research and circle back. That’s okay! People trust honesty - and while they’re looking to you to be the expert, they’ll also respect you if you need to say “let me get back to you.” If you try to answer all of the questions before you even start, you’ll get stuck and never make any progress.

That said, we know everyone can use some inspiration from time to time. So today, we’re sharing a few phrases and frameworks that might help you approach a conversation from a different perspective, or dust off your usual talking points to find a new way of sharing your excitement about your business.

Excited to use some of these scripts? Be sure you jump over to your Traktivity account and log each call in your Win The Day page.

Have a great tip or perspective? We’d love to hear it -- share it with your fellow TRAKstars on our Facebook page.

For the person who has no idea what you do, and asks you about your business

Hey there Jane! I’m so glad you asked. I’m an entrepreneur, and I work with a small and passionate group of partners to sell the highest-quality insert your product here to people in our community and around the country. Together, we’re growing our business and connecting people with a product that improves their life. I love getting to help people feel better about their homes, their skin, their bodies -- insert something meaningful to your business while setting my own hours and working around my family commitments. Have you heard of insert your business/product before? 

For the frazzled young mom

Hi Maria, I’m so proud of you -- I know you’re burning the candle at both ends right now, and I’m sure you’re pretty wiped. You mentioned you’re feeling bummed about going back to work after your maternity leave -- would you be interested in learning about other options to support your family instead of going back to a desk job? Let me know a good time, I’ll bring some good snacks and we can chat.

For the super-busy socialite who’s on your Dream Team

Hey Lisa! It’s so great to run into you today. You know, I was thinking about you the other day, and I’d love to treat you to coffee in the next week or so. You’re so well respected in this community, and I’d love to get your perspective on a few things as I’m focused on growing my business in the next year. What day works for you?

For the fence-sitter

Hello Dan! How’s your month been? Have you given any more thought to the business opportunity we discussed last time? I’m asking not to pressure you, but because I’m planning an event next month to launch an exciting new product, and I’d love to introduce my new business partner at the same time.  I’ve got a room reserved at the local hot spot, and I’m expecting a great crowd -- it’s the perfect opportunity if you’re looking to really jump-start your new venture.

What do you think? Can we meet up for a coffee tomorrow so I can answer any other questions you have?

For the skeptic

I hear you, Megan. I know you’ve had a bad experience with a direct sales company before, and I really respect you taking the time to make sure you understand all of the ins and outs. Believe me, there’s no pressure here - you’ve seen how incredible this opportunity has been in my own life, and I’d love to have you on my team, but I want you to make that decision yourself and feel totally confident that it’s right.

But I’d love to work with you - so I’m wondering how I can help you answer the questions you still have? If you have some time tomorrow after work, I’d love to hop on a call together with my friend Sara. She’s been doing this business longer than I have and had very similar concerns before she jumped on board. I think you’d really like to hear her perspective. Together she and I can help you figure out if this will be a good fit for you. What time is good for you?

Are you using Traktivity to supercharge your social selling

If not --what are you waiting for?