What have you been doing ‘the hard way’?

Have you ever been through a lock? It is a really cool thing (I was going to say when you’re a kid, but realized at 45 I still think it’s really cool) – you go up OR down at places where the water levels are different, at many locks there are rapids that you get to bypass without having to take your boat out of the water and portage around the obstacle.

TeleSales Twist

What have you been doing ‘the hard way’?

I’d like you to start thinking about what you have been doing over the past week – yup just one week!

1. What are there areas where you could put in extra effort today – to make it easier forever? build your lock
2. Do you have resources you haven’t utilized to the fullest? where are you portaging that you could utilize an existing lock
3. Who would have helped you – if you had thought to ask? is there a lock master who is there to assist
   

Need an example to really get it?

Sam dialed the phone and *gasp* the director he had been trying to reach ANSWERED (shocking I know). It was the end of the day and the director had answered their cell phone, as they were driving home!

Sam was shocked at the answer and stumbled over his opening… he did get a request for info to be emailed (as the director was in the car)… he did have acknowledgement of further conversation in 2 days about the info & an upcoming project… but Sam felt weird the director was on their way home, so “got off the phone even though the director sounded like they would have continued talking”

1. extra effort – have a bunch of opening statements that easily convert into voice-mail messages! then it will not matter if they answer or you get voice-mail – you’re ready!
2. resources – maybe you even have those opening statements and voice-mails from some training class you went to, check your middle desk drawer or that binder on your shelf above the desk.
3. who – crazy idea, the director is your resource! if you’re feeling weird about having a business conversation while they’re on their way home – mention it “sounds like you’re still in work mode even on your drive home” (with your personality of course) and see what the response is (hmmm another resource would be to practice ballparking more, that’s what my suggested statement is after all, a ballpark on if they would like to talk with you).

Stop doing anything ‘the hard way’ – figure out the easiest, most simple solution you can – then implement it!