I am someone who could spend hours sitting, watching and analyzing people. People's actions and gestures somehow intrigue me to the extent that I think I have a person figured out before I even meet them. Of course there are lots of people who fool me but usually there is one body sign that sets a first impression. .
Last time I did a skit (for Brian Ashford's retirement) some people wondered how I did that? It's a whole lot easier when you are standing in front of a group of people with a disguise on. I love Halloween! You can act like a fool until you"re found out, then you feel like a fool. The last thing anybody wants to do is embarrass oneself and I am no exception. .
Psychologists tell us that when we communicate with others, only 7% of the message is contained in the words we use, 38% is in the tone, and 55% is non-verbal or body language. As you can see body language is very important when we are communicating.
A big part of my job here at Gay Lea is selling the Co-operative philosophy to Ontario dairy producers. Learning to recognize non-verbal buying signals can give you a sales edge. Non-verbal buying signals are rarely one thing but are usually a combination of things. Recognizing the more obvious signs can help smooth the way to a closed sale.
The first body sign I notice is a smile. A smile is different from a smirk. I got pulled over by a traffic cop one time and I thought I"d smile, wrong thing to do at the wrong time. "Take that smirk off your face" he said. Timing is everything. A firm handshake with eye contact is a very strong and positive signal. Bob Mills (past field rep) had a very warm and sincere greeting when you met him. He made you feel special and important. On the other hand someone who avoids eye contact or looks past you sends a negative signal. When I am talking to someone and they are busy looking around at other people, I feel like I am taking up their valuable time.