The self-disclosure loop is a common occurrence in human interactions where individuals gradually disclose personal information, leading to a sense of connection and validation. When someone starts by sharing small bits of personal information, they may receive positive responses or validation from the listener. This positive feedback triggers the release of dopamine in the brain, creating a sense of pleasure and reinforcing the desire to continue sharing. As a result, the person may feel compelled to disclose more information, hoping for further validation or a deeper connection. I think that in certain instances where the self-disclosure loop reaches a point where the information shared becomes excessive or inappropriate for the context. This can leave the listener feeling uncomfortable or wondering why the person revealed such intimate details. It's crucial to maintain boundaries and respect the comfort levels of others as not everyone may feel comfortable with receiving extensive personal disclosures, especially in initial or casual interactions. Being aware of these dynamics can help individuals navigate conversations more effectively and foster meaningful connections without crossing into the "too much information" zone.
The old adage
What makes your brand stand out from the crowd?
To stand out from the crowd, you need to know what your audience expects and wants. Being relevant means being personal, joining your audience's conversations, meeting them where they spend time, and talking to them through people that they trust. I think people are attracted and loyal to brands because they form emotional connections to their products or services. I have seen far too many brands spending money trying to get people to like them instead of getting people to want them. It’s important to market your brand with hardcore discipline and core values to people who are committed to your mission and vision. Hire new people who are not like you but complement you. Hire people who have high self-discipline and are passionate about leaving their mark in the world. Keep the people around you who want to help you succeed and have the ability to guide you through difficult transitions with sound experience.
Curiosity is critically important in sales
We currently live in a world where we can connect to whomever we want whenever we want, therefore, why would we connect to someone who is selfish and boring? We are more likely to connect with people who are interesting and generous. I think selling is about matching a solution to a problem and it’s also about building relationships.
Salespersons are usually trained in behaviours that buyers find no value in, therefore, they are going to have to learn how to change their thought processes before they can change their behaviours. I think sales should be fun and I always try to make it fun, as I am a curious person and approach everything with curiosity. When you approach things with curiosity, you are present, you are learning and you are connecting. You will always learn new things that push you out of your comfort zone. Do you have a sales manager who trusts you to do things your way? Sales training should not always be about compliance to methods and processes. How can I help your team to tap into their natural curiosity and overcome the roadblocks to success? Contact me via e-mail for sales training and workshops.
We all have the same basic needs
The six basic human needs provide a practical key for discovering one’s needs, behaviours, values and beliefs. They are the vehicles we use to meet our needs and these needs underlie and inspire every choice we make.
The first four are the needs of the personality and the final two needs are those of the Spirit:
Certainty - Everybody wants avoid pain and have assurance that our basic needs are met.
Uncertainty - We also crave variety, excitement and new stimuli.
Significance - We all need to feel unique, special and important.
Connection - We want to be loved and cared for and want a feeling of closeness with like-minded people.
Growth - We all have a need to grow and expand in our personal and professional lives.
Contribution - We have a desire to serve and support someone or something bigger than ourselves in a meaningful way.
No one needs what you are selling
No one needs what you are selling, they may want it but they definitely don’t need it! Sometimes it’s OK that the goal is to understand for the sake of understanding. I think the hallmark of curiosity is a thirst for knowledge that has no obvious utility. As I am a lifelong learner, I enjoy exploration regardless of whether the discovery has any immediate relevance. I have never been in the position of selling water to thirsty people! I have always had to use my skills to formulate the brand promise - explaining who’s it for, what’s it for and why you should buy it…
Nowadays, the majority of people are working at home and those of you with young children have the opportunity teach them two of life’s most valuable lessons:
To solve interesting problems
To look at something that no one has ever looked at before and come up with an interesting way to solve the problem.To connect, to lead and use emotional labour
Using emotional labour by looking someone in the eye and telling them the truth. Emotional labour means doing things that you don’t feel like doing.