"No mistake is stupid unless you don't learn from it." These are very good words to live by. It also dovetails nicely with, "Don't fix blame, fix the mistake." It's good to learn from your mistakes, but it's even better to learn from someone else's. This is the purpose of Bill Lampton's article, 7 Common Sales Mistakes to Avoid, posted on BusinessKnowHow.
While Lampton's article is focused on sales – exhibiting common mistakes by following the ham-handed sales call of Arnie -- some of the lessons to be learned can be used in all types of communication.
Two of the mistakes Arnie makes in the beginning involve the assistant to the CEO he was visiting. First, Arnie gets her name wrong, showing that he may not respect non-management people. Whoever it is, a person's name is very… well, personal, and getting that name wrong indicates you don't care about them. Now names can be misheard, mispronounced, or even forgotten, and this is excusable. It's the care and concern you show to rectify the situation and get their name right forever more that matters.
The next mistake Arnie makes with the assistant is getting her title wrong. Most of the time, titles are earned, and to get one wrong diminishes the effort. You can assume someone's title -- like receptionist, assistant, or secretary for example -- but if corrected, make sure to get it right from there on out. It might be good to ask someone's title when learning their name, just to be sure.
When Arnie the Salesperson gets to the end of his sales meeting, he's trying so hard that he doesn't notice the other person checking their watch, not laughing at his jokes, and generally sitting uncomfortably. What we say is the most noticeable, but just as important is how we say it. Tone and inflection will let you know how a person really feels. Don't forget visual cues from body language can say a lot as well. Ignoring or not paying attention to people's demeanors, posture, or general attitude is a big, yet common mistake.
That was three mistakes we can all learn from, but here's a tip from Lampton that was not in his article. When giving a speech or a presentation, tell stories to draw attention to your message and make it memorable. The audience may not remember the details, but they'll remember the point. I know I won't forget the story of Arnie and learning from his mistakes.
