TOP WORDS AND PHRASES TO AVOID IN
SALESBy Zariq Siddiqui
Top Words and Phrases to Avoid in Sales
Having spent many years as a sales manager with the healthcare company, Abbott Laboratories Inc., and having participated in a variety of skill development workshops and training opportunities, Zariq Siddiqui has developed a precise, effective sales vocabulary.
While key words and phrases used in sales conversations vary depending on the product or service, certain expressions are best avoided at all times:
Top Words and Phrases to Avoid in Sales
1. “Minute” This highly specific word can create an unrealistic impression in a customer’s mind of how long a sales conversation or pitch will last, and can lead to resistance if the time limit is exceeded. The more flexible term, “moment,” is usually a more effective choice.
Top Words and Phrases to Avoid in Sales
2. “May I/I would like to…” While these phrases generally signify politeness and good manners in social encounters, they create difficulties in a sales situation. They put the speaker in the disadvantageous position of one asking for permission. An ideal sales conversation begins with the seller speaking from a position of knowledge and authority instead.
Top Words and Phrases to Avoid in Sales
3. “Buy” This is an unhelpful word in sales vocabulary. It immediately turns a potential customer’s thoughts to money and the incurring of an expense rather than to the overall value and long-term benefits of the product or service on offer.
