Engage a Customer: I like Your Hat. Thank You.
The title says it all.
Well it used to say it all.
When I am out in public I get stares and comments about my beanie hat. The majority of the comments are positive; and they come from Boomers, Gen X’ers, Gen Y’ers and the very young. I used to just smile or thank people for the compliment.
Then one day I smacked myself in the head and went “DUH!”
This was an opportunity to engage someone in a conversation. This was the opportunity that might possibly lead to a business card exchange. Maybe even a sale or a booking? So I sat around (and still do so) thinking of replies to when someone says “I Like Your Hat”or “Great Hat!”.
- Thanks. What do you like about it?
- Where’s yours?
- I see you smiling. That’s a good thing. There aren’t enough people doing that.
- What do you like most about it?
And then for a brief moment I have a conversation; usually with the focus of the conversation on the other person. After all, I don’t want to appear like a sleazy salesperson. Lots of times the conversation comes back to me and what I do for work.
I’ve also come up with comebacks for “What’s with the hat?” I love those, because I can usually get right to point of how important it is for people to take a short Recess at work from time to time; whether it be fun and games or Recess with a learning/training purpose – which is also fun and games in my case.
So what does this have to do with you? Each and every person reading this has an opportunity to engage a conversation every day. Just about everyone has worn a promotional item of sorts displaying their company name. Too many conversations go something like this……..
“Oh, you work for Acme Inc.”
“Yes.”
THE END.
There are so many ways this conversation can go. Why don’t you and your team take a short Recess tomorrow and figure them out? Have fun with it!
So where’s your hat?
Thanks to my friend Helen Leopard for being the inspiration for this posting!
