How to show empathy during a salesmeeting in English?
When working with other people, one of the most important skills to learn is how to show empathy. Empathy is defined as being able to be aware of and understand the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of others.
Being empathetic towards our colleagues and customers builds a strong relationship, and ensures continued positive collaboration.
In addition, showing empathy is also crucial during negotiations or other important meetings with clients, suppliers, or other stakeholders, as you will be able to more easily convince them of your point of view if you first show them that you’re on the same page.
Even though we know listening is the first key skill to master, showing empathy in another language can be tricky if you can’t find the right words. Here are some phrases you can start using today to make it clear that you’re all ears.
1. Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing demonstrates that we’ve been listening, and is also a good way to verify if we’ve understood. The other person can confirm that you’ve grasped their meaning, or can re-explain if you haven’t.
- So if I’ve understood you correctly…
- Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I understand that you feel/think …
- When you say … do you mean … ?
- I want to ensure we’re on the same page.
- It seems like you feel/think …
2. Commiserating
Here are some simple phrases to show that you relate to what the other person is experiencing, especially if they’re in a difficult situation.
- Working on such a tight deadline must be challenging.
- I can’t imagine how stressful this must be.
- I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with …
- I know how frustrating this can be.
3. Acknowledging
Someone might feel upset or frustrated by a situation and you want to calm them down, which you can do by showing them that their feelings are valid, and that you understand them. Here’s how you acknowledge and validate someone’s feelings.
- If I were in your shoes, I’d feel the same way.
- I understand why you’re upset/angry/frustrated.
- The situation you’re in seems very frustrating/aggravating/stressful.
4. Reassuring
Here’s how you reassure someone that you agree with them, so the doors are open to find a solution together.
- I think you’re absolutely right.
- What you’re saying makes total sense.
- I agree that this issue needs to be solved.
In short, showing empathy is an important skill if you want to achieve long-lasting success in your business. So add these phrases to your arsenal, and practice them during your next conversation.
More tips on sales in English? These articles might also interest you:
- How to negotiate in English
- 50+ key phrases to help you with negotations in English
- Negotiating in English: words to avoid in sales
- How to build a customer relationship in English
Do you need help for your sales negotiations in English?
Are your language skills too much of a barrier to feel confident while negotiating in English? Then you can book one of our language coaches.
Together with your coach you will prepare your negotiation, broaden your vocabulary, practise standard phrases until you can negotiate in English with complete confidence.
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Do you want more tips on boosting your sales skills in English? Find out all our tips on our blog.