Discretion. Seller respects confidentiality. Seller gets permission, uses care before sharing information with others. Maintaining customer confidentiality is one of the 12 Dimensions of Trust every seller ought to remember.
These 12 Dimensions of Trust represent the 12 ways a seller can build or erode trust with buyers. Each associated action creates a connection or causes a disconnection. Knowing about all 12 Dimensions of Trust empowers a seller who wants strong connections founded in trust. Not knowing leads to buyer mistrust and seller confusion. In this post, part of a continuing CONNNECT2Sell series, our focus is on maintaining customer confidentiality.
“Seller gets permission, uses care before sharing information with others” is a frequently missed dimension of trust. In an effort to close the deal, a seller sometimes divulges to a prospect what competitors are buying. This may be effective in getting a buyer’s attention and even in compelling a close. But it also leaves a residual feeling of mistrust. If the seller is sharing the competitor’s information, the buyer realizes his or her information might be shared, too.
Trust is built when questions are used to erect walls around what is confidential. Asking “Would you mind if I shared this?” is professional and courteous. Asking “How much can I share about you with your competitor?” is a fair response when a buyer asks a seller to share confidential information about someone else.
What are the land mines you’ve fallen into when it comes to violating customer confidentiality?
Next Steps:
- To learn more about DISCOVER Questions® and how to get connected in meaningful ways with your buyers, order your copy of this bestseller from Amazon.com
- For more tools, resources and content about connecting with your buyers and advancing the sale, visit our website. You’ll find lots of free webinars, infographics and podcasts.
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- For individual sales coaching, group sales training, bulk book orders, or other services and products, call us today at 408-779-PFPS or e-mail deb.calvert@peoplefirstps.com
This blog post features an excerpt from the best-seller “DISCOVER Questions® Get You Connected.” To learn more about how to connect with buyers and gain their trust, buy the full copy of this award-winning book from Amazon.com as a paperback or e-book. Author Deb Calvert is also available to speak at your next sales conference or to provide training for your sales team on how you can become the ONE seller that buyers actually WANT to talk to.
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