How to Fail Miserably at Speaking with Clients

Introduction

As a financial adviser [or any sales rep], you'll often need to speak to clients about important and sensitive topics. But what happens if you fumble your words and end up seeming unprepared or unprofessional?

In this Newsletter, I'll give you some tips for how to fail miserably when speaking to clients. I'll also provide some solutions so that you can redeem yourself and improve your presentation skills.

Show Up Unprepared

One of the worst things you can do when meeting with clients is to show up unprepared. This makes you look unprofessional and like you don't care about their business.

To make a good impression, make sure to come to the meeting with a copy of the client's file, any materials you need, and questions prepared. If you aren't sure about something, don't be afraid to admit it—just make sure to follow up with them afterwards.

Wing It

Don't try to wing it when speaking to clients. It's always best to be prepared and have a game plan. That way, you'll be able to focus on your presentation and not worry about what you're going to say next.

When you're unprepared, it shows. And clients will definitely notice if you're stumbling over your words or can't seem to find the right thing to say. In fact, it might even give them the impression that you don't know what you're talking about—or that you're not trustworthy.

So make sure to take the time to properly prepare for any meeting or presentation. It's definitely worth it in the end.

Rely on Slides

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when speaking to clients is to rely too heavily on slides. Slides can be helpful tools, but they should never be used as a crutch.

When you rely too heavily on slides, you run the risk of losing your audience. They'll be bored by your presentation and may not retain any of the information you shared. Worse yet, they may even think you're incompetent or inexperienced.

To avoid this, use slides sparingly and only as support for your presentation. Make sure that you're speaking to your audience and not at them, and that your slides are there to help, not hinder, your presentation.

Read Off a Script

When you're presenting to clients, it's important to come across as natural and authentic. One way to sabotage your presentation and make yourself look unprofessional is to read off a script. It may seem like a way to ensure that you don't forget anything, but in reality, it will just make you sound stiff and uninterested in what you're saying.

Instead, try to memorize your main points and then speak from the heart. If you make a mistake, just roll with it. The clients will appreciate your natural style and the fact that you're being genuine.

Forget to Practice

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when presenting to clients is to forget to practice. If you're not familiar with your material, you're going to come across as unprepared and unprofessional. And that's definitely not the impression you want to give your clients.

So make sure to take the time to practice your presentation thoroughly. Rehearse in front of a mirror, or better yet, tape yourself and watch the playback. This will help you iron out any kinks in your presentation and ensure that you look and sound your best when meeting with clients.

Show Up Late

One of the worst things you can do when speaking to clients is to show up late. Not only will it make you look unprofessional, but it will also make your clients feel impatient and unimportant. Make sure you arrive on time, or even a little early, to avoid making a bad impression.

Funny? Yes. Don’t do all of the above.

By avoiding all of the above, with the appropriate practice, you should be able to leave good and long lasting impressions on your clients. Onwards and upwards!

Thanks for reading "Stacked Skills!" Subscribe to this newsletter to get a weekly dose of ideas that you can implement in your business right away.

Inspired??drop me a DM?- always looking for like-minded individuals to connect and exchange ideas with :) Have a great day!