A shoe clerk was fitting a pair of shoes on a lady who tried them on to take a few steps. “Oh,” she complained, the left shoe is bigger than the other one.” The shoe clerk replied “Madam, your left foot is smaller then the right foot He merely pointed a fact of nature that for most people the right foot is slightly larger than the left. He achieved a diplomatic feat—the ability to be truthful and diplomatic at the same time.
During an argument with a friend who was uttering absurdities, a young lady said, “Sue you have an open mind.” Deep down she wanted to say, “Sue, you have holes in you head.” A careful comment that considers the other person’s feelings is evidence of diplomacy.
Diplomacy on an international scale often involves guile and deceit. For a long time the definition of a diplomat was someone sent abroad to lie for his country. These envoys knew what to expect from diplomats in a foreign capital. They all learned the old adage, “It takes one to know one.”
In spite of the confusion about diplomacy, long years of sales history have proved that many tactful and adroit sales people have successful careers.
Tags: sales desire, sales motivation, sales techniques, sales tips, SALES: by People, selling
