Tongue Tied

[proud walker]

In the immortal words of Ralph Cramden:"I bribe a dus, I dus a bribe"

I just have to say that I just got off the phone with a potential new client. I'm kind of out of it today. The Mondays , etc. So when she asked me what I did and what I could do to help her. She said she wanted Reiki and that she had psychic surgery once and it really helped and what do I do?

I stammered and sounded so unfocused I'd be surprised if she called back to book. She did the "I have to check my schedule." That means I blew that one. Oh well.
Ever have that happen?

Someone says "What do you do and can you tell me about you, what you do and what you can do for me" I really don't know how to answer that sometimes, especially on the phone. I'm just not good with phone. Do you ever choke?

 

[pumpernickel o]

Oh I've done it too. I have actually written out two scripts now that I can refer to -- one in paragraph form, one more of a checklist. I have one at the office and one in the back of my appt book (for 'away' calls). That solution came after WAY too many chokes!

Sorry it happened today. I know how it feels.

 

[wuttup]

Every day Leener.... every day. :

 

[Just me 2]

LOL!

Thanks to both of you.

Should i call back or just let it go?

 

[mbtmbt]

Call back, be honest and say you were concerned that you didn't answer her questions properly and could you be of more assistance.

 

[FiftySixer]

Good idea. Thanks so much.

I'm so glad you people think for me when I can't. :

 

[KissYourNosie]

I am really thrown for a loop with some people. Most of the time it's because they say something that just doesn't make sense to me and I am somehow trying to process it while also responding about it. Or in some other way they seem to be directing the phone screening process and I stumble to try to regain control of the question/answer sequence.

 

[Demsmierda]

Oh my gosh...that's exactly what happened. She threw me a bit with her questions, they were not clear because I don't think she knew what she was looking for.

 

[Kumi]

I'd probably call back to clarify things and see if I can find out more and help her myself or tell her about someone who can. It's hard when people don't even really know what to ask for. She might appreciate a call back with your specific questions that would help clarify her needs and what her goals are in getting Reiki and other energy work.

 

[mee]

Okay, I'm sitting here not calling her back because I'm not knowing what to say to this woman....lol!
I'm officially stumped!:
Well, first of all, it was the morning and I had not had my morning cuppa.

But here is how the conversation went:

Her:"Hi I'd like to make an appointment for reiki"
Me: "Great, have you had Reiki before?"
Her: "Yes, I have pain in my leg and was in a Reiki Master class and a woman did psychic surgery on my leg and it seemed to help. I would like to continue doing things like that"

Me: "Ah...uh...uh.....well...........

Her: "What kind of Reiki do you do?"

Me:"Traditional Usui. May I ask why you have not contacted the other person?

Her:SHe is in California.

Me:Oh! Well, is it Reiki that your interested in?

Her: Well, what else do you do? What do you offer?

Me: Well, why don't you take a look at my website and get to know a little bit of what I do. How did you find out about me?

Her: I found you on the Internet"

And it just went downhill from there....

Me: Oh. Um..well, why don't you come in for an hour of reiki, get a feel for me and my energies...see if it helps...

Her: "Ill have to check my schedule"

:

 

[Duke]

Don't worry about it Leener. How about next time, just offer for her to come in for a free consult?

 

[mykwilwin]

First, t081

Okay, so maybe you don't even need to call her back. Sometimes I feel like I really might be able to help, and in that case I'd call. But I wouldn't call just to save face. Only you can know if calling her back could help or not.

In this instance I would have a very straightforward conversation:

Me: Hi so and so, I feel like I didn't answer your questions very well yesterday and I am sorry about that. Have you found another practitioner or may I ask you some questions to see if I may be able to help you?

Her: No I haven't made an appointment with anyone yet.

Me: Well I wanted to clarify what kind of work you were doing with your leg, can you tell me what is going on and what your previous practitioner did for you? I've had success with leg issues in the past...

OR

Her: Well, I did actually find another practitioner who does psychic surgeries so I booked an appointment already.

Me: Oh, okay, I'm glad that you did! I hope that goes well. Please do call me again if you need anything.

 

[Brendan H]

Ugh, I hate talking to people on the phone! I have such a hard time reading people if I can't be face to face, and unlike the internet, I cant take the time to reread and rethink my replies before making them

On the other hand, maybe your Higher-self tongue-tied you on this one! It sort of sounds like she needed/wanted more than Reiki anyhow (unless you do indeed do psychic surgeries as well!) Maybe it's all in my perception, but it seems like whenever I've really flubbed a professional phone call, it's worked out for the better.

On the other hand, I think the scrip idea sounds brilliant! I think I'll type one up and keep it by my phone!

Natasha

 

[bobjohnson]

Thank you both.

Selkie, I was thinking the same thing. By the way, I love your avatar!

AKB, I'm going to call and use your little script. Thank you so much.

I love you people!

 

[Suicidal For Life]

Hehe, thank you, Leener! That's my 6-month old fur-baby Serenity! I adopted her because a spinal cord injury had left her with limited use of her back end, and I hoped that massage and PT would help rebuild and rewire innervation in the area. It seems to have! Not to hijack the thread...I just like talking about the little imp ( ;

Good luck with the call back! I'd be impressed as a client if a professional went to that effort to correct a possible miscommunication to get my business!

Natasha

 

[prairiewife]

AKB, I'm going to call and use your little script. Thank you so much.

You are welcome! I hope it goes (or went) well.

 

[TWIGGY2]

I am SO with y'all. I've done that, too. Usually it has to do with either my lack of grounding at the time, or perhaps my blood sugar levels at the time. If I'm light-headed I will sound dit-zy! I also find this during Merc Retro, where I'm saying all these cheesy things, and they all come out wrong, so I try and cover it by adding something else, and it just goes downhill from there. I've also had some non-Merc Retro times where I've just not been with it when receiving a call from a prospective client and they didn't book with me either LOL. Calling back with that script is a GREAT idea, though! The next time I do this (I'm SURE there will be a next time LOL) I'll do the same thing. Whether or not the client books with me at that time, who knows, but at least they don't have it in their minds that I'm a ditz and at least they know I'm capable of carrying on a coherent conversation

How did it go??

Hugs,
~Jyoti

 

[Pompal 09.]

Well, called back and got her answering machine. SO I did a mini version of the script and left a message. No call back. Oh well, meant to be!

 

[lisaraeneal]

Fun fun fun. Sooo been there. Watched others do it too. And yet before now the concept of having a ready made script and checklist has never hit home! Thank you!

So, regarding the specific conversation you had... one of my NVC rolemodels has *no* qualms about throwing a conversation like that back on the other person. If he's "feeling confused because he's not sure what you want (or what you're asking) and his need for clarity isn't being met", he'll just say that. And then make a request of course... "Would you be willing to ask me in a different way?"

 

[alexander m]

You know, that's a good way to put it. Ask for clarification. Hey, it's no crime to be confused by someone's question, and to say that.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. :

Well, she never called back. Not sure what she was looking for, maybe the Grand Poo-Bah of Guaranteed Healing.