The worst mistakes made by salespeople, marketers, professionals, and business offices is by mistreating you in the first place.

It’s amazing how few people in sales, as well as receptionists, consultants, or professionals have failed to master basic people skills with the general public.

I would think that the initial contact is the most vital time to create and develop an ongoing relationship and future income stream.

Every time I visit a place of business, I take inventory of my surroundings and the way they greet me. Are they asking me to fill out redundant paperwork without checking first? Even if you fill out another form, you will be asked again for your age, phone, and the details you just submitted. Did they mispronounce my name AGAIN? That’s being lazy!

I guess I’m too sensitive since my first name is often mispronounced. It offends me after having corrected it numerous times. Every time I remind them; “Please pronounce it like ‘Hi Ya’, but without the H.”

If you’ve been visiting a doctor or business office for 25 years, they should be able to pronounce 2 syllables. I shudder every time they call me Ega, Adja or Asia. In fact, someone told me; “Well, why don’t you change your name?” I’ve finally decided not to reply until they get it right. Maybe next time I’ll go somewhere else!

Also, when I call a business I’ve dealt with in the past, don’t jump me through hoops to get to the right department! I often don’t know the name of the person I should talk to. Many firms are guilty of not giving you the option to speak to a live person by disconnecting the call at the end; “Bye!”. This conveys arrogance and disrespect to the public.

If possible, why not make a note of the relevant facts of each customer, client, or patient for future reference? This is basic Sales 101 for any business. You should note personal information on file or in Outlook, ie you play golf, have 4 children, have allergies, pronounce name phonetically as—-.

Next time, before you talk to this contact, quickly review your notes so you’re ready…

Of course, this applies to all contacts by phone, post or email. We all want to feel like we are special. If the doctor doesn’t remember a 15 minute long conversation with you after he treated you for a broken leg due to a skiing accident, no big deal!

It does matter, if that same doctor tells you at your follow-up visits; “Oh, I didn’t know you skied!”

This reflects badly on the backbone of the business or medical office.

I have started to account for other bugs.

Do you feel like you are interrupting the receptionist on a personal phone call while they make you wait half an hour? Have a cup of coffee dripping on your file with smelly chips on your keyboard?

Who wants to see cleavage on a woman in her late 60s or the receptionist’s belly button or a pierced nose ring when going in for a pelvic exam? What happened to business attracts?

How can a doctor lecture you on weight loss if his jacket buttons are popping? What happened to the doctors wearing proper white coats at the hospital? I don’t want to be treated by a doctor if you just finished surgery with fresh blood stains everywhere or if you just came back from the gym after working out. Also, most of the nursing staff in many hospitals look as if they just fell out of bed in their wrinkled pajamas. That just doesn’t fly!

Does the salesperson exhale a stale stench from your body due to heavy smoking? When I hear the dry cough, I want to run as fast as possible. I don’t want to know if it’s chronic bronchitis from smoking or from a cold. Please give me a break!

When you go shopping, do they pounce on you as soon as you walk in the door? I usually reply politely, “Thanks, I’m just browsing!” However, many times the same salesperson approaches me again within minutes and asks if he can help me. This becomes annoying to say the least. Like most people, I may not be looking for any particular item and therefore lose focus from the interruption. It makes me feel like I’m being followed… Ugh! I usually leave without returning to this store.

Well, I don’t need to be stressed by these unprofessional people. Fortunately, we still have a great selection of other companies looking to us who will hopefully build people skills and avoid making these mistakes. Time to move on!

Aija Pelshe