How to Create More ‘Win-Win’ Situations for Your Business and Customers

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If you’ve ever read the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, you know that trying to create win-win situations is one of the best things you can do to achieve success in your career. But more importantly, creating a win-win isn’t just about yourself — it means providing real, tangible benefits for the person on the other side of the deal, too.

No matter what niche you might find yourself in, creating more win-wins for you and your customers will prove key to your growth and financial success. After all, when your customers are happy, they’ll continue to do business with you and refer their acquaintances to do the same.

Play your cards right, and you can create an ongoing cycle of wins.

Be Genuine
The word “authenticity” may be thrown around so often these days that it’s become a cliche, but acting like a genuine person during your interactions with clients will go a long way in creating true win-wins.

If you’re only looking to sell, prospects are going to notice. You’ll come across as desperate, greedy, dishonest or some combination of all three. Bad salespeople aren’t interested in listening to the needs of their client — they just want to get on to the next sale. This sets a bad starting tone for the entire relationship (if you even get the prospect to become a paying customer in the first place).

People can tell when they’re just being “sold to.” And most of the time, it feels about as great as getting what feels like your hundredth spam call in a week telling you that your vehicle’s factory warranty is about to expire.

So, step one to creating win-win situations is to act like a normal human being. Strive to be positive and helpful. Ask the prospect questions that spark conversation and get them to share their needs and pain points. You’ll gain invaluable insights that will help you close the sale later on, but you’ll also help those prospects feel like they are actually cared for.

Help Customers Find What Is Truly Right For Them
Quality solopreneurs don’t provide their services as a “one size fits all” package. Instead, they tailor their offerings to the unique circumstances and needs of each customer.

We see this at even the most basic levels of retail. Not everyone who goes into a 7-Eleven wants a 44-ounce Slurpee. Plenty of people are content with the smaller, 8-ounce option. If the convenience store only sold one size for its signature treat, it would probably lose out on a fair number of customers. Obviously, this “customization” mindset becomes even more important for more expensive products or services.

This became especially apparent during a recent phone call with Kareem Mansour, founder and CEO of Alexandro Gallery Furniture. He explained, “Potential customers often only have a general idea of what you can offer. During the sales process, you need to take the time to truly understand their needs so you can pair them with the product or service that is right for them. Try to rush through this process, and you risk offering a service that won’t actually meet their needs, and will leave them unsatisfied with your business. Don’t be afraid to take extra time so you can find the right match.”

When you provide honest, truthful information to prospects during the sales process, they can have greater confidence in their decisions and set appropriate expectations. You’ll also gain better insights that will help you offer the right solution for their needs. While this requires more effort, it helps avoid a lot of frustration later on.

Focus On The Long-Term
You should never look at a customer relationship as a one-off event. Even if someone is coming to you for what seems like a one-time service, you can create more win-wins by treating them as a potential long-term partner.

When you think of a client as a long-term partner or customer, you completely alter your mindset — and the stakes. It might even occur on a more subconscious level, but you’ll care far more about pleasing the customer if you treat them like you’ll be working with them every day for the next ten years.

This approach can dramatically change the dynamic of your interactions — from how well you keep in touch to the level of effort you put into your service. These are the little things that can make an ordinary experience truly exceptional. They’re the kinds of things your clients will remember if they (or anyone in their network) needs your services again in the future.

Ultimately, the best way to create a win-win situation is to make a concerted effort to listen to and cater to your target customers. Sometimes, this might even mean telling someone that you’re not a good fit for their needs. But quite often, it will enable you to provide higher-value service to your clients, delivering the exact outcomes they are hoping for.

What goes around comes around, and as you create meaningful wins for your clients, their lasting business, positive reviews and referrals will provide several wins for you, too.



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