Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Empathetic Communication - Learn to Do it Today

I received a wonderful discussion post via LinkedIn today from a member of a Group called 'Credit & Collections Professionals'. It was entitled "Increase collections through data driven empathetic communications".

Enough of us in the Group managed to fight our way through the title to agree with the basic premise that taking an aggressive or combative stance towards a debtor is usually counter-productive, and that a sympathetic and empathic approach is more likely to produce a successful (and less stressful!) outcome all round. One comment, though, struck me as being particularly valid.

Charlie Becker, the Director of Sales Beach Associates wrote:

"Couldn't agree more with these comments. Empathy goes a long way. Sometimes it's better to listen and hear everything and even a few things that aren't said and act accordingly. There are always two sides to a story. Just listening to them will get results. I think it really depends on your communication skills."

I'll go along with that - and so should you! Mr. Becker has only been in the business for 20 years - just a Spring Chicken really - but he has a very sensible attitude!

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