I am confident that there are many ways to stop a conversation dead in its tracks, especially when you are trying to sell someone, qualify someone, or motivate someone to buy your product, service or idea. I was listening to David Kurlan of Objective Management Group the other day. He was conducting a live webinar on the most effective way to reach prospects. In his presentation, he discussed five words that are critical to successful phone solicitation:

1. Hi (north of the Mason Dixon line)
2. Hey (south of the Mason Dixon line)
3. It's (rather than this is)
4. Bob (or rather your name if it isn't Bob) or, Bob Smith (Both your first and last name)
5. Carol (or rather the prospects first name if it isn't Carol)

This got me thinking about 5 words or phrases that will stop a conversation. Again, I know there must be more than five, so when you read this please comment on this posting, let us know the rest of the show-stopping, sales-busting words or phrases that you can think of.

1. No or no I can't
2. You are wrong
3. That isn't possible
4. I agree but
5. What I would like to do

Any one of these comments on their own will cause your audience to immediately shut down. Once that happens, you might as well forget about selling anything to anyone, at least in the immediate near future. Instead you might want to consider:

1. What might work is...
2. I'm not sure I see your perspective; I think I heard you say...
3. Nothing is impossible, so this might be hard to...
4. I agree, given your previous position and ...
5. It may not make sense, but what has worked for others is to ...

Nothing is guaranteed, so I won't stake my life on these responses. I will tell you that when I've realized my poor judgment in words, and learned that I need a better way to say what I'm thinking and feeling, then I normally get better results.

By Tony Cole