Sales Meeting

You want to end your sales meeting on a high note with a real climax.  A few “don’t’s” will work wonders toward preventing an anticlimax at the end of your sales meeting. 

DON’T let a semi-climax outshine the conclusion of your meeting. The major highlight should invariably be last.

DON’T summarize after the climax. Do it earlier. While summation helps get your message across, it’s not sufficiently colorful to serve as the climax.

DON’T thank participants at the end of the meeting. Anytime before will do. An expression of thanks at the end takes the edge off things.

DON’T stall around if you finish early. Conclude the meeting ahead of time. A stall is anticlimactic.

DON’T leave the impression you’re closing the meeting merely because you’ve run out of topics: “Well, if there’s nothing else to cover . . .”

DON’T acknowledge a raised hand when you’re bringing the meeting to a close. Ignore it. See the individual later. His question or comment would have taken the frosting off the cake.

DON’T let a comment from the floor cause a long discussion at the last minute. If someone speaks up even though not invited to do so, make him be brief. Brush him off politely but quickly.

DON’T let someone in the audience have the last word, or even the next to last word. There’s no reason to believe he will say something to help you close on a high note. Regain control of the situation. Then close it yourself.

DON’T ignore the obvious. It usually is evident that the audience will want to know some fact, such as the time of the next session or date of the next meeting. Anticipate these things. Supply the information so there won’t be anticlimactic last minute questions from the floor.

DON’T be indefinite or indecisive. Conclude with vigor.

DON’T thank the audience for attending, especially near the close. If you’ve conducted a sparkling meeting, the audience should thank you!

Sales Meeting

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