These ideas come from Never Split the Difference (Chris Voss), You’re Not Listening (Kate Murphy), The Lost Art of Listening (Michael Nichols), and everyday practice. The first six help the most. Pick one and try it today.
TIP 1
Recordings reveal habits
Listening to yourself shows how you really sound, which often differs from what you imagine.
TRY THIS Review one call this week.
TIP 2
Always get permission
Tell the customer you are recording and why, and follow the rules in your area.
TRY THIS Be transparent.
TIP 3
Check your talk-to-listen ratio
Time how long you speak compared with the customer, and aim for more listening.
TRY THIS Use a stopwatch.
TIP 4
Mark every interruption
Noting the moments you cut in shows exactly where to practise patience.
TRY THIS Count them.
TIP 5
Listen to your tone
Ask whether you sound warm, calm and interested, or rushed and flat.
TRY THIS Compare with a good call.
TIP 6
Highlight your best questions
Spotting the questions that opened people up helps you repeat them.
TRY THIS Save the top three.
TIP 7
Find the signals you missed
Replaying a call often reveals buying signals or worries you did not follow up.
TRY THIS Write what you would ask now.
TIP 8
Pick one improvement at a time
Trying to fix everything at once leads to frustration, so choose a single focus.
TRY THIS Work on it for a week.
TIP 9
Share clips with a coach
A trusted second pair of ears can notice what you cannot.
TRY THIS Ask for two tips.
TIP 10
Protect the recordings
Store them securely and delete them when no longer needed.
TRY THIS Follow your privacy rules.
Easy things to say
When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many sales conversations.
PERMISSION
“Do you mind if I record this for training?”
HONEST
“I record calls to improve how I serve you.”
REVIEW
“I listened back and noticed…”
LEARN
“Next time I will ask more questions.”
THANKS
“Thank you for letting me record.”
SHARE
“I shared a lesson with the team.”
Your first week
One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.
DAY 1 Check the rules in your area
DAY 2 Ask permission
DAY 3 Record one call
DAY 4 Listen once with notes
DAY 5 Mark three strengths
DAY 6 Mark one improvement
DAY 7 Repeat weekly
Further reading
Never Split the Difference (Chris Voss)
You’re Not Listening (Kate Murphy)
The Lost Art of Listening (Michael Nichols)
The tips above are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.