Weaknesses and Strengths
What might you identify as possible weaknesses for yourself on the telephone?
What do you believe are your strengths?
Diana,
Thanks for sharing this! I'm sure many people can relate, too. How will you work on managing the "um's" in your conversations?
Dr. Jean Norris
I would say some of my weaknesses on the phone would be that sometimes I go into too much detail and that I have a tendency to say "um".
I would say some of my strengths are my enthusiastic/friendly tone, I listen well, and make the person feel comfortable talking to me.
Tyler, I want to make sure that I understand, you view building trust as a strength that you do and too much information giving as a weakness?
Dr. Jean Norris
I feel I could use that trust building to limit the information i give to turn my weakness around and build more on my strength.
Tyler, What a great strength and awesome awareness on your part for your areas of opportunity! How can you turn those areas of opportunity into strengths?
Dr. Jean Norris
Weakness - Give to much information at once. Instead of giving it as requested or in broken blocks.
Strength - Ability to build trust in the phone call up to the information stage.
Teri,
Well that is a great strength. What one area you would personally like to work on?
Dr. Jean Norris
I'm very positive and approachable. We have alot of non traditional students and I'm able to take the 'scary' out of enrollment.
Teri,
So true! Share one thing that you think is a strength of yours, that you know to be true.
Dr. Jean Norris
I'm hoping to find that out in this lesson! Every bit of new information that helps me help others is great!
Teri, Glad to see your enthusiasm! What are some questions you can ask to get a better rate of show for appointments?
Dr. Jean Norris
I agree witwh Ozzie, my biggest weakness is talking to fast because I am excited for the student. I can usually get the appointment schedued but they do not always show.
After watching the first section of this class I'm happy to say I think my biggest strength is "Asking the right questions." I've got that down and didn't even realize it!
Lori,
Thank you for sharing. Entering your own "gap" can be dangerous, so great awareness on your part!
Dr. Jean Norris
I have two big weaknesses when it comes to phone calls - the 1st is that I tend to not ask enough probing questions when I am on the phone and I don't ask the hard or uncomfortable questions. The 2nd is that I tend to multi-task when I am on the phone so I can sometimes be distracted.
My biggest strength is that I understand our students very well and i can understand how they are felling and what they are going through so this lets me build a good rapport with them.
Great awareness Elaine. So how do you use your strength of connecting with others to outweigh your weakness of rushing the phone call?
I am like Tara my biggest weakness if I will be doing something else while I'm on the phone. I also have a tendency to want to get off the telephone too quickly and not ask enough pertinent questions.
My biggest strength is to connect and make people feel comfortable talking to me.
Samantha,
What can you do to better prepare to gather the proper information before scheduling those appointments?
Dr. Jean Norris
Weaknesses: Getting the proper information before scheduling the appointment
Strenghts: My love of people and desire to assist them in achieving thier goals
TO help improve my "rambling" I think I could come up with a message outline, similar to the call outline described in Module 2. In having a list of points to make, I can stay on track and be more succinct.
