PPB September 2021

Rawpixel / Shutterstock.com. W hile perusing my RSS feeds the other morning, I stumbled on a most appropriate quote, one that will set the tone for this article. It comes from one of my mentors, Simon Sinek. “Any worthwhile conversation starts with listening!” Communication. It takes on various forms—written, verbal and non-verbal. It has, throughout history, moved mountains and opened amazing breakthroughs in technology, but the lack of communication has led to great disappointments. We need it, we depend on it and it is a skill that needs to be practiced, honed and practiced again and again. Industry Perspective I have a unique perspective on this issue by being actively involved in this industry for nearly 40 years. I have been a salesperson for a couple of companies, owned my own distributor company, been a partner and CEO in two supplier companies and have worked with multiple large distributors and suppliers as a marketing and business consultant. While I’ve not seen it all, I’ve seen plenty. One of the biggest challenges I have seen and continue to see is a major lack of communication on all sides. No one side is to blame, and all would do well to reflect, think and alter the Good sales are reliant on solid communications. Here’s how to ensure clarity and comprehension. by Cliff Quicksell Jr., MAS+ If You Want Better Results, Start With Better Communication 50 | SEPTEMBER 2021 | GROW