It's all about me!!!!

[crystaltash]

Ok guys, bit of a wierd post here, but work with me!!

During my training I was always taught that when you are with a client, you should never talk about yourself - conversation should always be about the client!!!

Now, is it just me, or is this virtually impossible to do? If a client is telling me something, I find that I want to share my experiences of that topic with her!
And I always have great craic with my clients, but then I remember back to my college tutors and I feel guilty and selfish for talking about myself!!!!

Am I mad?? Is there a cure???!!!!!!

Any thoughts would be cool (As long as they aren't about yourself!!! - JOKE!!!)

Love and Velocity Tips!!

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Some clients love to gossip on about their own lives, and I just love to listen! Others ask me loads about me too so I tell 'em! Others hardly speak at all and that's fine as some people like a little bit of "Quiet time for me".

There's no right or wrong, and I think the colleges aim these types of comments at the young girls who may want to prattle on about their hangovers and boyfriend troubles - although I have done that myself on the odd occasion :o !.

Some of my clients have been coming to me for years and they know all about me and I know all about them - they are more like friends.

 

[Glorsclaws]

I think the reason behind being taught to let the client do the talking is so that you can concentrate on the work in hand and just nod in the right places!
I find the more I get involved in the conversation the longer it takes me, though obviously you have to interact to some degree or the client will think theyre talking to a stuffed dummy, lol!

 

[Urban Geek]

If I felt the client preferred to talk about themselves, I'd be happy to get on with my work and just listen but I think most clients want a two-way conversation and are not that self-absorbed. (I think your tutor may have been talking about male clients - that's a different story! - Sorry Sam, Seanny, David, Herman, Nailman, etc, etc)

 

[Trinity]

I always get the balling rolling with something that's going on for me, then it tends to snowball and they'll chatter away :lol:

I prefer it if I can get them to talk so I can work quicker, like Glors I slow down when I'm chatting, but it flows both ways.

I did find in the beginning I felt I had to chatter to fill the silence, now I'm not so bothered about it, I suppose it's a confidence thing, and they tend to start talking if I don't get in first :lol:

 

[Bagpuss]

Hiya xx

I was always told that money, religion and politics was a No No...

I have worked in customer service for years and so i always let them take the lead...i play it by ear...you can soon pick up how a client is going to be....some i can have a laugh with..chat away about anything and everything. Some i am not so chatty with ..i just listen and give polite answers.

I just think as long as you remain polite...and just go with the flow, you cant go wrong.

I have two ladies who used to work for Samaritans !!!! and no matter how hard i try not to talk about me they have this wonderful way of just getting it out of you...they have given me advice about stuff and all sorts...they are older than me and so wise...having not really had a mom figure in my life i do find that i love chats with older, wise and caring women...i struggle sometimes with who to ask for advice and stuff on kids...money matters...even cooking...so without them i would be at a total loss, they don't seem to mind at all and we have a special relationship. No favors are ever asked or offered regarding nails so it hasn't affected my business and there is total respect each way.

See...I have done it again..rambled on ...see your not the only one...lol xxx

 

[Kim Lawless]

NO NO NO...............Be yourself. Professional, but yourself. Aside from doing excellent nails, this will keep your clients coming back. If they need to talk let them but join in too, without taking over.

If you're not gonna speak, you might as well get a job in one of those funny salons where they wear a mask.

 

[Sassy Hassy]

ah Kimmi, but not everyone wants to chatter! I had a manicure done about a year ago, lovely girl, but she couldn't cope with silence. All I wanted was a nice full on pamper without any idle chat, I just wanted to switch off completely and felt irritated every time she spoke!! I used to worry about people thinking I was rude if I didn't keep a conversation going, now I just relax and if it won't flow then I just comment now and then on what I am doing with their hands!

 

[Emmajt]

ah Kimmi, but not everyone wants to chatter! I had a manicure done about a year ago, lovely girl, but she couldn't cope with silence. All I wanted was a nice full on pamper without any idle chat, I just wanted to switch off completely and felt irritated every time she spoke!! I used to worry about people thinking I was rude if I didn't keep a conversation going, now I just relax and if it won't flow then I just comment now and then on what I am doing with their hands!

I'm exactly the same.

I'm sure my hairdresser thinks i'm an ignorant so and so!!

I just want to sit there and chill, read a few mags and have a few cups of coffee. I can't be doing with the usual where you going on holiday talk? etc...

But then saying that, when i do nails, i'm probably the one doing the talking!!!

 

[crystaltash]

Cheers for your thoughts guys!!!!

I love Kimmi's advice about being myself - I love chatting and meeting knew people and learning lots of different things about them.

I also beleive that money, polotics and religion are no-no's but then again, I don't much about the 3 of them, so I guess it's all good!! HA HA!!!!

If I'm doing a massage or facial, or something like that, I would let the client relax and drift, but I find when I'm doing nails, they like to chat away - which is fine with me.

I won't feel so bad now about talking about me for a bit!!!!!!
Kisses,

 

[nikkinails]

Go for what feels right youcan usually tell what type of person a client is andwhat are the right and wrong things to say.


I dont know about you guys but I find clients often want to tell you about their personal probs and can get quite deep they trust you a bit cause its easier than talkin to friends and family.

If the conversation goes that way I will talk about my personal life and experiences too I don think clients mind at all as long as you dont sit there and blow you own trumpet for 1 1/2 and not let them get a word in!!!

Love Nikki.xx

 

[twinkletoes910]

I've had nail techs who only talked about themselves, and techs who wanted to talk about me.

The first, whose boyfriend was friends with my husband, sat and talked about her boyfriend constantly. One pedicure appointment lasted 3 hours, not because the service was that long, but because she kept on stopping and ranting about her b/f and at one point, broke down in tears and had to excuse herself to go clean up. I really didn't know this girl too well, so it was uncomfortable and akward.

On the other hand, the other tech, wanted to talk about my husband, daughter, work, etc... which was nice, but kinda' strange. I swear, she must of had a notebook with her clients personal life notes jotted down. She didn't forget anything!!! My favorite time of my appointments with her, was when she did my smile lines. She got very quite and concentrated (I now understand why!). I liked this the best because my appointments were quiet time, MY time... no crying babies, no whiney husband, no ringing phone....

Definately base your conversation tactics on the customer. If she's a mom with a lot of commotion in her normal home... quiet is a good thing!!!! If she is a talker, if you bring up something about her kids, she'll go the entire time, and all that you'll have to do is nod.

My favorite nail tech of all time was set up in a large room with other nail techs. She would chit chat with me for the first few minutes, then the conversation turned to the room, the other techs and customers. I could sit and listen, join in with the talk if I wanted to, or just zone out.

 

[ValencianNails]

IMO if your clients want to chat but struggle to start off a conversation try asking some 'open questions'
these begin with a HOW? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? and WHY?
ALL of those questions require an answer other than yes or no, then the conversation begins

I knew those years in telephone sales would come in handy pmsl

apart from that I try to be myself, normally with the yes's and no's in the right places as I'm struggling with the 'talk to the hand' technique :o

you can normally gauge the type of person a client is either from their phonecall or the initial meeting.
xxx

 

[nikkinails]

twinkle toes its funny u should say about talking to the other techs and customers- i work in a tanning salon and the girl on the desk is usually sat 4 long periods i always involve her in the conversation is this bad?

 

[Kim Lawless]

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. I meant only chat if it's obvious they fancy a chat. Otherwise keep schtum. x

 

[*JOANNE*]

i allways start by talking to them first and if they want to know more about me......then boy do they get it.......(joking)
i like it sometimes when there is no conversation, i am comfortable with silence......you then find them saying "woo nearly fell asleep then "....thats good because it means they have winded down and are enjoying their treatment.
some people are shy and some people lurvvvvve going on about them selves...i love that cause i am so nosey...its when they tell you a shocker, and you have to make out like...oh thats nice.................lol

 

[rock*]

in this business ANYONE can do great nails what sets you appart is YOU!!!!start a realationship with them and theyll think of you as a friend and thus be more loyal and refer more!!!

Ok guys, bit of a wierd post here, but work with me!!

During my training I was always taught that when you are with a client, you should never talk about yourself - conversation should always be about the client!!!

Now, is it just me, or is this virtually impossible to do? If a client is telling me something, I find that I want to share my experiences of that topic with her!
And I always have great craic with my clients, but then I remember back to my college tutors and I feel guilty and selfish for talking about myself!!!!

Am I mad?? Is there a cure???!!!!!!

Any thoughts would be cool (As long as they aren't about yourself!!! - JOKE!!!)

Love and Velocity Tips!!

 

[DNA]

If you're not gonna speak, you might as well get a job in one of those funny salons where they wear a mask.

LOL! :lol: