In sales a powerful technique is the open ended question. I'm sure you can find more by googling that term. Goes something like this. She says, " I am really into Fine Wines".
You say, "Really? Tell me how you got interested". "She says something else. You come up with another question that plays off her previous statement. When you get really good at it, you can have a conversation where the other person does most of the talking and you listen.

When I was in sales, we used to play around with the newbies. It would go something like this:
" In a conversation, the one asking the question is the one who is in control, do you understand this?"
The response was usually, " Yes"
Then we'd repeat,. " No. I don't think you do. Don't you see how asking questions gives you the ability to direct the conversation?"
response, " OK"
and so it would go until the newbie finally realises that the point to this game is to respond with a question. " Yes, I understand how that gives me power. Can you explain to me how to use that in a sales situation?" or something similar. Then we knew they understood.
The open ended question, use it. It also makes you aware of when someone is trying it on you, doesn't it?

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags