Have you ever been at a party or a professional conference and had someone ask you, “So what do you do?”
Did you stumble through the answer or give a quick boring answer?
Did you wish you could sound clear and confident?
Today, in the video below, and also in this post, I will give you some strategies and even exact ways to answer that question, along with the question, “Why should we trust you?”
Strategy #1: Keep your response concise and relevant to the person’s level of interest and knowledge (avoid technical jargon).
Strategy #2: Start out with a bumper sticker statement to answer the question, “What do you do? ” A bumper sticker statement should be short enough to fit on a bumper sticker. It’s something that you can say in one easy-to-say sentence that briefly addresses:
- What you do
- For whom
- The benefit
For example, my bumper sticker statement is: “I coach and train subject matter experts to speak with confidence and clarity.”
Depending on whom you’re speaking with, you can expand it.
Q1: What do you do?
“I work as a [insert job title], and my responsibilities include [insert main responsibilities]. For example, I [insert a few specific tasks or projects you work on]. Overall, my job involves [insert broader goals or objectives of your role].”
That summary statement, the part that starts with “Overall . . .” is essential because if the person has been just a little distracted or their thoughts went somewhere else, that keyword overall will get them back focused in and hanging on to your every word right at the end.
Question #2 is very similar.
Q2: What does your organization do?
“Our organization [insert company or group name] is focused on [insert main goal or mission statement]. We do this by [insert brief description of the key products, services or initiatives your organization offers]. For example, we [insert one or two specific examples]. Essentially, our goal is to [insert the overarching impact or benefit your organization aims to achieve].”
Question #3, is a customer or client question about trust.
Q3: Why should we trust you and your team?
When a customer asks, “Why should we trust you and your team?” they are asking for reasons to believe that your team is credible, reliable, and capable of meeting their needs.
Consider the most important trust factors for your customers. I’ve selected expertise, transparency, and being client-focused for this example. Say each part below out loud and then rephrase it in your own words to tailor it to your situation.
“We understand that trust is essential in any business relationship, and we take that responsibility seriously. Our team has a proven track record of delivering results for our clients, and we are committed to building long-lasting partnerships based on mutual trust and respect. Here are a few reasons why we believe you can trust us:
Expertise: We have a deep understanding of our industry, and we stay up-to-date with the latest trends, tools, and technologies to provide our clients with the best solutions.
Transparency: We believe in being transparent with our clients, and we provide regular updates on our progress, so you always know what we’re working on and how we’re doing.
Client-focused: We always put our clients’ needs first and strive to provide exceptional customer service. We listen carefully to your goals and work closely with you to develop solutions that meet your specific needs.
Overall, we believe that our team has the skills, expertise, and dedication needed to earn your trust and deliver results that exceed your expectations.”
Plan your responses to questions, create shorter versions (bumper sticker), and practice out loud, without trying to memorize, until you feel comfortable and the words flow conversationally.