Question

Describe a time when someone did not really listen to or understand a point you were trying to get across. Describe the actions you took to try to make them understand them your point. How do these actions apply to negotiations and sales? [200 words or more please and Thank you].

Answer 1

I was going to go watch a movie with a friend of mine and he decided to ride his bike to the theatre. I was going to follow him on my car. As we started, I noticed that he wasn't wearing his helmet and when I reminded him to wear his helmet he brushed away my advice. I spent a few seconds (trying to) explaining the risks of a serious injury in case of an accident (however small probability). He didn't listen or more like it was in one ear and out of the other for him. I almost told him that I wasn't going to watch the movie with him if he didn't wear his helmet. I also requested him to do it as a favour to me. He didn't budge so I decided to go with him regardless.

In other words, I tried use of everything a salesman or negotiator would.

• My trying to explain the risk to him was use of logic and fear
• My threatening to not go with him for the movie was another tactic salesfolks employ
• Salesfolks also plead with their customers sometimes, which is what I also did

As we were driving towards the theatre (I driving and he riding) we halted at an intersection to let the crossing vehicles pass. Suddenly a car passed us and hit a bike which was going across (no fault of the bike rider) and it flew into the air and landed with a thud. I jumped out of the car and my friend stepped off his bike to help the impacted bike rider. He was hurt in many places but his face and head were safer as he was wearing a helmet. My friend looked at me with understanding eyes and I realized that everything that I had said didn't have any effect but this incident would have made my friend realize the sense in what I was telling him all along.