How many times have you gone to buy something and when you ask for help, the sales person tries to sell you something different?

You’re polite, but they don’t hear you because your agenda is not their agenda.

What’s an agenda?

When you *hold another person’s agenda* it means you’re focused on helping them get what they want. You don’t manage or push them into doing something they don’t want. You don’t have ‘a hidden agenda’.

You may make suggestions but what works best is a true desire to know — to understand what their personal viewpoint is; how they think and feel and to honor it fully.

People are smart. They know if you’re playing around or if you truly have their best interest at heart.

Have an authentic agenda

You build an agenda or plan by asking:

– What’s best for this person?

– What do they hope for and deserve?

– What will make them feel good, happy and successful?

If I’m a cook my agenda is to offer you a variety of entrees to choose from. If I keep pushing only ‘the Special’ you’ll start to feel uncomfortable and pressured.

Having an authentic agenda means being ethical. Having a purpose that’s honorable; one you’re proud of. You’re alert…aware…sensitive to other peoples desires and ideas. You have a natural obligation and responsibility to be of service – to make sure you’re being completely fair to the client’s agenda, not your own personal lineup.

When you’re in business you wear many different agenda hats

– You’re a consultant because you help solve problems.

– You’re a mentor because you give advice from your own life and knowledge.

– You’re a friend because you care for the person you’re working with.

– You’re a negotiator, diplomat and wizard as you prioritize, offer observations and create magic by helping people decide what really matters so everyone wins fair and square.

Setting a fair agenda means preparing without your ego or judgment — preparing without making up your mind in advance — preparing without deciding what works best for someone else.

Great sales people are excellent listeners and they also like people. They’re genuinely interested in who you are and how you think. They listen and read between the lines, using their intuition and instincts so they can help you, not fool you.

Certainly you hope to make the sale. That’s why you’re in business.

So — why not do it with integrity from the start?

When you have an agenda of honesty and truth then it’s a humanitarian effort. You’re not corrupting yourself, and the trust you’ve earned working with people shines, increases and promotes you.

Look at these passionate and exact words The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama uses to describe that kind of vital agenda:

We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters…that you don’t take shortcuts or play only by your own set of rules…and success doesn’t count unless you earned it fair and square.

Now that’s one attractive, enticing, irresistible, highly desirable and achievable agenda to choose and live by.

Thanks – Michael

[This post was first published on Maria Shriver’s website]

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