If you run your own business, are at the early stage of your career, or even are an experienced executive, chances are you are used to hearing your clients and customers say no to you. Research studies demonstrate that most customers say no an average of five times before they say yes to a product or service. When you hear a no, it is not necessarily a sign of rejection, but rather an opportunity to learn more about how you communicate and what your client needs from you.
If your reaction to someone saying no is to feel rejected, then it is time to readjust your communication strategy. If you are working to secure commitment from new clients, be prepared to hear no, but use the no as a starting point to further the conversation. For example, determine if you delivered incomplete information and then clarify your pitch. It is also possible that your timing is wrong and you can establish another time to gain commitment or perhaps there is someone else better suited to speak with to get what you need. In all cases, the initial rejection is a starting point to learn more and restructure your approach.
Your continued conversation is not about pestering, but it is about exploring what the client needs. Maintain a curiosity in their situation and learn what it is about your plan or product that is not to their liking. All business operations encounter hurdles and rejection is part of the playing field. The key to your success is to use initial rejections as starting points for new, more developed conversations. Keeping communication open and fluid is the way to turn those rejections into successes.
Source: Inc.