Storytime.
A friend is showing his new watch.
I wanted to know what he paid.
If I asked, “How much did you pay for that watch?” it might have made him feel awkward and uncomfortable.
Asking what someone paid for something extravagant can feel like a personal question.
It feels abrupt.
How did I ask the price question without it feeling awkward?
I gave my friend an out in case he didn’t feel comfortable answering the question.
Like this:
“If you don’t mind me asking, how much did you pay for that watch?”
Ironically when you give people an out, they’re more likely to open up.
Why?
People don’t like it when their freedom to choose is being taken away. It’s called reactance.
Here’s an example of how to use the bridging phrase, “If you don’t mind me asking,” on a cold call when you’re asking for “personal” information.
Example for CaptivateIQ :
“If you don’t mind me asking, how are you currently running and calculating commission statements?”
Example for Gravy:
“If you don’t mind me asking, how are you currently recovering failed payments?”
Knowing what to say to get skeptical prospects to lower their guard is an important skill to master.