Be Direct Without Pissing People Off.

You are lucky to be an expert in your field. Not everyone is.

Particularly your customers.

Because of this, sometimes you have to say things they do not like. You have to break the cold hard facts that Santa Claus is not real and there is no farm upstate where their childhood dog is playing in an open field.

How do you do this the right way? Let me introduce you to my favorite question in the world.

“Can I be blunt with you?”

This question gives you the ability to be brutally honest.

Be sure to say the word “blunt” as opposed to “honest” too. Blunt readies them for a difficult blow. They batten down the hatches and prepare for the truth storm coming their way.

Honest is “I don't really like that purple shirt on you”.

Blunt is “That shirt makes you look like Grimace from the old McDonald’s commercials.”

Ask permission to be blunt and then be honest. You customers will be happier if you do.