The snow gives a clue.  It’s winter and the Festive Season is upon us!

Actually, the retailers have being trying to encourage us to believe this since late-September, by displaying decorations and must-have presents. This is something I try to ignore until around now, when I start to ponder frantically about what presents to give.

My trouble is that I tend to get distracted away from presents for others, to presents for me.  Normally, this involves some kind of technology, which is my Achilles Heel. Ah well, I suppose I am allowed one (this is my opinion, of course).

What is the perfect gift?

I imagine that this question has resulted in you thinking of the perfect gift for you. The next step is for someone else to realise what this is.

The Gift Idea Transference Process (GITP) can take many forms. You may, for example, leave a magazine open on the coffee table with the item visible. You may guide your conversations to the topic, but I am uncertain how you move from ‘the weather’ to ‘Chanel Nº 5’. Alternatively, you may take the direct route and mention the item, say, 41 times over a 4 week period.

Probably, the least successful approach from woman to man is GITP by ESP, which works on the principle that the man empathises and can’t possibly get it wrong. Unfortunately, the desire for perfume may get translated to a ‘240V Sliding Mitre Saw with TCT Blade, Spindle Lock and Die-cast Aluminium Base’.  Both are expensive and individually evocative to a woman and man, although the evoked emotions of the woman receiving the latter are unlikely to be what the man expected.

Understanding the preferences of the person receiving the gift is essential and this is also true for consultative selling in business, which is all about listening and understanding.

eTeams has 40 differentiators that describe how we are distinct in the language marketplace. Taken as a whole, they emphasise the attributes that set us apart from our competitors.

These differentiators encompass our people, service, commercial and technical aspects of our solution.  When listening to, discussing and understanding your requirements, we are also identifying the differentiators that can bring real value to our relationship with you.

If you question whether your language provider is truly listening, we welcome the prospect of learning more about your requirements and to explaining how our distinctiveness benefits you.

To our clients, who have already given us this opportunity, may we say thank you!

Wishing all of you a world of happiness this Christmas...

‘eTeams – translations you can trust’