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Humor in the House

Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

There's an almost endless selection of specialized optical tools to use for every dispensary task. But perhaps your best dispensing tool is a sense of humor, the ability to laugh at yourself and laugh with others.

I remember the time I was helping a lady pick out frames, and after more than an hour she couldn't make up her mind between multiple pairs in different styles and colors. I jokingly (I thought) said, "Why don't you just get them all?"

Well, she showed me: she did! All 16 pairs! She was the practice's best customer afterwards, coming in every year and purchasing—in the teens—all new frames and lenses.

HUMOR BREAKS ICE

Using humor in your practice's marketing efforts is widely regarded as the best way to capture consumer's attention.

For example, cartoons are memorable, quick eye catchers, drawing the eye first. And listening to humorous tapes on your way to/from work can start and end your day with a laugh and good attitude, plus perhaps give you amusing tidbits and jokes to share with patients.

Roopy S. Sandhu, ABOC, LDO, from the SACCO Eye Group in Vestal, N.Y., considers humor to be a helpful part of an optical "toolbox."

Sandhu says that humor works with almost every patient and recalled one recent encounter of the humorous kind.

"I was helping a patient who knew I'd just had my third child," Sandhu relates. "She said the fourth one would be even easier. I looked her straight in the eyes and said, ‘I'm putting a second strike in your chart. One more and you're outta here!’ We were both laughing so hard we got the rest of the office laughing."

LAUGH AT YOURSELF

Self-deprecating humor is often the best kind to use in a sticky sales situation.

Sandhu even uses humor to illustrate optical terms.

"I have a lack of hair and endless jokes can come from this arena. My favorite: I can't wait for an anti-glare product to come in a spray for my scalp to help reduce glare." EB

Senior editor Karlen McLean has been in the optical industry for 35 years. She has spent half of that time in the dispensary. In this monthly column, Karlen shares her own experiences, and hopes you'll share yours. Contact her via email at karlen.mclean@wolterskluwer.com.