Is your sales team crying the "tough times" blues?? "I can't sell in this economy."? "The buyers have all dried up."? "Our market is different."? Maybe it's time for a reality check and a solid dose of perspective.?
There's no arguing that times have been turbulent for many industries ? but like any market, there will always be those companies and sales professionals that seek out the opportunities and thrive, and those who take the "I'm just waiting for things to get better" attitude.? Which direction do you choose for yourself, your organization and your sales team?
?I asked top-rated sales speaker Connie Podesta for her take on the times, selling in any economy and why savvy companies are still reaching out and bringing in key sales professionals to help motivate their teams, deliver real-world strategies and create a sales force whose synergy can't be beat.?
?Julie: Connie, you are known for saying that salespeople must "blow the roof off sales done the old way" if they have any shot of being successful in today's marketplace. I'll bite. What's "different" about sales today than just a few years ago?
?Connie:? Bottom line?? "Selling as usual" simply won't cut it anymore.? The old tried and true techniques such as "needs assessment" and "overcoming objectives" are out-dated, even annoying.?? "SELLING YOURSELF" has become more important than price, brand, product, or territory.? Market and money is not as important as your customer's desire to do business with YOU.? The fact is people will drive farther, pay more and stay a customer longer if they like you, trust you, believe in you and see you as a resource they can count on. Each salesperson today must have a certain "something" that makes them STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD and be recognized as someone others would CHOOSE to do business with. They have to be able to let go of things simply because they worked in the past and be willing to embrace new ideas, new ways of thinking, new technology, and a new brand of customer.?
?Julie:? Great perspective.? I heard one of your seminars to a sales audience where you talked about "Empowerment without excuses."?? Can you tell us a little more about that??
?Connie:? My research shows that that organizations want and need their sales teams to "own" their job, accept more responsibility for their results, and initiate, rather than wait, for new ideas.? They want them to feel more empowered to approach new customers, re-think old ways of selling, learn to be more "consultant" than "salesperson," and focus on what they can do rather than what they can't do.? ??However, in the wake of a few rocky years ? it is tempting for salespeople
?In fact, making excuses can literally cause the brain to divert all of its attention to the emotions that surround the excuse-maker such as:? anger, resentment, worry, woe-is-me.? When the brain is busy taking care of all of those "needy" emotions it doesn't have time to come up with innovative ideas, fresh strategies, powerful marketing tools, or advanced uses of technology and social media to attract and retain CUSTOMERS. Those are killer emotions, attitudes and thoughts to have as a salesperson in today's fast-changing environment.
?Julie:? Good stuff.? So what can sales pros do now to start flipping the switches in their mindsets so they can get beyond that "doom and gloom" and find the solutions that work for them?
?Connie:? One, they've got to realize that there's simply no room for mediocrity in sales today.? A tough economy requires tough salespeople―who are will and able to ADAPT quickly to a world that changes at the click of a mouse.?? If you are a salesperson who is waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel ? I have one thing to say to you:? WE ARE OUT OF mcclain white home jersey THE TUNNEL!? It may not be as bright a light as you were hoping for ? but it is what it is.? Right here.? Right now.? And the reality is it could stay this way quite a while.? So…what should salespeople do?? Get on with the reality of selling.? And stop wasting emotions (and time) worrying about the past. That's what the best salespeople are doing―moving on and doing it FAST! They are wasting no mcclain white home jersey time getting on with the job at hand―SELLING!?