Common Myths About Salespeople: Debunked

     

       A position in sales can be a fantastic and rewarding career! However, salespeople often get a bad rap due to the stereotypes perpetuated by the general public. In fact, some salespeople actually do perpetuate the stereotype without even knowing (or meaning) it! That doesn’t mean these labels are true, though! 

        If you have really thick skin, these assumptions based on your chosen profession may not bother you one bit, but studies have shown that the stigma can have a negative impact on your ability to perform. What are some common stereotypes concerning salespeople? Recent polls suggest that people in sales are often viewed  as untrustworthy, dishonest, pushy and greedy. What gives?!!! Why does a career in sales carry such a stigma? Let’s set the record straight and squash these silly stereotypes! 

Myth #1: Salespeople work for commission and are therefore dishonest, unethical and pushy. Think shifty used car salesman. We've all heard the stereotype. Most salespeople are very driven and hardworking. That does not make them pushy. Most people in sales are genuinely concerned with providing a service of good standards and do have strong business ethics. Of course, there are some bad apples out there who ruin it for everyone else. (I can remember being chased halfway through the mall once by someone who wanted to straighten my hair and sell me hair products. What the heck???) If you’re chasing after people who are clearly uninterested and making them uncomfortable, you are probably one of those pushy salespeople and you should work on that. However, most people aren’t. And the fact is, no matter what your profession, we are all salespeople in some perspective and we all represent some sort of brand, so it’s time to move on from this unfair label. 

Myth #2: If you can’t talk a good game, you can’t sell. While you must be able to adequately represent your product, you don’t have to be the smoothest talker on the planet. In fact, one of the most important qualities in sales is being a good listener. Listen to your prospects’ needs and interests and you will excel way farther than someone who can BS their way through a sale. 

Myth #3: Sales is a roller coaster ride when it comes to success. Sales is only up and down if you let the process take you over. You need to take charge, you need to have goals and you need to have a clear cut plan for accomplishing these goals. Most businesses have seasonal shifts in productivity, but that doesn’t mean you will fall apart. You just need a plan. 

Myth #4: You have to be numb to be in sales. Salespeople will probably hear the word "NO” more than anyone else due to the nature of the business. You do not need to be completely numb to rejection, you just need to understand that it is not personal. There will be times when you’ll mess up, but you’ll learn from it. Most times, it’s not you; it’s just that the person is not in need of the service you represent. Rejection is only a bad thing if you let it eat you up. Otherwise, it’s a great opportunity for learning and growth! 

Myth #5: Sales is a dead end road. Are you serious??? Sales actually has tremendous opportunity for growth and promotion! In fact, did you know that at least 85% of company owners and entrepreneurs were once salespeople?! Starting with sales is a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of a particular business with the luxury of being molded by your experienced superiors (who were likely once salespeople too!). If the end of the road is becoming a CEO/President of your own company, then the end looks pretty good to me! 

Unfortunately, stereotypes like these are hard to get rid of, but don’t let it get you down. In the future, we’ll discuss how to overcome the stigma of sales and avoid letting these opinions effect your performance. Just keep doing your thang! Happy Sales! =)

Helping Others to Help Yourself!

There’s an old saying that goes; ultimately, we only have what we give. While putting in the blood, sweat and tears in pursuing your life goals is a huge component in whether or not you’ll be successful in life, giving and helping others is equally important. Not only is giving and sharing a part of being a decent human being, but helping others will, in turn, help you as well. Helping others should be a natural extension of every entrepreneur and business leader’s obligations and here are some ways to incorporate this into your routine interactions:

Share your findings. Share the knowledge you’ve gained through your own experiences with others who are following your same path. Obviously, there are certain circumstances when it would be to your benefit to keep your methods a secret, but when it won’t hurt, share! Surely there have been times when someone has guided you and saved you the time and trouble of an ongoing trial and error type deal. Not only are you giving someone a break, but you are initiating a possible long term connection where you can exchange tips, methods and ideas. 

Share your resources. If you have invested in some resources to help you with your work, why not share with others? This not only applies to material objects or systems, but your employees as well. If you have someone who’s great at one particular area, offer to have them train someone in a similar position elsewhere (if they are wiling, of course). 

Inform others of opportunities. Know what those you interact with are interested in and if you spot an opportunity, give them a heads up! Use your business connections to suggest job openings or other general business opportunities. 

Introduce your connections. Help your contacts meet other contacts if it will be beneficial to them. Advocate for businesses that you interact with and help them to network with others. However, never sacrifice your credibility if you are not actually genuinely pleased with these businesses’ services or ethics. 

Give them credibility. Recognize your business connections to help boost their notoriety. You can do this by mentioning them through social media or mentioning them in an article you’ve written. 

Participating in friendly relationships with businesses that you network with will ultimately benefit your business directly. Creating and maintaing mutually beneficial friendships opens up countless opportunities for growth and improvement for all parties involved. 

 

Making Your Workspace Your Own!

Your work environment and the way your office is decorated and organized has a direct impact on how you feel while at work and ultimately your productivity. If your office decor is drab or dreary looking, chances are you’re not going to be too psyched about being there. If your office space is cluttered and disorganized you will likely feel overwhelmed and disorganized, yourself. On the other hand, if your office is organized and cheery, your performance will be much more satisfactory. There are many ways to make your office more purposeful and comfortable from practicing feng shui to adding personal touches to your decor. 

First, let’s talk about color. Of course, it is not typically practical to paint your office or cubical, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add color in other ways! Cool colors like blues and greens are said to have a calming effect while warm colors such as reds, oranges and yellows are said to make you feel more energized and focused. Choose colors that inspire you and make you most comfortable. Some ways to incorporate color without actually painting the walls include artwork, an area rug, colored furniture or some funky office supplies. Have fun with it! (Just be sure not to get too outrageous to the point of becoming unprofessional.) Lighting can also make a big difference in your level of comfort. You don’t need to settle for harsh overhead lighting. You can always bring in a small lamp which will provide more warmth and be easier on your eyes. 

There are many things you can do to promote physical comfortability while at work as well. Air quality is super important in staying alert and clear-minded. While a window is preferable, you can still keep your air fresh if you aren’t lucky enough to have one. Bring some of the outdoors indoors and buy some plants! There are many plants that actually filter and purify air!  Some examples are the spider plant, the snake plant, golden pothos, and warneck dracaena. Not only will these little guys improve your air quality, but plants just seem to have a way of cheering you up. If it’s hot and stuffy, invest in a small fan or an air conditioner (if your building allows it). 

If you’re going to be spending a lot of your time sitting at a desk, you should definitely invest in a good and comfortable chair. Maybe even sneak a foot rest under your desk. Some people find it beneficial to swap out a traditional office chair for an exercise ball, depending on whether it’s appropriate for your place of work and position. (If you’re in human resources, interviewees may find it distracting and ...well.... strange to see you bouncing around your office on a huge ball.) However, if you don’t really have to interact with people, it may be beneficial to use one for a few hours each day. It is said that they encourage you to sit up straight and engage your core stabilizer muscles, ultimately improving posture and decreasing back pain. Even then, it may be impractical to spend your whole work-day on one. Whatever works for you! 

Now let’s talk about office organization and layout. Check out some info on feng shui. I am a true believer that room layout and energy flow can have a huge impact your comfort level. Make sure your space isn’t too cramped and don’t bring in unnecessary clutter. Set up your desk so that you have a clear view of the door. Make sure to set your computer to a comfortable viewing distance and your eyes should line up just a little above the center of your screen to prevent you from getting neck cramps. 

Organization in essential for optimal productivity. Invest in some organizational units such as file cabinets, folders, bulletin boards and shelves. Try to build up instead of out to avoid cluttering your work space. Make sure the things you use most are easily accessible and replace supplies as needed. 

Finally, add some personal touches. Research shows a positive correlation between art and productivity at work. Not only does pleasing artwork increase productivity, but it relieves stress and improves morale and creativity. You can also bring in a few personal pictures that are comforting and inspiring to you. Just make sure they’re work appropriate. (Not pictures from your crazy bachelor party or of you in your bikini on your spring break trip!) Another way to boost your mood and add a personal touch is creating a small motivation board. Print out some of your favorite quotes or inspiring photos to provide a little pick-me-up when needed and pin them to a board or use magnets to post them on a file cabinet. Depending on your office, you may want to get a plug in air freshener (just be sure to check with office-mates or company policy before bringing one in). I would suggest Bath & Body Works Wallflowers plug-ins. They have a huge selection of light and fresh fragrances that won’t be overwhelming. I suggest the Island Margarita scent. WARNING: MAY CAUSE UNCONTROLLABLE AFTER-WORK MARGARITA CRAVINGS!

Take into account your office space’s color, lighting, layout, organization and general  decor and consider whether or not you’re happy with it. You’ll be surprised how making a few simple changes can transform your space into an environment of optimal productivity!