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! =)
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