If you are hesitant about getting into a sales position, I get it! It is one of the roles that gets a lot of flak! I am no exception to it and had a bias against it as well. In fact, at many junctures of my career, I was offered the opportunity to progress by getting into a role in sales, but I politely declined. I was always hesitant about it and my hesitation followed me all through my career. But I was haunted but it so by the time I reached forty, I decided to take the plunge and tick the damn box once and for all! When I did it, it opened a can of worms! I came face to face with many limiting beliefs and fear that I was holding on to so dearly. Now I believe that there are many lessons you can learn in a Sales position. It can indeed bring about a great change in your self and the way you view the world.
Some of my limiting thoughts and beliefs were :
I had some limiting thoughts and beliefs about Sales. For example, I thought that since it is target-oriented one has to bend rules, be sophisticated con artists and people pleasers. Mantras like the ‘‘Customer is the King’ made me believe that to be in sales one has to be in a vulnerable position serving the customer with no say at all.
9 Lessons you can learn in Sales
When I finally decided to take the plunge and became a mortgage advisor, I saw the Sales position in a whole new light. Some of the things I learnt were :
Know your why?
I had been in the mortgage industry for many years but never realised why I was so drawn to it. As I became a mortgage advisor, I realised that buying a house is more than just a transaction. It was more personal and intimate because a home is not only a safe-haven but also a place where you spend time with the people you love. I love helping people find that place in their lives. Secondly, irrespective of the reason for buying a home, it signifies an important change in a persons life. Each phase depends on the season of life they are in and is a transforming moment. I feel honoured to help and facilitate the journey. When I understood my ‘Why’, it made the role more relateable.
Be your own brand
The next thing I learnt in a sales position is that I am my brand. This holds in any product or business you represent. When you start looking at it from that lens you start believing in yourself and what you stand for. You don’t see yourself as a salesperson but as a solution provider to the felt need of the client’s problem.
Become more self-aware
I also became more self-aware and confident in my skin. That meant I learnt to accept my limitations and it made me more accepting of others. This made me understand the things from the clients perspective. I became empathic and considerate to clients and their different situations. I soon became aware of my clients direct and underlying needs. Their house purchase was not only about buying a new home but signified something more profound than just a material purchase.
Able to look at the bigger picture
Instead of being a stickler for details, I learnt to look at the bigger picture. I slowly stopped getting caught up with nitty-gritty. Finally, I understood what it meant to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Become tactful
I started communicating assertively to set my boundaries. By being tactful, I was able to draw lines and set boundaries. I did this by seeing the situation objectively which helped me maintain my limit.
Became Solution oriented
Problem Solving being my key strength and my focus became more solution-oriented. By interacting with different lenders, I was able to know the unique propositions of each of them and was able to find suitable products for my clients.
Building my connection circle
Interacting with different clients, vendors, lenders, made me confident in interacting with people from different backgrounds and life phases. I was able to empathise with people from different backgrounds and this helped me build my connection circle.
Not to take things personally
The role taught me to accept failure and rejection without taking it personally. When something doesn’t work out as planned, I have learnt to acknowledge it, take it in my stride with courage and humility and move on.
Be versatile
As a salesperson, I found new ways to invent myself and was open to accepting change. I was able to look at new opportunities with an open mind and believed that everything is possible.
The Sales position became my cornerstone
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvellous in our eyes’?
Mathew
A new perspective
When I kissed the Frog Prince aka the Sales role, I learnt new things. The first thing is that customer is the king undoubtedly, but as a salesperson, we are no less! Our job is to ensure that the king is getting the best deal or service available while complying with the protocol. Hence we salespeople are as important as the customer and have as much right. So the first step is to balance the scales.
Are you ready to venture ahead?
Are you are ready to balance the scales and venture into sales position? If the answer is yes, start by bringing into awareness the limiting thoughts and beliefs that are holding you back. Try to dig deep and find out what hidden fears you are trying to mask. When you nail that, trying to find out your reason for wanting to do that role. Once you can do that you will soon find yourself evolving to be a new version of yourself.
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