You have to have a positive attitude if you want to succeed in sales. It’s a common cliche, one that I myself have written in several articles other the years. Yes it is a cliche, yes the sky is blue and the pope is a Catholic, but staying motivated in sales requires you to be positive at all times.
So if we can all agree that staying positive in the sales business is important why are we writing about it? Well, while the concept of positivity is readily accepted by many working in the sales industry, the techniques one can use to stay positive escape many of our colleagues. This diminishes their development and that of the industry as a whole.
Eight helpful ways to stay positive in sales
Your motivation to do well in sales can be remarkably enhanced by constantly maintaining a positive attitude to your work and life. That’s why we researched the best methods you can use to help maintain a positive attitude towards your work. As usual, you can apply these techniques to any sales business or industry making them worthwhile to implement for yourself and your team.
Designate time for mental well-being every day
Motivation originates with a healthy and focused mind so focusing on caring for your mental health is absolutely crucial. Staying motivated in sales requires more than just looking at yourself in the mirror and saying ‘be happy’. It requires cultivation and maintenance as does your mental health.
Therefore set aside time every day to look after your mental well being. The amount of time is up to you, as is the method you use whether it be meditation, listening to calming music, or even just going for a walk. Think of this as going to the gym for your mind, and just like a workout, all you require to succeed are determination and patience.
A healthy body is a positive one
Seeing as we’re on the topic of gyms and training you should also ensure that you set aside time everyday for physical activity. This doesn’t have to be anything too strenuous. After all, we all have different levels of physical capability but you should always keep an eye on your body’s health.
Your level of activity is less important to your positivity than settling into a steady routine you can adhere to. Any physical activity can release high levels of endorphins that’ll keep you feeling healthy and happy. Your motivation to do sales will rise exponential in tandem with these endorphins.
Don’t treat yourself – Reward yourself
Have you ever heard the old maxim ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’? It means that strict parenting is more effective than just treating one’s child to whatever they want. Now while it’s not recommended to beat yourself if you fail you should only be rewarding yourself when you succeed.
Therefore instill self-discipline by ensuring that you don’t treat yourself for no reason, and focus on rewarding yourself for successes instead. With a little patience, you’ll find that this technique will reinforce positive behavior and ensure you’re staying motivated in sales. You can apply the same logic to your team as a whole too.
Be careful with the company you keep
Toxic people can have a tremendously negative impact on your motivation and positivity. Conversely, associating yourself with ambitious and optimistic people will improve your mental health as well as your motivation to do sales. Therefore be careful with your social circle and cultivate it to benefit your well-being.
This applies to your personal as much as your professional life as these areas frequently overlap in the sales industry. Misery loves company so don’t get dragged down into the mud by people who want to hold you back. It may sound ruthless to some but this is one of the best ways to stay positive in life and in sales.
Set realistic goals
Nothing will diminish your motivation to do sales more than setting unrealistic goals. If you set unrealistic targets for yourself or your team you’ll fail time and time again. Even the most optimistic of people can only take defeat so many times so make sure you’re being fair to yourself.
This doesn’t mean you need to make things too easy. If you’re unsure about whether a goal is too unrealistic then consult with trusted confidants who you know will be honest with you. Ask their advice, and if they say the goal is unrealistic then dial it down a notch.
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today
One of the most poisonous vices a sales professional can indulge in is procrastination. It’s tempting for many of us to delay work on things we find unpleasant but little problems tend to grow if left alone. This in turn has an awful impact on one’s motivation to do sales, so don’t indulge in procrastination.
Every time you’re tempted to procrastinate step back, take a deep breath and ask yourself if you really want to delay the task. You’ll find that 99% of the time you’ll realize that you’re capable of getting the task out of the way. This requires self-discipline but it’s also one of the most effective ways to stay positive.
Learn to accept the word ‘no’
As a salesperson, you are far more likely to encounter the word ‘no’ than ‘yes’. This may seem dispiriting to some but remember, even the top-of-the-food chains predators like lions and tigers fail to kill their prey over 90% of the time. If you fail 99 times and succeed once you’ve still won, so don’t let the word ‘no’ get in the way of staying motivated in sales.
Every time you’re told a ‘no’ ask yourself whether you can turn the situation to your advantage. Maybe you can alter your deal or pitch and try again, or maybe you can learn something to improve the next pitch. When the ‘no’ is final move on and don’t look back in anger.
Don’t be afraid of taking risks
For the cautious among us taking risks might seem like something that could diminish one’s positivity. However, failing to adapt to changing circumstances and seize the initiative makes negative situations more likely. This in turn makes you feel more likely to feel miserable.
Therefore you should be ready to embrace change and experiment with new ideas as it’s one of the best ways to stay positive. With time and practice you’ll find the thrill of success after taking a risk to be highly rewarding. If you’re a manager you should encourage your team by rewarding your staff if they take risks.
The ultimate way to stay positive in sales
All of the above tips are fantastic ways to stay positive in sales but ultimately your working experience won’t be pleasurable if you use low-quality tools. You need guided selling, inbox nurturing and organization, and complete integration between your email and CRM systems. To put it succinctly, you need Revenue Grid.
Revenue Guide offers products in all three areas that remove the stress from the selling process. The company’s three tools, Revenue Engage, Inbox, and Guide, can all be used in conjunction with each other and help make data-driven decisions to master the sales process. Staying motivated in sales has never been easier or simpler thanks to Revenue Guide.