Have you ever wondered how some people are naturals at connecting with others? You know the types; the ones who walk into a room and instantly command attention; the ones who form lasting relationships in mere minutes. Have you ever wondered the secret behind this type of behavior? The intrigue behind their most coveted skills?
The truth is, there’s no real mystery behind this sense of personability. In actuality, you don’t have to possess a seemingly evasive set of people skills to build relationships and add value to people’s lives; you merely must learn to instill their lives with meaning. In fact, this is the ‘secret’ behind sales. Sales isn’t about some deceptive practice that plays into consumerism. Rather, it’s about helping people find what they want and what instills their life with meaning and purpose.
What is Sales?
Put simply; sales is the desire to put forth an effort that will achieve a desirable outcome for someone. Sadly, far too many people have interpreted it as an avenue to acquire profit. But the true test of success in sales is discovering the intersection of revenue and relationship. The first step to take when working to achieve a client’s goals is to understand their desired outcome. What do they want? What do they need? By doing this, you not only provide an immense amount of value to the client, but you also do so for both yourself and your company.
For instance, make a list of your client’s goals and then make another filled with the tangible ways you can work to achieve their goals. Does the list reflect the initiative you are willing to take? When looking at the list, is it clear the client will see the value you are seeking to your relationship? If not, then you know you have a bit more work to do in learning and understanding your client.
How to Succeed
As counterintuitive as it may seem, if you truly wish to succeed in sales then you have to treat people as your counterparts, not as a means to an end. Take the time to learn someone’s name even if you don’t think a profitable relationship will arise anytime soon. Learn about their cares, worries, wants, and needs. Once this foundation is built, you can then learn what will be most beneficial to the client.
Again, developing a strong business relationship with a client starts first with developing a strong personal relationship. Show you care about their well-being, not just the paycheck you can receive from them.
Taking the step into sales can be an exciting, meaningful, and lucrative experience. And learning how to show you care and show interest can be the determining factor in positioning yourself as a cut above the rest.