Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Beating the End-of-Summer-Blues

With August winding down, it's time for the kids to head back to school - and for any salespeople still dreaming of vacation mode to snap out of it. We're closing in on Q4, and you've got goals to meet!

That being said, we've got a great article from sales trainer Colleen Francis to help get you out of vacation mode and back to your sales goals. Print out these top six traits of successful salespeople and put them up right by your computer. You'll be inspired to get back to work, and to sell more than ever!

Successful Salespeople...

1. Work smart and effectively
They intention, they plan and they take action. They take time to play. They get up early, rarely complain. While expecting performance from others, they expect extraordinary performance from themselves. Repeated, high-level success starts with recognition that hard work pays off.

2. Are curious and eager to learn
They study, ask questions, read and learn - constantly! They apply and/or take advantage of what they learn. Repeated success is not about memorizing facts, it's about being able to take information and create, build, or use it in new and resourceful ways. Successful people want to learn everything about everything!

3. Work on themselves
Socrates said 'Know Thyself.' Really successful people work on their personality, leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they learn from what happened and do better next time. Successful people don't accept flaws; they fix them!

4. Are self-reliant and take responsibility
Successful people don't worry about blame. They don't waste time complaining and they take responsibility for all their results good or bad. They make decisions and move on. Extremely successful people take the initiative, take action and accept the responsibilities for their decisions and the results. Your clients want to deal with agents, not victims. The buck stops with you. Own up to your results and if you don't like them don't worry. If you change your actions you can change your results... if you take action immediately. The decision to change is yours.

5. Respond wisely to change
Even in times of stress or turmoil, highly successful people keep their balance. They know the value of timing, humor, patience and being prepared. Extraordinarily successful people breathe easily, ask questions, and make quick decisions, even in a crisis. Unsuccessful people resist change. They are frightened by change and prefer the "devil they know." Highly successful people embrace change because they know that change can bring new and better results. What are you doing everyday to create a new and improved result? What changes do you make when you don't like your results. Remember. If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always gotten.

6. Take action!
When an investment isn't working out, they sell. When they see an opportunity, they make the call. If an important relationship is cooling down, they take time to renew it. When technology, a new competitor or a change in the economic situation requires an adjustment, they are the first and quickest to respond. Business does not stop and wait until you make a decision. Act now and take advantage of what all opportunities hold. You will not be disappointed. This trait above all else will propel you to success.

Colleen Francis, Sales Expert, is Founder and President of Engage Selling Solutions. Armed with skills developed from years of experience, Colleen helps clients realize immediate results, achieve lasting success and permanently raise their bottom line. Start improving your results today with Engage's online Newsletter Engaging Ideas and a FREE 7 day intensive sales eCourse: www.EngagingIdeasOnline.com.

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