Even if you don't think you do, you work in sales

 

 

"Selling" can mean many things: it can mean that you exchange a service or a product for money, but it can also mean that you show another person how they stand to benefit if they agree to what you are offering.

In a typical sense, you might be in business and selling your services or products to clients

... Or you might be an employee "selling" your boss on giving you a raise or a promotion.

... You might be looking for a job and "selling" the interview panel on giving you the job.

... But you might also be the parent of a teenager "selling" your child on tidying up their room, or studying for their exams.

Many of us would think it's crass to equate all these transactions to selling. We have many negative associations with selling and salespeople, but I think there is a better way to sell: a better way that's also more effective.

 

I've been practising sales ever since I started to earn money: I've had to "sell" parents on trusting me to babysit their children, I've had to "sell" schoolchildren I was giving grinds to on trying my strategies for effective studying and stress relief. I've sold prams in a nursery shop, I've sold potential employers on hiring me. Now as a business owner I sell multinationals on hiring me to train their staff.

 

"Selling" is a fact of life and there is a good way to do it: when you keep your client's interests at the forefront and you are proud to serve them, selling comes more easily.

 

Why I never teach the "hard sell" when I hold sales training seminars

 

If you're in the position of the seller, you don't want to feel you are coercing somebody into giving you what you request (their money, their time, their attention). Known as "the hard sell", this strategy is not sustainable and in my view it's just plain unethical. Not to mention that it often doesn't work.

 

A good sale can be very satisfying and empowering for both the buyer and the seller

 

Yes, when you're the seller, selling contains the possibility of rejection. We don't like to put ourselves in situations where we might experience rejection. In the podcast I share practical, mathematical tips to keep in mind that people who reject your sale are not rejecting you personally.

 

A good sale is satisfying for both parties: it truly is a "win-win" situation. "Win-win" is not just some tired cliche: in a successful sale, the buyer walks away happy that their needs have been served well and efficiently at a good price, and the seller walks away happy that they have added true value and that they are fairly compensated for their dedicated work.

 

The Savvy Women Podcast is now on iTunes! Subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode.

 

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