If you’re not IN sales, there’s a good chance you cringe at the thought of working on your ‘sales skills’. Sure selling for a profession is not for everyone…it doesn’t ignite a fire under all of us. However, there is a common denominator with all successful people…believe it or not, it is sales. You’re probably a good sales person and don’t even realize it. Give a talk on anything your passionate about…you’re selling it. Ask for a raise…ask for someone for something you truly want…you’re selling yourself. Get it?? Replace the ‘sales’ with ‘persuasion’, and I bet the connection is stronger for most of us.
Here’s a nice article by Jeff Haden that was published on Inc.com:
I asked about 20 business owners and CEOs to name the one skill they feel contributes the most to their success.
What did every one of them say?
Sales skills. Without solid sales skills they all felt success is almost impossible—in any field.
Here’s why. To many people, the word “selling” implies manipulating, pressuring, cajoling… all the used car salesman stereotypes.
But if you think of “selling” as explaining the logic and benefits of a decision, then everyone—business owner or not—needs sales skills: To convince others an idea makes sense, to show bosses or investors how a project or business will generate a return, to help employees understand the benefits of a new process, etc.
In essence, sales skills are communication skills. Communication skills are critical in any business or career—and you’ll learn more about communication by working in sales than you will anywhere else.
Gaining sales skills will help you win financing, bring in investors, line up distribution deals, land customers—in the early stages of starting a company, everything involves sales….
Read the rest of this article by following the link below:
‘Without This Skill You Won’t Succeed’
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