changingminds.org

How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

| Menu | Quick | Books | Share | Search | Settings |

What separates the Great Sales Pros from ‘the rest’? Probably not what you first think…

 

Guest articles > What separates the Great Sales Pros from ‘the rest’? Probably not what you first think…

 

by: Luke McLeod

 

When you think of gentlemanly professions, I’m sure titles such as Doctor, Teacher & Philanthropist come to mind. But I’d bet my right arm that Salesman didn’t arise. Why? Well this post isn’t about the perception most people have of sales people (if you want to read more on that topic I recommend you read the “Why is SALES such a dirty word?” article). Today is all about what separates the Great Sales Professionals to ‘the rest’ and it’s probably not what you’d first think.

Since I started my career in sales, some number of years ago, I was amazed at the massive gap between the top performing sales professionals and the others. It didn’t matter where I went there was always one or two star performers and then there was ‘the rest’. I found this quite peculiar and decided to look deeper into the reasons why this was the case. What I found wasn’t groundbreaking, however it wasn’t what I had first expected. Those that were consistently at the top weren’t necessarily the most experienced or skilled or even the most talented. What I discovered the difference was was the way they carried themselves. Their attitude.

I noticed that when I spoke with and hung around these ‘Top Shelf’ performers I didn’t get the feeling at all that they were ‘sales people’, I got the feeling that were…well… gentleman. Men (& women) who went about everything they did in a great, respectful and integral way.

"They were always more interested in what those around them had to say and continually went deeper with their conversations, asking questions that made who ever they were talking with feel valued and respected."

Whereas when I talked with ‘the rest’ they always seemed rushed, short and vague.

Another subtle characteristic I noticed in these ‘gentleman’ was their quiet sense of modest confidence. They always seemed in control of what they were saying and new exactly where to take the conversation next. After many observations of these conversations I worked out that they almost always followed a particular process/formula. I like to call it the Gentleman’s Selling Formula and it would go something like this:

Current Situation (CS) > Ideal Future Situation (IFS) > Gaps between CS & IFS (GCI)> Suggest Solution (SS)

i.e. CS + IFS – GCI + SS = WIN

These gentlemen would start with finding out as much as possible about what was happening ‘now’ in their prospects world. By doing this it showed that they where genuinely interested in their prospects business. Then they would have their prospect paint them a picture of how they wanted their business to be, getting them excited about their Ideal Future Situation. Then ask them where they think the Gaps are in getting them from where they are now to where they want to be and if those Gaps are holes that their services/products can fill then it is just a matter of saying “Hey, great news!! Those gaps your talking about, we’ve got some great options that will fill them in and have you on that path to achieving that IFS we talked about…”.

Whereas ‘the rest’ would pretty much follow the complete opposite to that formula, something like this: SS + GCI – IFS – CS = LOSS. They would first talk about how great their services/products were (Suggested Solution) and when that would get them no where they would usually say “Ok then, why don’t you tell me your problems are then” (Gaps) which would make the prospect feel uncomfortable and unsure. Then, if they are allowed, they would resort to “Just tell me what you want and I’ll do it” (IFS) and lastly after the prospect has walked out the office unimpressed and frustrated, they’re left there scratching their head wondering what the hell just happened (the Current Situation).

The last difference worth mentioning between the ‘Top Gentleman Sellers’ and ‘the rest’ was their dress style. You mightn’t think this is a big deal, but trust me most people DO judge a book by its cover. Unlike what I’m sure you’ve heard before and what is preached in every sales book since 1950 where you should dress in an impeccable suit and tie every time you walk out the door, these ‘gentlemen’ sellers would dress more so for the situation, not for themselves. They would take notice or research how the person dressed with whom they were meeting with and if they knew the person was quite casual in their dress sense, then they too would dress quite casual (maybe just slightly better) alternatively if they knew that the person usually dons a full suit, tie and cuffs everywhere they go then they too would do so. It wasn’t so much that they wanted to look good, it was more the fact that they wanted the person they were meeting with to feel comfortable.

So in summary here’s the toolbox you’ll need to become a top performing ‘gentleman’ seller:

  1. Ask and Listen. I know this is simple, but just try an make more of a conscious effort to do so. Don’t just take ‘surface’ answers, dig deeper. The big nuggets of gold are always deeper.
  2. Modest Confidence. Confidence comes from planning. Before you meet with a prospect or client plan out how you want the conversation to travel and remember the Gentleman’s Selling Formula: CS + IFS – GCI + SS = WIN
  3. Dress for the situation not for yourself. Think about who you are meeting with and how they would want to see you.

Luke McLeod writes topshelfsales.wordpress.com, a blog dedicated to offering the very best in 'Top Shelf' advice. The blog has been in operation for close a year now and is getting some good attention.


Contributor: Luke McLeod

Published here on: 09-Oct-11

Classification: Sales

Website: topshelfsales.wordpress.com

Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

You can buy books here

More Kindle books:

And the big
paperback book


Look inside

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

* Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed

Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed