Sales Management in This Recession - Improve Your Sales Team’s Performance

We limit ourselves when it comes to selling andcommission, i.e. you lose money if you lose a sale
business development. Here is another story from mythat’s forecasted.
networking association meeting the other night.  ThisThese people have no reason (in their mind) to
article can help you or your people overcome selfchange.  This is where management has to step in
limiting sales beliefs and develop more business faster.(a) to tell their people what they have to do - coaching,
 and (b) then hold them accountable for producing
Back to the two ladies I talked about in my previousresults - task master.
story, after I asked my favorite question.  “So2. People hold themselves back.  From childhood we
ladies, what are your major issues as it relates toare conditioned to attain a level (get a job.)  People
business development during this economic downget so far i.e. employed with a steady paycheck, and
time,” here is what happened.they have subconsciously reached their level.  Yes,
I started giving my suggestions about what they couldeverybody says they want more, but they are held
do about the low price issue (see previous story.)  Asback by their own negative self talk, and this, believe it
I’m talking, one lady is sort of listening as the otheror not, keeps them in their comfort zone. 
is checking out all the other people to see if there isSubconsciously they are saying, “The devil I know is
someone better that she can network to.  As peoplebetter than the one I don’t.” or “Why invest in
walk by she actually starts talking to them as I’mself improvement, I’m good at what I do.” or
talking and then comes back to my golden nuggets of“This is as good as it get’s.  Why risk, why
selling wisdoms.  Obviously she wasn’t interestedmake the effort?” or “It’s everyone
in hearing what she could to do about her issue.  Theelse’s fault,” or some other limiting negative self
other paid a little closer attention, but then wanted totalk.
tell me why the customer was wrong.  Basically,This again is where managers have to step in.  They
without words, she told me she was going to continuehave to realize these self limits about their people and
doing it her way.(c) train them on how to sell,- trainer (d) show them on
Now here is the irony.  These people need to winhow to do it, - mentor  and (e) again, hold them
more deals.  Their business floats with the economy,accountable for the implementation - task master. 
meaning good economy, more business and badThe lack of accountability for implementation is why
economy, less business - always the same share ortraining and self-help fails.  Without reinforcing the
the pie.  Yet, their employers want business - nochanges, the negative self talk that is solidly
matter good or bad economy.  This means in a badprogrammed in the minds of everyone, takes over and
economy their share has to get bigger or they have tosabotages any progress towards change.  See John
beat the competition more often.  So why don’tAssaraf’s book The Answer for more on this
these people want to get some tips and try to usetopic.    
them?  Here are 2 reasons why.So the moral of this story is that employed people do
not have the incentive to change.  They are content
1. People that are employed are content and feel theyin their status and unless someone - like a manager - is
don’t need to do anything different.  If anythingnot content with their outcome, nothing will happen to
they want to change their employer - i.e. complaints,raise the level.  It’s as good as it gets with more
suggestions, and excuses.  Even if they are on anof the same happening, but everyone hoping for better
incentive or commission they blame the company forresults - the classic definition of insanity.
their failures.  That’s why I advocate a negativeAnd now I invite you to learn more.