Play with the Pros
Professional:
“Exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace.”
-Webster
The pro stands out on the golf course and on the sales floor. They stand out in the crowd. When things don’t go right, the pro learns from the situation and gets even better. Pros keep their cool; regardless.
Amateur:
“One who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession.”
-Webster
Amatueurs on the other hand, lose their cool. They stand out as well. All people get to decide which one they want to and will be. Professionals gain more respect, achieve greater results, and make more money, both in the same amount of time; 24 hours a day.
Professional Salesperson:
Being a professional salesperson does not require any particular level of education or experience. It is all a state of mind. Just learn the job, keep your cool, follow the system and expect success. You will get it; if not today, then tomorrow!
June 14th, 2009 at 1:58 am
Truer words were never spoken.
Sales is all about product knowledge, technique, passion, discernment, likability, constant critiquing of one’s own salesmanship, etc. and so on. One of the most important skills necessary is the ability to strike up a conversation, to engage a customer in such a way that they don’t feel threatened by a hard selling, say anything to get a sale, non-truth spieling motor mouth. It is all about service, rapport, and professionalism. You are helping them make a wise decision. And, that’s only part of it. A little humor, a great buying experience to bring them back, their friends and good word of mouth.
June 14th, 2009 at 7:48 am
I don’t often comment on comments, but I just have to add that Runaway nailed this one to the letter. YEAH!!!
June 16th, 2009 at 7:53 am
A pro is a pro in any line of work and the differences are obvious. We surely need to see more of them on the sales floor.
June 18th, 2009 at 6:42 am
Greetings,
… and if you just take PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE and look at the roles played by all in the equation from the Manufacturer to the Distributor to the Retailer to the Sales Associate in knowing what they are selling and after sales care etc. and then factor in the needs desires etc. of the person buying, then when you hear an answer like “Yeah I guess so …” to the question “Can I wash wool?”… well then there is a new threshold of what some may call stupidity.
You know that saying “Before I knew how to ride a bicycle, I didn’t know how to ride a bicycle.” Well, we are not born knowing that you need to have woollen garments drycleaned, and somewhere along the way one hopes that you get taught this by another means other than washing your favourite woolly jacket (or like the kid in cooking class at school who rinsed off the lettuce with boiling water?!)
So answering “Yeah … I guess so …” to the “Can I wash this?” question is whose fault?
Cheers
Lestie
Jo’Burg