You don’t have to be extroverted to be a good salesperson.
I started as a door-to-door salesman and ended my career as a COO in an international group.
Photo de Magda Ehlers
7 reasons why an introvert can be a good salesperson
1/Listen.
The introvert has a natural tendency to listen more than to speak
2/Ask questions.
The questioner leads the conversation. Since the introvert talks less, he can focus on the quality of his questions.
3/Observe.
Less talking allows you to observe more, both verbal and non-verbal. Much of the selling is hidden in what is not said.
4/Show empathy.
Quality questions and listening show empathy to the prospect.
At your next dinner, focus on asking questions. Avoid the “oh yeah, that reminds me of an experience” trap. Chances are, you’ll get the compliment, “I had a great time tonight. Thank you”. And yet you won’t have said much.
5/Speak when he has matured his ideas.
Often the introvert will mature his ideas before submitting them. He does not think while speaking. He speaks when he has thought.
By the way, if you want to take advantage of all the ideas of your team. Alternate brainstorms where everyone speaks when they feel like it (benefit to extroverts) and brainstorms where everyone says in turn (you will hear the good ideas of your introverts too)
6/Less aggressive in the closing.
80% of sales are made by professionals who try to close at least 5 times. And only 20% of salespeople have this quality.
Asking is hard for both introverts and extroverts, but by focusing on listening, the introvert can better detect when to ask.
7/Use silences.
Often hard to manage, they are a very powerful negotiation tool. The introvert tends to feel more comfortable in them.
Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, you will have to strive to get better every day to succeed in sales.
Related articles:
Why sales is a great job and a potential career accelerator.
How A Simple Habit Helped Me Go From Salesman To Executive.
8 ideas to learn how to handle rejection better.
You want to grow in your career, but you are stuck. 3 practical ways to change that.
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