Question

Topic: Career/Training

Calling All Introverts! I Need Your Advice!

Posted by Anonymous on 4/9/2007 at 11:07 PM ET 1000 Points
If you're in business, chances are you've had to sell something to someone. Maybe it's a product or service. When a lot of people start their businesses and they look forward to building their empire, one thing many of us don't enjoy is selling.

We love to do what it is they do, but selling for many is not a skill many of us have mastered. We have book shelves filled with books on the subject, have fiddled with sales coaches and taken seminars. BUT, the one thing all of these self-help tools have in common is the assumption that the reader is an extrovert and have no problem stepping up and talking to strangers. NOT SO! Introverts would love to be able to act like extroverts to sell, but have a real struggle even approaching the proper mind set.

THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP!

I'm developing a eBook on selling.

I'm looking for great sales stories from introverts, shy people, those of us who struggle to sell.

If you're someone who isn't prone to jumping into the limelight and selling, what have you done to over come your reluctance? Tell me, what successful techniques have you used to jump the reluctance hurdle.

I'm looking for genuine tips from real people who are not 'born sales people'.

What's your sales tip?
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RESPONSES

  • Posted on 4/10/2007 at 12:49 AM Accepted
    Hi Ed-
    When people buy they are looking at sincerity from the seller and not flamboyance. For sales jobs which are relationship driven- you need to go back to the same dealer to sell your wares- relationship, hardwork and the perception of doing something for their business drives sales orders- not the gift of the gab and geting along.
    Where extroverts score in sales in getting new orders, BD work, cold calling etc. Their natural disposition makes it easier to approach total strangers and talk. The introvert will probably encounter few hurdles here. But the introvert will also ensure that he does his pre sale work well- knowing the customer, carrying material and general perseverance.
    In my opinion I have seen both types do well at sales. They have different techniques and as long as they are both committed to their jobs they do equally well.
    Hope this helps.
  • Posted by Ali Mustafa on 4/10/2007 at 2:24 AM Accepted
    Hi ed

    the best thing in sales is refrences, i used to work for a software company and all my sales used to come through refrences, being an introvert my self who does not have great selling skills, my opinion is that by building great relationships will help you achive your targets as you never know from where your next sales is going to come. and in my experience you have to keep the reseller network happy.
  • Posted on 4/13/2007 at 10:38 AM Accepted
    Hi Ed,
    I am an introvert. I hate talking on the phone. I hate talking in front of a big crowd. All those things make me so uncomfortable. You know that feeling in the stomach? The only thing I am good at is talking one on one. The only reason that I am good at this is because I am shy. I talk little, listen a lot. That's what people want. Someone to listen to their problems, worries, issues etc.
    So let's formulate 3 points on which one has to focus.
    1. Don't talk much! Ask questions, listen to what the other person has to say, follow the rule of formulated by Winston Churchill - “Too often the strong, silent man is silent only because he does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent.”
    2.You need to distinguish your personal life and your job. When starting work, just put a mask. Just accept that you are the best sales person ever, and forget you are an introvert. One of the people you believe are great at talking, are very silent at home and between friends. Just think if you know such people.
    3. The most important thing I believe is to act as if you have already made the sale, and you are the person that has to decide wheater to work with the other party or not. a good example is when I started looking for a job, and I went to interviews almost every day as I wasn't happy with the jobs I started. I had a 95% success rate, and almost all employers were ready to employ me, but I turned them down too often. I want to stress that at that time my CV was very poor.
    I hope these 3 rules can help you with the book, and anyone who has a problem with direct sales.
    Good Luck
  • Posted on 4/14/2007 at 10:09 AM Author
    This is exactly the kind of feed back I was hoping for. It also reinforces my belief that sales assistance of this kind is definitely needed. I'm going to try and leave this post another week, but management likes to keep the forum moving along. I enjoy gathering information here because of the caliber of readers.

    Thanks so far everyone - there are no bad ideas among you.
  • Posted on 4/18/2007 at 8:25 AM Author
    I'd like to thank everyone who helped me here. Because of the nature of the questioned posed, there can be no bad answers as I am searching for experiences and techniques. You all have been very helpful in my eBook project.

    Ed
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