Through the looking glass

Through the looking glass was voted by you as the number eight Sales Trend for 2010.

Many sales people are tired of being told that they need to sell like someone else to be successful. Many are unsure of what they should be modelling. Too often they are told to ‘just be like’ someone else. But with no reference to what that actually looks like they are left poking around in the dark mimicking the ‘star’ performer and left feeling unauthentic. And ‘big sticks’, bribes or fear don’t help either.

Most people, and especially sales people, want to be the best they can be but without having to be someone else. Clearly defining what good performance looks like is key. Here is a model we use at Barrett where we focus on three key areas:

The three dimensions of optimal performance:

1. KNOWLEDGE: General awareness or possession of information, facts, ideas, truths or principles.
2. SKILLS & PROCESSES: A series of actions directed towards a specific aim. The ability to do something well, usually gained through training or experience.
3. INSIGHT: The ability to see clearly and intuitively into the nature of a complex person, situation or subject; a set of beliefs or a way of thinking that determines somebody’s behaviour and outlook.

Putting practical tools and processes into the hands of sales people and sales managers are an important step however, the first step is giving people insight into their own strengths and capabilities and allowing them to change from the inside out. Seeing what is possible and being able to model their capabilities and attributes on top performers while retaining their own identity as a person is crucial. Articulating exactly what that is by using the model above puts real content on the table.

With the product edge gone, the key differentiator will be your people. In 2010 and beyond, enlightened leaders are focussing on understanding their people and helping their people understand themselves and what motivates and drives them. They are taking note of how people think and make decisions. Creating the best team for your business will be about how you play to your people’s strengths to achieve goals and fulfill ambitions. Teaching people how to transform their capabilities, communicate more effectively, and how to manage their behaviours and mindsets are critical.

Gaining deeper insight into self and others is much more than just navel-gazing. With proper resources and support, insight can be a life changing experience for people and can greatly enhance company success. While for a number of years we have been focussing on skills and processes, we are now realising the importance of people and their role in business.

Enlightened leaders will be supporting their people in gaining deeper insight and more knowledge.
Insight means having choices; working with clear purpose; self and other awareness; knowing your capabilities; developing your creativity; building resilience; and self-direction.

Knowledge means having a clear strategy; access to well defined processes; good information; role clarity; clearly defined tasks; standards of high performance; responsibilities; and the ability to make decisions.

In addition to skills and processes, giving sales people access to insight and knowledge allows for the cultivation of sales wisdom because achieving sales mastery is about working from the inside out.

Remember, everybody lives by selling something.

Sue Barrett practices as a coach, advisor, speaker, facilitator, consultant and writer and works across all market segments with her skilful team at BARRETT. Sue and her team take the guess work out of selling and help people from many different careers become aware of their sales capabilities and enable them to take the steps to becoming effective and productive when it comes to selling, sales coaching or sales leadership.To hone your sales skills or learn how to sell go to www.barrett.com.au.