If you were to ask a friend to give you a list of adjectives to describe the typical salesperson, there is a fairly high chance that a majority of the descriptive words given would be negative. “Sleezy”, “slimy”, “manipulative”, and “pushy” are all words commonly associated with those who take on a sales role. But why? Perhaps it is because of negative personal experiences when buying or being offered something. After all, no one wants to feel pressured into a purchase or have to question the seller’s motives. Maybe it could have to do with negative portrayals of salespeople in the media, such as on tv shows, movies, etc. We’ve all seen those clips in movies were a salesperson offers a deal that the audience knows is unfair, and yet the buyer has no idea.
While some of the stereotypical behaviors of sellers could be true for a specific salesperson, it’s no reason to let yourself shy away from the job in fear of being put in a bad light. In fact, I think it’s smart to be aware and familiar with the typical aspects of salespeople that frustrate and annoy clients and customers. It will help you to intentionally work in ways that build strong and honest buyer/seller connections and interactions that are far from the stereotype. If you are working with people who have misconceptions, low expectations, and/or premeditated defense tactics, it’s your job to provide a new kind of buying/selling experience for them. How? Show that you have their best interest at heart and make a continuous effort to understand their specific needs/wants in the situation. Be a listener and sell yourself so they can establish trust and comfort. Don’t dwell on what you think they think of you. Instead, work on showing them the kind of salesperson you are by how you interact and communicate with them.
BoweryJE22
Yes! I think you hit the nail right on the head. It is interesting how emotions can play into any scenario, business and personal alike. You as the salesperson have a job to do, but you cannot let your emotions get in the way of the sale. Putting your client or buyer first will always lead to a more positive interaction than thinking about yourself or your product.