Learning the Skill of Selling Increases Success and Wealth

In all my career I've learned there is one skill needed to achieve higher levels of success in all aspects of life, including personal and especially my professional life - That skill is selling. How many of you "hate" that word? And how many of you think that sales skills is a used car salesperson's learned trait? I cannot tell you how many times I hear negative comments about selling. "Oh, she's a good salesperson". "You better watch him because he can sell you anything"! There were many ocassions through-out my life that I was embarrassed to say that I was in sales! But over the years, I learned that sales is not a gimmick to get people to do what they don't want to do, but instead, it is a learned skill to relate to customers and help them (and myself) to better understand their needs and how best I could help them eliminate the pain those needs created. I attended many sales training classes and became a sales professional due to the trainings and classes.

One of the biggest lessons that I learned about selling is in order to advance in life, career and eventually run my own business, I must learn a working knowledge and develop a higher level of competency in sales skills.

Through most selling courses, I learned that first off, we are always selling! Even at home, your selling the idea to your children to do their homework and do well in school. Your also selling the idea to your wife "why" you need a new car or motorcycle. It may not be at a conscious level and you may fumble around trying to get what you want. Nevertheless, you're selling.

So, you see, selling and learned sales skills are very valuable in your business for helping customers and clients better define and achieve what they want. It's an art to help others gain clarity. And, if you help others obtain what they want, you, the business professional, gets what you want. Since we are always selling... let's get better at this critical communications skill.

We all have the potential to sell more effectively. It's simply a communication "giving and receiving" exchange with a win-win result. Both parties should walk away feeling good and feeling they indeed are better off for the exchange. Selling is not trickery or one up-manship!

To make the sales process easy to learn and accomplish, I like breaking it down in four step increments: 1) establish rapport and trust with the other party (client), (build a relationship) 2) ask qualifying or open-ended questions to gain significant information or data about their specific needs, 3) give or share the relevant benefits about your business solutions and how those benefits will ease their pain/needs, and 4) together, establish an agreement on the next step to take.

Here is an easy way to remember the effective selling and communication process:
1. Build a relationship
2. Find out what the customer's needs are (their pain) by asking questions,
3. Match your solution's benefits and how those benefits resolve the pain,
4. Determine together the next step.
Follow this selling process in any situation and you'll find yourself focusing on the client and their needs. It's simple and you'll both win when you follow this process.

Bottom line, whenever you are selling, you are simply asking questions and listening to the needs and wants of others and then offering a solution. Do not fear selling. And don't hate it. It is not difficult. And it's not rocket science. You might hate it because of a bad or negative "selling" experience when you felt pressured into doing something you didn't want to do! They were focusing on their own needs, not yours! And that my folks is not selling. That's pure selfishness and manipulation. You don't want to emulate that behavior.

When done right, selling is helpful. You are helping the client better define and understand what they want and need. You're helping them define their current situation, their ideal situation, and then bridge the gap by offering a solution. And this is noble!

Learning these skills and following the process, you will enhance your sales communication. By doing so, you help clients get what they want, you in turn get what you want - more success, fulfillment, and money. When done right, you both win!

Thank you for visiting. Carol @ Workingcaregiver.com