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How to Deal With Rejection:
The rude customer will go about his day
without any regard to your hurt feelings. By allowing yourself to loose
your temper, or becoming resentful you will only be defeating yourself.
Sadly enough, it just takes some people a
little longer to grow up. Some never do. So don't let their bad attitude
bog you down in self-doubt, or cause you to hold a grudge because grudges
are held by conceited, self-pitying, angry people…and you don't want that to
be who you are.
This is the time to call upon your
self-discipline and strength of character. Keep a positive attitude and try
to find some humor in such situations. You will come up against many
different types of personalities in your business life.
Remember back to when you were a child on
the playground. Where is the school bully now? If they haven't changed, no
doubt they're living a miserable life whether they know it or not. The rude
customer may be just having a bad day, or maybe they're a bully who never
grew up.
The resilient salesperson doesn't waste
their time and energy on such things. They move on to the next prospect
with renewed vigor because they believe in themselves, their goods and in
their ability to render a real service to their customer.
Don't start your day expecting to get turned
down, or to be insulted by your prospects. If you are easily insulted and
react negatively towards rejection, maybe it's time to take a look at your
"real self." What has caused you to have such low self-esteem?
Don't you believe you have a good proposition and in your ability to render
a real service to your customer? Are you presenting yourself in a
professional manner? Did you say, or do something to bring about this
hostility?
How to Deal With Criticism:
Just as it's important to not let a rude
customer's attitude, or rejection of your proposition offend you, you
should not be offended by criticism of you, your company, or your goods.
The trained salesperson prepares him, or herself for anything that might
happen and handles these unfortunate events in a professional business-like
manner.
Flexibility and Salesmanship:
Flexibility is a great virtue of
salesmanship. The professional salesperson should be broad-minded enough to
set aside personal preferences, so they can see the viewpoint of their
prospect without prejudice. If you're the type of person who sticks to your
opinion no matter what, your stubbornness may cause you to loose a sale or
two.
Here's an example of what NOT to do:
Salesman:
"Mr. Brown, this "widget" is
the only one of it's kind on the market. You can set it up in less then 30
minutes."
Mr. Brown:
"I beg to differ salesman. I've used a
"widget" similar to this one for five years and I've been looking
to buy another one because I wanted a spare. But it never has taken less
than two hours to set the thing up."
Salesman:
"Our "widget" is new and
improved Mr. Brown, you can have it set up and working in less than 30
minutes. I guarantee it."
Mr. Brown:
"Well set it up and let's see."
The salesman removes the "widget"
from the container and begins setting it up. It takes him 21/2 hours to set
up the "widget" and complete the job.
Mr. Brown:
"I told you that "widget"
takes a good two hours, or more to set up and get going, but you wouldn't
listen would you?"
Salesman:
"It normally only takes 30 minutes or
less to set this "widget" up and get it to working Mr. Brown, I
just had a little trouble with the clutch. If it hadn't been for that I
would have had it up and running in less than 30 minutes."
Mr. Brown:
"If you're going to continue to say
what I know is not the truth about this "widget" set up I won't
buy anything from you salesman. Admit you were wrong about the set up time
and I might reconsider."
Salesman:
"I told you Mr. Brown, this
"widget" is our newest model and it can be set up in 30 minutes
or less when everything goes as planned."
Mr. Brown:
"If you can't admit to being wrong
about such a minor point you can just pack up your "widget" and
leave my store salesman."
Salesman:
"After all the time and trouble I went
through you're asking me to leave?"
Mr. Brown:
"That's right we're done. Take your
"widget" and leave. I won't spend a dime with the likes of you. If
a man can't admit when he's wrong, he ain't a man!"
The customer was ready to buy, but the
salesman wouldn't back down on his claims of how long it took to set up the
"widget," so he lost the sale. This was a costly mistake on the
salesman's part. He could have made the sale and ended the unfortunate
episode on a friendly note by admitting the prospect was right.
The type of salesperson who isn't flexible
and sticks to an opinion even though they know it isn't factual shows a
weakness in his, or her character and poor salesmanship. Never argue a
point with a prospect.
You are going to meet up with criticism and
rejection from time-to-time. How you handle the situations will be a
reflection on who you are as a person and on your salesmanship. Look at every
criticism, or rejection as a learning experience. Choose to let them build
up your confidence and not set you back. And stay flexible.
Copyright © 2005
Gloria Whitehorn and Dovemang.com All rights reserved
About The Author: Gloria Whitehorn is the owner
of several online businesses. She is the author of two books, freelance
writer, business coach and an authority on salesmanship and business
practices. Check out her site that's jam-packed with the exact information
you need to start, build, and grow your very own profitable Internet
business. I highly recommend visiting her website http://www.dovemang.com
She knows what she's talking about.
Subscribe to her free weekly online ezine at http://www.dovemang.com/newsletter
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