Sales Skills: Separating the Boys and Girls From the Men and Women

When it comes to sales and the business development sector, regardless of industry, there are certain traits, skills and astutely acquired business knowledge that sales professionals who make it to the executive level (those who progress as well) have as opposed to the salesmen and saleswomen who never truly make it. Because there are so many, it's hard to list and think of them via one article, however here are a few key differences:

"I can't wait until happy hour!"
I was speaking to the sales representative from an ex-vendor of ours about 4 months ago and I won't forget that she said this phrase. It's hard to beat around the bush; it made me think less of her professionally when she said this. Truly good sales professionals love their job, don't have a timeframe for when they leave the office and, while working, focus on the tasks at hand.

The good salespeople, upon walking in the office leave all personal thoughts and recreational activity plans behind them. Sales people seek out jobs that they truly love, thus making their chances of complete success a lot higher. They know that if they choose a job to just choose a job, they are not going to be an asset to the company and to themselves. Sales professionals work hard. They don't wait for 5 o'clock. Instead, they wait for accounts to come in and for emails to arrive in their inbox from clients. There is little to no exception to the aforementioned rule.

Professionalism - It's Not a Good 'Ol Boys Game Anymorer
If there is one trend that I have seen recently seen, it is that the good 'ol boys who used to have a circle that, in a sense, became an economic circle where they would buy from each other is gone. Yes. This is even true in the business world throughout the parts of the country that people still think the "good 'ol boy sales method" works.

The sales professionals who make it to the executive level, must be polished, be able to give compelling presentations and must produce. Unless you're Tony Soprano, business is not going to be handed to anyone. Sales executives are firmly aware of this.

Strong Writing Skills - the Ability to Persuade via Emails
In today's world, people don't want to get on the phone anymore. Personally, I love speaking to people, however many prefer email, and rightfully so because a lot more communication can go back and forth between parties than it could if a client or sales professional had to get on the phone for every aspect of a sales cycle or to effectively manage an account.

For the above reasons, a good sales executive can write and they can write well. Bad grammar and improper verbiage is not something that you will find in the written correspondence of a true sales executive. They know how to persuade and get things moving with words. This is something that the average business development professional cannot successful carry out. Writing skills are important and sales executives have well above average means of successful moving and persuading people via email.