Hate to Go Out and Sell? Overcome Business Shyness to Do That

By: Nancy Knettell Click author's name for more of his/her articles

When a person starts a new business they are often uncomfortable with the sales process. Actually this is a form of Business Shyness. Most people love to buy but do not like to be sold to. In this culture we are often presented with images of sales people that are unsavory. So it is no wonder that when we open our own businesses and are faced with the prospect of being the salesperson ourselves, we feel immediately repelled by the process. Most of us have read or heard of the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. In the play there is a tragic person by the name of Willie Lowman. He is depicted as a worn out, has been, sales person past his prime who eventually dies of heartbreak because he fired by his company. Who would want to be like that loser?

Everything you purchase has been sold by somebody in sales. Most people who sell what they're passionate about can be pretty pleasant people. In fact if you're trying to sell to someone and you asked pushy or aggressive you will not sell a thing.

Consider this, you walk into a fastfood place and the clerk behind the counter asks you, "Do you want to have a larger drink for only five cents more?" Well, that is a sales transaction. Are you uncomfortable when you hear this? I suspect not.

So, a sales transaction done where both parties are in an appropriate place to give and receive the message is not an uncomfortable experience. This is the secret to successful sales. Being in position with your customer so that the sales transaction is a natural one and does not seem like a sales transaction.

But, for you to accomplish that you must understand and change your own opinion about the sales process. Often we feel uncomfortable when we are approached by a salesperson even if they are not selling something to us. This is because we might want or need what they have but we do not have the money to purchase it. We may feel embarrassed because we think the other person thinks less of us because we lack the money. We are the ones making ourselves feel uncomfortable though. It is not the salesperson making us feel that way. Yes, there are pushy salespeople. But, there are also pushy teachers, doctors, and family members. Do we consider all our relatives as slimy just because one or two are?

The next time you are approached by a person who might be selling something, instead of reacting immediately with anger or disgust, consider their behavior first. If they appear pushy, unscrupulous, or shifty, yes you can and should beat a hasty retreat. But, if you are in a appropriate place to hear the message like a networking meeting and they are pleasant, considerate, and friendly, treat them with courtesy and respect, even if they have a product or service you are not interested in purchasing. In other words, treat them as you would wish to be treated when your roles are reversed and you are in a sales position. If you are not interested in buying politely say, "No thank you." But I would encourage you to learn something from the experience. Do they have a particular manner that you can model? Instead of pushing a good sales person away from you, make this interaction a possibility for a learning moment.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Nancy Knettell, The Shyness Queen and America's Foremost Business Shyness Expert, along with her teleseminar series "Stop Shyness in 30 Days, Learn to Overcome Business Shyness in Just 4 Weeks to Attract More Paying Clients With Ease," helps solo entrepreneurs effectively eliminate their sales and marketing jitters to open up their business's money stream. Find out more information at her website: www.theshynessqueen.com