fbpx

Are Great Salespeople Born or Made?

Are great salespeople born with innate traits or is sales a skill set that can be acquired through education and first-hand experience?


Some entrepreneurs just seem like they are born to be salespeople. Even with minimal experience, these individuals absolutely shine when engaging with customers and have a natural flair for smart and effective communication. The question then is whether these traits are innate or a skill set that can be acquired through education and first-hand experience.

While there is no question that some individuals are natural-born salespeople, this doesn’t mean that those who lack the natural ability should give up before they even try. On the contrary, any entrepreneur dedicated enough to learn the fundamental skills of sales and customer engagement has what it takes to be a successful salesperson.

 

Traits of a Great Salesperson

There are some fundamental skills that every business owner will need to learn. Some people are more naturally gifted in these areas than others. However, these traits can be learned and improved upon through direct experience and trial and error.

 

  • Language Specialization

    Every salesperson can recite the benefits, specs and features of their company’s products or services. However, it is not enough to just understand some technical terms or jargon associated with what you are trying to sell. You have to demonstrate your expertise and competence by being able to translate the language into a friendly conversation that will influence the potential buyer’s decision.

  • Modeling of Experience

    This is the ability to translate past experiences into data that can be used to predict sales trends and consumer behavior. Through numerous sales calls and direct interaction with clients, salespeople begin to develop a knowledge base that can be retrieved at a snap of a finger to determine the best course of action.

  • Adaptability

    Inexperienced salespeople tend to take a textbook-style approach when engaging with potential clients. Yes, there are some basic procedures to follow, but you also have to be able to efficiently map out your customer’s motivations based on an initial conversation and develop a strategic approach based on the factors that drive the consumer’s decision-making process.

 

Sales is All About Attitude

Just as Einstein, a theoretical physicist, was a natural genius at math, others are a prodigy when it comes to the sales aspect of their business. However, it’s not just about your genes or what you inherit from your parents.

A positive attitude and a willingness to do what it takes to make it to the top are absolute fundamentals that even those with natural ability cannot succeed without. The following are traits are conducive for success in any sales environment. Best of all, these traits can be acquired through tutelage and experience:

 

  • Organization and goal setting
  • Taking responsibility for your successes and failures
  • Willingness to take risk
  • Being optimistic in all your endeavors
  • Charisma and developing a solid rapport with clients
  • A belief that your actions can directly affect the outcome of your environment

 

Sales Success Despite Natural Skills

There is no argument that some of the world’s most successful salespeople were born with innate talents that are absent in most other people. However, there are also many successful salespeople who swear that they were once natural introverts with horrid people skills. It was through dedication to discipline and soaking up information like a sponge that they were able to develop a mindset primed for sales and customer interaction.

In addition, these individuals were also willing to go the extra mile. For some, this may mean getting additional training from a sales training company, attending a seminar or whatever is necessary to refine their skills. Ultimately, the biggest asset for success in sales is your attitude and that has everything to do with heart and not genetics.

 

Ashley Williamson is a freelance writer and a professional guest-blogger, writing on behalf of Reality Training. Ashley writes on topics related to marketing, business, finance. When she’s not working she likes to travel and discover hidden untouched places around the globe.

 

© YFS Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Copying prohibited. All material is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this material is prohibited. Sharing of this material under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International terms, listed here, is permitted.

   

In this article