Success Happy

What are the character traits you need to posess to be a successful salesman?

I was asked this on a telephone interview and I said, ambition, great communication skills and a great work ethic. The guy said a great work ethic isn't necessarily what you need to be successful. So that got me to thinking, what is?

Public Comments

1. I don't know if I agree with their statement that good work ethic isn't part of sales. I used to work in sales and a good memory always helped me out. Remember your customers and little things about them like if they are married, have children, what kind of car they drive. I agree with ambition and communication skills. Listening skills are a must too. You have to hear what your customer wants and know how to react to what their need is.
2. You need what is referred to as " The Gift of the Gab" Basically you need to be a good talker and be able to talk circles around people to convince them that they need and want your product even though they don't.
3. To be in people's faces and generally pissing people off!!
4. Personal motivation - with sales - you don't sell you don't get paid Do you like what you sell ? If you don't forget it your face and heart will tell on you and don't push, what do you like about someone when you buy something from them? Being hounded, or being talked to and YOU made up your own mind because the person was patient, kind and informed? Read some good books daily - If you lose a sale or people blow you off don't lose sleep over it, it's their loss - and just know when you feel like blowing someone off, don't. Why? You hate how you are treated - Follow up but in a way that is nice and friendly -
5. One of the biggest keys is the ability to sell YOURSELF. Many, many salesmen that I've known have told me that you rarely sell the product, you sell yourself. Your job isn't just to convince the customer to buy a certain product, it's to convince them to buy it from you. In order to do that, you have to be able to "sell" yourself as effectively (perhaps even more effectively than) you sell the actual product.