Some people think they’re not in the ‘sales
department’.
Of course they are.
They\’re selling
connection, communication or forward motion. They\’re selling ways of thinking,
systems of work, or a chance to make a difference.
If you\’re trying to
make change happen … in anything … anywhere … then you\’re selling something.
If
you\’re not trying to make things better and change things, why are you here?
So
sure, you\’re selling something.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say, \”I\’m not here to be aggressive, pushy, loud or annoying, but I would like to work more effectively with you (and others) and improve things around here”.
That\’s
probably true. At least I hope it is.
The
problem is that people see ‘selling’ or ‘being assertive’ or ‘making change
happen’ as activities that involve the need to be aggressive, pushy, loud or
annoying.
But
they don’t.
That
doesn’t work: as soon as you’re any of those things, then the very people
you’re trying to influence will shut down and resist you.
And
even if they comply, it’ll be grudging … at best!
Far
better to slow down and work on behaviours that get people wanting to change
and wanting to engage with you. It takes a bit more time up front, but it pays
back in spades down the road…
Slow
tip: slow down and develop habits of engagement and interest: these are exactly
what you’ll learn in the ‘Slow Selling’ systems and book.
Because, in the long run, the person you’re dealing with always has a
choice: will I engage emotionally or not (no matter what I do physically).
Here is a 4 minute video of Guy Arnold talking about this:
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