6 “More” Important Soft Skills that Your Sales Teams May Acquire Online

Consumers now have access to product and service information at their fingertips because of advances in technology. They can Google the cheapest price for a service or the ingredients of a product, watch YouTube videos to learn how to use features, and search Facebook for feedback from previous customers. This begs the question of what role a salesperson can perform today.

If you read on, you'll see that the position of a sales team is still quite important! It's just softer than before. Sales, you see, have become less technical and more people-centered. So, in order to provide prospects with the purchasing experience they want, your team must possess vital human skills such as empathy and resilience. Some people are born with these abilities, but soft sales talents can also be learned online. Just like what we are introducing to you right at the front page of Softsales.io.

Indeed, the cost of implementing excellent soft skills for salespersons has led to a rise in training spending by many firms. Recent research, for example, discovered that just one hour of training per month resulted in a 6% increase in income for the salesperson.

This article is by no means a comprehensive list of soft sales abilities that may assist you in becoming a better seller. As you are aware, there are six 21st-century soft skills that we have always discussed, but we would like to make advancements by doubling it when it comes to the time when we want to double our sales productivity of what skills would be important to strengthen our 6 soft skills. Let's take a closer look.

1. Empathy

It's always useful to be able to put oneself in the shoes of others, especially as a salesperson. This sounds just like what the sales Painter and the Cousellor have already achieved.

When you understand what others are thinking or how they are feeling, you can lead talks in a beneficial manner. Types of customers are just like salespeople, they can be easily determined through the infamous six sales profile we are learning.

You may discover motives, pain areas, and more, giving you a better understanding of when you can push ahead and when you need to back off a little - which can transform you into a sales rockstar! May the Hunter sell more than anyone else, he can never truly become the greatest salesman without empathy

Most significantly, empathy aids in the development of genuine relationships with prospects.

They may not recall what you said, but they will recall how you made them feel. The last thing you want in a sales situation is for a customer to feel taken advantage of or as if you are not looking out for their best interests.

There are several activities you may take to practice empathy consciously, such as physically picturing yourself in someone else's shoes and redirecting your thinking toward inquiry rather than judgment.

Always make it clear to a consumer that you are on their side!

Begin your coaching for your sales staff with a self-assessment that evaluates the empathy quotient (EQ). Then, to help them enhance their EQ, give them interactive learning exercises such as branching situations. Another excellent approach for trainees to acquire empathy is to keep a daily journal and then reflect on their experiences with customers in a group message board.

2. Active Listening

When you're attempting to sell a product or service and you're pressed for time, it's easy to get into the habit of badgering someone to buy from you and talking their ears off until they agree.

Unfortunately, many salespeople continue to do this, even at firms that boast about how good they are at selling.

Rather, focus on listening to your prospects. Many times, people will tell you what their weak points are and what they are searching for if you simply listen.

Of course, asking questions to direct the conversation in a way that provides you the information you need is helpful, but avoid taking over the conversation.

Nobody wants to hear how amazing you or your organization or your product are until they are prompted to do so. Listen to what they have to say before deciding on the best next move for them. Sales Architecture is an impatient person and in this kind of situation, his head full of knowledge is not put into good use.

As a result, every selling skills training must include active listening teachings. In other words, train your sales staff to first listen, then recognize, and then reply to consumers. Include notes and videos in online sales training that teach how to be a successful sales rep through active listening. Then, after they understand why it is critical, push them to put their active listening abilities to the test in a role-playing exercise.

3. Resilience and Optimism

“No, thank you. Perhaps next time. It isn't for me.” Most salesmen are all too acquainted with these words. When rejection wreaks havoc, even your top achievers may contemplate a career shift. Building individual resilience is the best approach to keep them on the team. This can be learned from the sales Hunter as he is among the best salespeople who can easily take a rejection.

Working in sales might entail a lot of ignored emails from leads, hung-up phone conversations, and various types of rejection... So excellent salesmen realize the need of maintaining a good attitude!

Not everyone you talk with will be interested in (or even qualified for) your product or service – and that's fine. It's all about being positive in the face of hardship or rejection.

Optimism and confidence are inextricably linked. It indicates you're hopeful and sure that everything will be just fine.

This soft talent can also help with stress management and lifespan.

Training resilience entails teaching your sales team how to recover from rejection. Resilient people have an optimistic attitude, see failure as an opportunity to learn, and do not take "no" personally. Pair your sales team with a helpful mentor to help them develop resilience. You may also develop an online course on growth mindset to demonstrate how putting in additional effort to earn a sale strengthens them.

4. Flexibility and adaptability

Employees who can adjust to changes at work are significant assets in any sector. However, it is essential in sales.

Prospective leads are regularly followed up on by salespeople. This is a lovely way of expressing that they're actually chasing cats. As a result, if a potential customer cancels a meeting or a phone contact at the last minute, your sales staff must be willing and able to reschedule at the customer's convenience. This will most likely take place outside of the normal 9-5 workday. As a result, developing soft skills such as flexibility and adaptability is critical.

Furthermore, the landscape for attracting leads is changing. Entire companies are being established on social media platforms, and physical sites are becoming less and less necessary. This implies that your sales staff must maintain a close check on these internet channels that have the potential to bring in new consumers.

According to a 2018 Sales Management Association research, 80 percent of firms released a new product or service in the previous year. That implies your salesmen must be kept up to know the most recent features and improvements. But how can you improve this process when your sales staff is dispersed throughout the country, or perhaps the globe?

The solution is a sophisticated but user-friendly online training platform.

Upload all fresh material regarding the current releases in the format of your choice, and then allocate it to your salesmen. They may now get all the information they need online, from anywhere in the globe, at any time. So, even though pursuing clients seems like chasing cats, training your salespeople doesn't have to.

5. Integrity

Salespeople with integrity are trustworthy and dependable. They confess when they're wrong, accept responsibility for their mistakes, and work tirelessly until things are right. Customers will not do business with salesmen who do not demonstrate a high level of honesty.

This should go without saying, but it bears repeating: salesmen should never try to sell a product or service to someone who isn't a suitable match for it. Whether it's due to pain spots, a limited budget, or any other cause.

A salesman should never mislead someone about what a product or service can accomplish for them. If you overpromise and underdeliver, it will come back to haunt you.

It has the potential to derail your entire career. The sales Actor is the one who is more likely to underdeliver in a variety of situations and to boast excessively about the products. That is why he requires assistance to ensure that what he delivers gets delivered. However, until he learns to control himself and be more honest and modest, this will not be a happy ending.

6. Public speaking

As a salesperson, you are well aware of the need of speaking with individuals on a frequent basis. If that's what you do every day, why not attempt to make it one of your advantages? You must develop the confidence of a salesman who stands in front of thousands of people not because he is capable, but because he enjoys it. Take the sales Actor as the one you have to pursue because, in the end, we are always acting.

A good salesman would make himself the star of the show, and if you believe you are not that type of person, you should be fully prepared to freeze up in the middle of a crucial meeting because, as a salesman, demos, demonstrations, and any other types of presentations are just part of your daily breakfast.

The greatest way to conquer your fear of public speaking is to practice, practice, practice. The more you practice it, the more natural it will appear.

If that scares you, consider taking improved courses or watching TED Talks on YouTube to learn from public speaking professionals.

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