Doves For Sale

You may be familiar with the Eagle, Peacock, Dove and Owl program that identifies your style of social behavior. This is not one of these birds. It's about being a canary - or not!
Since the early 1900s to the mid-1980s, coal miners used canaries in the world in deep mines to make them aware of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. If the birds stopped singing, it was time to leave the mine ... fast.
After many years of loyal service, these incredibly effective canaries became obsolete. Technology has replaced the singing saviors. Could the canary have done things differently to keep his job? The short answer is no.
What do you think? As a sales professional is there any chance you could become a canary and be replaced? It is still a stretch to suggest the technology will replace face-environment-face selling. However consider that electronic commerce has increased over the last five years! What will the next five years bring?
I am a strong supporter, there will always be a place for the master, qualified sellers. Any healthy economy needs to sell face to face for a variety of reasons, whether cultural preferences, the complexity of information, or simply the desire of consumers for a relationship based on experience. I said, qualified for a reason. As I speak with today's commercial, I find it worrying that many do little to maintain, upgrade and improve their selling skills. Failure to follow the path of the dodo bird - Yes, there really was a Dodo bird, which has disappeared but that's another story.
As a professional in any career path, we must stay abreast of new developments in their field, whether related or technical processes to stay abreast of the competition.
Would you deal with a doctor who obtained their medical degree twenty years ago and has not kept abreast of advances in medicine? I do not think so.
I run into some salespeople who say "been there, done that, took the course, got the t-shirt." They feel they have everything they need. Often, these same people wonder why they have not reached their full potential and gradually slide down the leaderboard.
I have worked with realtors who have been in business 10, 15, 20 years and do not understand why they are not as successful as when they first got into the business. Some say the increased competition, changing demographics are negotiating commissions more difficult, than ever. When I ask them what they have done in recent years to improve their skills often have a blank stare. When I ask them what they did to succeed when they entered the business, we talk about marketing, networking, door to door, and after a turnover specific routine. When asked if they still do this, they admit they are no longer all these activities. Hmmm.
If you consider yourself as a sales professional, you have the obligation to invest in yourself. There are many excellent deals on the market to keep you on top of your game if you do not want to go out and spend the bucks, take you through this program five years ago and read again. I'm positive you'll be reminded a few nuggets of gold that you had forgotten. Grab a partner and practice some exercises that you have years before, you'll probably have fun at the same time.
It is no secret that professional athletes between games still go to events called practices. No mater how you manage think they are again the old adage "practice makes perfect." They employ coaches to instruct on the technical and psychological part. Who is your coach? Does your manager sales, if so when was the last time you got together for a coaching session with meaning. Maybe you should be direct and specific in what area of your game sales needs help..