Guidance for Women in Sales From Industry-Leading Saleswomen

Think of the standard sales stereotypes. The door-to-door salesperson. The used automotive salesperson. The enterprising nearer. The slick smooth talker.

Visualize every of those individuals in your head. Got them? smart.

Now, let American state raise you: Were any of your mental pictures female? They weren't on behalf of me, and i will venture a guess they weren't for many of you. albeit these are not all the varieties of stereotypes that individuals would wish to be related to, it's still important that almost all of the enduring sales personas are historically male.

Sales has been a traditionally male dominated profession, and in some ways in which it is sensible. Salespeople of yore were aggressive, brash, and practical -- 3 adjectives that aren't typically applicable to the X gender. however note the word "yesteryear." Today, sales administrators area unit yearning for reps and managers UN agency area unit additional thoughtful, advisory, insightful, and UN agency possess higher listening skills.

At Dreamforce 2014, Jill Konrath, sales author and speaker, hosted associate degree all-female give-and-take with a number of the leading saleswomen within the game nowadays. every offered her recommendation for the way girls will achieve a sales role, and perspective on the distinctive skills that girls wake the art of commercialism.

Find a Female mentor.

"It's difficult being a lady in sales, and particularly a adult female in sales," aforementioned Joanne Black, founding father of No additional Cold vocation.

To combat this problem, Black counseled the skilled friend system: mentoring. "Find a mentor -- another girl to act with and UN agency will either formally or informally facilitate [you] on."

Konrath in agreement, and discerned that mentors do not have to be girls the mentee is aware of in the flesh -- or perhaps is aware of in the least. "You will have virtual mentors that do not even grasp they are mentoring you," she said. Mentees will follow their virtual mentors' careers and social media profiles, and appearance up to them as "role models for what is potential."

And once you discover a mentor, it doesn't suggest you cannot have others. Debra Walton, chief content officer at Thomson Reuters, aforementioned she is concerned finding "mentors for a reason, mentors for a season, and mentors for all times." In different words, completely different mentors will and will be recruited for specific comes or times in an exceedingly career. One mentor cannot and should not be expected to advise a mentee regarding each goal and circumstance.

Approach your career with boldness.

Sales as a profession is not hospitable to girls. however may girls even be holding themselves back?

"Research has tried that men can apply for employment that they need seventy to eightieth of the talents for, and girls will not apply for that job unless they need 100 percent," aforementioned Trish Bertuzzi, president and chief strategian at The Bridge group. "Come on. Go for it."

Bertuzzi conjointly had additional robust words for the way girls in sales ought to perform their jobs. "Lean in, speak out, have a voice in your organization, and ne'er use the word 'sorry.'" (This statement attained her a spherical of applause).

Konrath conjointly inspired girls to seize the chance that sales presents.

"The sales profession is perhaps at the foremost exciting time ever in history," she said. "It's an excellent time for girls to urge concerned, and girls area unit typically the most effective salespeople."

Don't attempt to be a Man.

Are there skills girls wake a sales role than men typically don't? The panelists actually thought therefore.

Black aforementioned girls area unit additional naturally intuitive than men, and trusting their intuition will facilitate them succeed. Her statement received instant validation once Josiane Feigon, within sales talent evangelist at TeleSmart Communications, aforementioned she designed her work observe for the most part on intuition, that was "fairly right."

Walton said a special facet. "I suppose one among the items girls do very splendidly is bring tier of intimacy to a relationship with a client that’s unbelievably effective," she said. "Top saleswomen achievers at Thomson Reuters bring their whole self to the consumer relationship, which level of intimacy differentiates them.

"I would encourage all girls to not attempt to be like men," Walton continued . "Just bring your whole self as a lady to your relationships with shoppers."

Are you a lady in sales? What area unit your keys for success?