In 1500 words or less, each post will give you something you can use TODAY to build yourself, your people and your organization whether your organization is a "for-profit" or a "not-for-profit."
Selling is a career. Sales can be very rewarding and offers something different every day. Whether you are looking for sales associates, you are one or considering becoming one; take a few minutes and consider these questions.
Finding the right people in a sea of applicants can be challenging but it is very doable. There are some very simple tools to ensure that the people you hire are the best fit that you can find; and this is one of them.
“The best way to win a fight … is to avoid having one,” this oft forgotten lesson from Dale Carnegie is one of the fundamentals of “How to Win Friends and Influence people.” It is, however, only part of his lesson. A missing link is to remember that you should always try to “appreciate the other person’s perspective.”
At one time, I mistakenly believed these two types of organizations were mutually exclusive. While there are certainly differences, they share many similarities and have common issues.
Having worked closely with many successful leaders over my career, here are some of the fundamental rules that they lived by:
I have been fortunate that in my career I have had several mentors who have had a significant impact on my life. Some on a personal level who provided inspiration at key life moments, some academically as I struggled and questioned whether I could continue. I have also benefited professionally from several mentors who have helped in the past, now, and hopefully into the future.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s website, in Ontario more than 250,000 workers are injured in workplace accidents annually. Their most recent statistics show the average direct cost of these accidents can be more than $20,000; in medical expenses, lost time, lost productivity, etc. In certain cases, direct and indirect costs can exceed $80,000. Accidents can injure associates and visitors, result in fines, penalties, and lawsuits that in some severe cases can result in organizations being shut down. Many of these accidents are preventable or can be mitigated if an organization, from the top to the bottom, commits themselves to a culture of proper Health and Safety.
“Good to great” is the title of an excellent book by Jim Collins. Collins writes about how some of the good organizations made themselves great organizations by doing things well that were available to everyone in their sectors, but only a few made the effort. As a commission sales associate, you have the same opportunity. The things that you need to do to become truly great are at your fingertips, the same way that they are for everyone else, as with the examples in his book, only the great sales associates do them.
There are many “warning signs” that can help you avoid being a victim. Anticipating that fraud attempts are going to occur, putting preventative measures in place may be your best defense. It is not a question of “if” your organization might be a potential victim of theft or fraud; it is only a question of “when.”
As a sales associate, having the right answer when a customer asks “for a deal” and being able to handle the question comfortably can be difficult for new sales associates and even for older associates who are struggling. In this post, we will discuss some suggestions on how to handle these situations, from some of the best sales associates I have known.
Have you ever had questions about your job and didn’t know who to ask or didn’t feel comfortable asking? When you are a student, it can be a little intimidating.