I am glad that “Why sales?” is the question that appeared in your mind and as per Vikas, your exploration journey will give you enough reasons to pursue Sales as a Career or help you sell your point of view to family, friends, colleagues, boss, prospective employers, clients, neighbors and society at large.
Jeffrey Gitomer, a well-known American author once said that sales is not about convincing people to buy something they don’t want. It’s about helping people find the right solution to their problems. I hope this will help you blur the Image of a pushy salesman wearing a tie & blazer to a trustworthy person extending a helping hand to overcome your problem.
Here are 10 reasons why sales skills are one of the most essential skill sets every working professional should add in his/her arsenal.
- Financially Rewarding: The salaries in sales are usually higher than any other department. Skilled and successful sales professionals can earn consistent Incentives, commissions, spiffs, and bonuses and can literally decide his/her own paycheck.
- Quicker Recognition: Salespeople are responsible for bringing in new business, which directly contributes to the company’s bottom line. This makes them a valuable asset to any company. They also interact with customers and prospects on a regular basis, which means that their work is often seen by others in the organization. This visibility can help to increase their chances of being recognized.
- Ample Job/ Earning Opportunities: Every company wants good salespeople to work with them but there is a dearth of good salespeople in the world which creates a demand and supply gap hence If you are a sales professional, you will never be out of a job. There will always be companies looking for you to work with them.
- Accelerated Growth Path: Many companies have a performance-driven culture which means a performer will experience faster growth and since sales is essential for the success of most organizations, salespeople are likely to be promoted faster than others.
- Sense of Accomplishment: Salespeople experience a sense of accomplishment for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common reasons include:
- Closing a deal. This is the ultimate goal of any salesperson, and it is a major accomplishment when it happens. Closing a deal means that you have successfully persuaded someone to buy your product or service, and this can be a very rewarding feeling.
- Meeting or exceeding sales goals. Sales goals are often set high, so meeting or exceeding them is a significant accomplishment. This shows that you are a top performer and that you are capable of achieving great things.
- Helping customers. Salespeople often help customers find the products or services they need, and this can be a very rewarding experience. When you help a customer solve a problem or achieve their goals, it can give you a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
- Learning and growing. Sales is a constantly evolving field, so salespeople need to be constantly learning and growing in order to be successful. This can be a challenging but rewarding process, and it can lead to a sense of accomplishment as you see yourself improve.
- Becoming a top performer. Sales is a competitive field, so becoming a top performer is a major accomplishment. This shows that you are at the top of your game and that you are capable of achieving great things.
6. Flexibility: The sales profession offers various types of flexibility. Some of the common ones are mentioned below:
- Flexible Working Hours: This allows salespeople to set their own hours, which can be helpful for balancing work with other commitments, such as family, friends, and community.
- Flexible Working Style: Results are rewarded in sales irrespective of sales approach. It offers salespeople flexibility to work or operate as per his/her own style.
- Flexible scheduling: This allows salespeople to adjust their schedules as needed, which can be helpful for dealing with unexpected events
- Work from Home Flexibility: This allows salespeople to work from home or a remote location, which can give them more freedom and control over their work-life balance.
7. Dynamic Work Environment: People who hate monotony must join sales due to its dynamism. Many things in sales are constantly changing. Be it ever-changing customer needs, the introduction of new technologies, new products, and globalization. The dynamism of sales can be both a challenge and an opportunity for salespeople. On the one hand, it can be difficult to keep up with the constant changes in the field. On the other hand, it can also be an opportunity to learn new skills and stay ahead of the competition. If you are interested in a career in sales, then you need to be prepared for a dynamic and ever-changing field. However, if you are willing to adapt and learn, then you can be successful in sales.
8. The most important function of any organization: Sales is considered the most important function of business because it is responsible for generating revenue. Without sales, a business cannot survive. Here are some of the reasons why sales is the most important function of business:
- Sales is the lifeblood of a business. Without sales, a business cannot generate revenue, and without revenue, a business cannot survive.
- Sales is the engine that drives growth. Sales is responsible for bringing in new customers, which can lead to increased revenue and growth.
- Sales is the key to customer satisfaction. When salespeople are able to successfully close deals, they are able to provide customers with the products or services they need. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Sales is a critical function for any business. No matter what type of business you are in, sales is essential for your success. Of course, sales is not the only important function of a business. Other important functions include marketing, operations, and finance. However, sales is the function that is responsible for generating revenue, which is why it is considered the most important function of business.
9. Develops Overall Personality: Many organisations train their salesforce on various aspects like communication skills, interpersonal skills negotiation skills, problem-solving skills, objection-handling skills, listening skills, time management skills etc which enhances the overall personality of an individual. Moreover, multiple rejections develop resilience which is an important life skill.
10. Networking Opportunities: Salespeople can get a variety of networking opportunities, both online and offline. Industry events like trade shows, exhibitions, conferences, conclaves, and meetups are great platforms to meet & interact with other sales professionals, learn about new products & services, and network with prospects. Some of the sales communities in India like Saleswomentoring, Sales Hacker India, Sales Enablement India, Sales Tribe India, and Linkedin Sales India provide resources, tools, and training to help sales professionals succeed. Some of international professional organizations like Sales and Marketing Executives International (S&MEI) and the National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP) offer a variety of networking opportunities, such as webinars, online forums, and in-person events.
Keep in mind that while these reasons make sales an appealing career option for many, it’s essential to consider your individual strengths, interests, and goals when making a career choice.
Take a look at some of the successful sales professionals in India to get motivated on why sales is a career to pursue:
- Sanjeev Jain (Managing Director of LG Electronics India): He has been with the company for over 25 years nd has held various sales and marketing positions. He is credited with growing LG’s market share in India significantly.a
- Nitin Chaudhry (Managing Director of Hewlett Packard India): He has over 30 years of experience in the IT industry and has held sales and marketing positions at various companies. He is credited with leading HP’s growth in India.
- Gautam Vijh (Managing Director of Ranbaxy Laboratories): He has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has held sales and marketing positions at various companies. He is credited with leading Ranbaxy’s growth in India.
- Prashant Bindal (Managing Director of Coca-Cola India): He has over 20 years of experience in the FMCG industry and has held sales and marketing positions at various companies. He is credited with leading Coca-Cola’s growth in India.
- Amit Chhabra (Managing Director of ITC Limited): He has over 30 years of experience in the FMCG industry and has held sales and marketing positions at various companies. He is credited with leading ITC’s growth in India.
- Atul Jalan (Managing Director of Godrej Consumer Products): He has over 25 years of experience in the FMCG industry and has held sales and marketing positions at various companies. He is credited with leading Godrej’s growth in India.
- Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Founder and CEO of Paytm): He has over 20 years of experience in the IT industry and has held sales and marketing positions at various companies. He is credited with leading Paytm’s growth in India.
- Kunal Bahl (Co-founder and CEO of Snapdeal): He has over 15 years of experience in the e-commerce industry and has held sales and marketing positions at various companies. He is credited with leading Snapdeal’s growth in India.
- Ritesh Agarwal (Founder and CEO of Oyo Rooms): He has over 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has held sales and marketing positions at various companies. He is credited with leading Oyo Rooms’ growth in India.
These are just a few of the many successful salesmen in India. They have all achieved great success in their careers by demonstrating their skills, knowledge, and dedication.
Some of the successful salesmen worldwide:
- Joe Girard: Joe Girard is considered to be the world’s greatest salesman. He holds the Guinness World Record for selling the most cars in a single year, with 1,425 cars sold in 1973.
- Mary Kay Ash: Mary Kay Ash was the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. She was a pioneer in the direct sales industry and is credited with revolutionizing the way women sell.
- Zig Ziglar: Zig Ziglar was a motivational speaker and salesman. He is best known for his books and speeches on personal development and salesmanship.
- Dave Ramsey: Dave Ramsey is a financial advisor and radio personality. He is best known for his “Financial Peace University” program, which teaches people how to manage their money.
- Grant Cardone: Grant Cardone is a self-made entrepreneur and sales expert. He is the author of several books on sales and success, and he hosts the “Grant Cardone Show” podcast.
How to become a successful salesman?
Selling is a skill that everyone can learn and improve upon. By following these tips, you can become good at selling and achieving your goals. Here are some tips for becoming good at selling after understanding why sales skills should be learned:
- Learn about your product or service: The more you know about what you’re selling, the more confident you’ll be when you’re talking to potential customers.
- Understand your customer’s needs: What are they looking for? What are their pain points? Once you understand their needs, you can tailor your sales pitch to address them.
- Be a good listener: One of the most important skills in sales is listening to your customer. Pay attention to what they’re saying and ask questions to get a better understanding of their needs.
- Be confident: Confidence is key in sales. If you believe in what you’re selling, your customers will be more likely to believe in it too.
- Be persistent: Don’t give up if you don’t make a sale right away. Keep trying and eventually, you’ll find success.
- Be passionate about what you’re selling: If you don’t believe in your product or service, it will be difficult to convince others to believe in it either.
- Be knowledgeable about your product or service: The more you know about your product or service, the more confident you’ll be when you’re talking to potential customers.
- Be organized and efficient: Salespeople need to be able to manage their time effectively and keep track of their leads.
- Be a good communicator: Salespeople need to be able to communicate effectively with their customers, both verbally and in writing.
- Be willing to learn and grow: The sales landscape is constantly changing, so salespeople need to be willing to learn new things and adapt to new trends.
- Get certified: There are a number of sales certifications that can help you demonstrate your skills and knowledge to potential employers. These certifications can also help you stay up-to-date on the latest sales trends and best practices.
- Find a mentor: One of the best ways to learn about sales is to find a mentor who can guide you and share their knowledge and experience. A mentor can help you develop your skills, set realistic goals, and navigate the challenges of a sales career.
- Join a sales community: There are many online and offline sales communities where you can connect with other salespeople, learn from their experiences, and share your own. These communities can be a great resource for support and motivation.
If you’re willing to put in the hard work, you can achieve great things in sales. With the right skills and attitude, you can be a successful salesman and make a real difference in the lives of your customers.
I hope you are clear now why sales should be pursued as a career. I would conclude this blog with a quote from Zig Ziglar.
“The golden rule for every salesperson is to stop selling and start helping.” – Zig Ziglar