Sales Motivation Tips

Sales Motivation Tips for Selling by Phone

Having the right sales mindset and motivation to pick up the phone day in and day out is a massive challenge for most sales reps because the rejection level can be so high, it doesn’t take long for call reluctance to set in. And it’s tough to make a living selling by phone if you or your sales team are afraid to pick up the phone.

Luckily, a simple sales mindset tip works to help get you geared up and ready for the daily phone sales challenges. And no, I’m not going to tell you to artificially psych yourself up.

If part of your job is to pick up the phone and get prospects open to having a sales conversation, you will have to have the right sales mindset to stay motivated to reach your personal and professional goals.

What I’m about to share with you is simple, effective, and was (and still is) the cornerstone that helped me become one of the top straight commission sales reps to ever sell by phone.

Here’s how to be prepared for the daily battle…

Sales Mindset Tip

Most sales reps (especially straight commission sales reps) have a ton of pressure to perform, and this is a business that is all about “what have you done for me lately?”.

There’s pressure from upper management all the way to the home front, where bills have to be paid. It’s understandable why many salespeople take on an “Us Vs. Them” (Us Vs. the Prospects) mentality; however that way of thinking is unsustainable in the world of sales.

The easiest way I’ve found to be prepared to pick up the phone day after day, week after week, year after year, is to start off with this one goal in mind:

“To see if I can help.”

That’s it.

As in “Let me call this prospect to see if I can help him/her solve/avoid/eliminate ___________.”

Sales Mindset: HELP. NOT SELL.

Early in my career, I was calling to close deals. And when you have that as your primary motivation, it bleeds through over the phone.

When you take a step back and realize that you have an excellent product/service that helps people solve specifics issues, and your number one priority is to pick up the phone and call to see if you can help someone solve a problem, the pressure to close is off of your back.

And if they reject your offer to see if you can help, I don’t know why this is, but it’s a lot less painful than being rejected trying to sell them something.

IMPORTANT:

I need to be clear about something here, though, and it’s important:

It’s my sales mindset that is focused on seeing if I can help.

I NEVER call and say, “I’m not selling anything…” and here’s why I never use that type of opening value statement:

Think back to the last time you were told by a salesperson that they “aren’t trying to sell you anything.”

What was your immediate internal thought or reaction? I’ll bet it was “yea, right!” and had instant distrust, and or your guard came up, which is the exact opposite of what your opening value statement is supposed to do. (My YouTube video on how to create better opening value statements may help if you need some pointers)

Starting with the sales mindset of calling to see if you can help your prospect solve X will get you in the right mind frame for a long, prosperous career in sales while keeping your fear of the phone to a minimum.

– Michael Pedone

Michael Pedone teaches inside sales teams how to pick up the phone and close business. He is the CEO/FOUNDER of SalesBuzz.com – An online sales training company.