Tweet

Top 7 Pitfalls That Keep Sales Professionals from Their Goals to Increase Sales

Written by: Leanne Hoagland-Smith

Article Overview: Most individuals are involved in selling whether it is selling learning to selling an idea. However a few are compensated for their sales efforts because they sell products or services. Far more sales professional could dramatically increase sales if they would change their behaviors (sales skills) by avoiding these top 7 reasons for sales failure.

Top 7 Pitfalls That Keep Sales Professionals from Their Goals to Increase Sales

Most individuals are involved in selling whether it is selling learning to selling an idea. However a few are compensated for their sales efforts because they sell products or services. Far more sales professional could dramatically increase sales if they would change their behaviors (sales skills) by avoiding these top 7 reasons for sales failure.

Pitfall #1: No sales action plan. As a sales coach, I cannot count the number of sales professionals who lack a plan. This should not be surprising because planning is not taught in the K-16 experience. Planning is one of those behaviors learned through what I call the “Osmosis Factor.” Stand next to people who know how to plan and their knowledge will magically seep into you.

Pitfall #2: No goal achievement process. Here again is the Osmosis Factor. Can you remember where you learned how to plan, set and achieve your goals? For most sales professionals, the answer is simply no where. Yet, as a sales professional, you are expected to achieve sales goals.

Pitfall #3: No marketing action plan. Marketing and selling are two entirely different behaviors and require two different skill sets. A marketing plan is very much like a flight plan, the big picture of where you are going depending upon your target market.

Pitfall #4: Lots of confusion. This confusion is not only between marketing and selling, but motion with progress and activity with results as one of my colleagues, Doug Brown, has often stated. Lots of professional sales people are very busy, but are their actions moving them forward and securing results? This is the question to be answered.

Pitfall #5: Poor time management contributes to a lot of failure among sales professionals. This is due in many cases to a lack of a proven goal achievement process.

Pitfall #6: No focus. Sales success is predicated on focus. Of course without an action plan to confusion as to your actions, your focus can be dramatically reduced. Sales Coaching Tip: You cannot be everything to everyone.

Pitfall #7: Finally, the seventh reason is a culmination of the previous six that being self leadership skills. If you cannot lead yourself, how can you lead others? Self leadership skills include: planning, positive communication such as active listening, effective and balanced decision making and collaboration through team efforts.

Take Action Sales Coaching Tip: Determine what reasons may be keeping you from your goal to increase sales. Decide now to take action and you will realize your sales goals.

Related Articles
  You Can Win More Sales by Accepting & Working with Change Than Denying It
  Every Time Without Fail Focus Trumps Intention To Increase Sales
  More Sales Means Less Confusion
  Increase Sales by Demonstrating an I Love to Meet Strangers Sales Skill 24/7
  How Sales Is More About Playing the Odds Than You Might Think

Article Tags: action plan marketing, big picture, coach, colleagues, confusion, doug brown, failure, flight plan, goal achievement, marketing plan, pitfall 2, poor time management, professional sales, sales efforts, sales goals, sales professionals, sales success, target market



Related Forum Posts
Online Sales and Marketing vs Traditional - Hi Evan, I am noticing that many of the posts in the Sales/Marketing section deal with online marketing, SEM and and SEO and Affiliates. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to separate that section into two; 1) Online Sales and Marketing; 2) Traditional Sales and Marketing
Re: Online Sales and Marketing vs Traditional - [quote="ltrahan":31w9r2iz]Hi Evan, I am noticing that many of the posts in the Sales/Marketing section deal with online marketing, SEM and and SEO and Affiliates. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to separate that section into two; 1) Online Sales and Marketing; 2) Traditional Sales and Marketing[/quote:31w9r2iz] I second the request...
Hello From Marietta GA! - Hello All! My name is Tim Naylor and I am in Direct Sales! I am glad I have found EC's sites and I hope to learn and share a lot!
taxes in canada - Well in Canada we only have a few provinces and the Sales tax is slightly different. Here in Ontario the Goods & Services tax has reduced to 5% from 7% in the last year due to the promises made by the government in place.
Re: Watch What you Read - I agree. i believe more video's should be like Jeffery Gitomers video's under his Sales rant. They are typically not more than 3 minutes. His model seems to be; 1. Main Message (or Point) 2. Example 3. Next steps to put it into Action take away the extra "blabber" and you've got viewers that will come back.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

SEO – Link Building Secrets

What Aweber Can Do For Your Online Business

12 Principles to Spark Innovation

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.