Peak Performance in Prospecting

Guest post by: Sue Barrett
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How Your Procurement Practices Affect Your Sales and Brand - By Sue Barrett

Building on from the topic ‘The Optimistic Sales Professional' I thought I would extend the theme further and explore the topic of ‘Peak Performance in Prospecting'.

A peak performing prospector is a salesperson who displays passion, self motivation and results focus. They are disciplined in their approach, evaluate and purse viable opportunities while remaining optimistic, resilient, committed and energized. They are ethical at all times and display empathy, respect and courtesy towards their prospects. To help us look at this in more depth let's look at what is considered peak performance.

What is Peak Performance?

"Sustained, continuous performance at world's best level in the long-term."

(Peak Performance. Business lessons from the worlds Top Sporting Organisations, 2000). Peak Performance is a term that is frequently used in sport. In recent times, the term "Peak Performance" has made its way into business. There is a strong parallel between competitive sport and prospecting. The concept of peak performance is a very useful metaphor for understanding what it means to be a top performer.

Peak Performance involves reaching your optimum potential, and maintaining this level of performance consistently over the long run. This does not mean all the time as in 24/7, but the ability to be consistently effective every day in a measured and disciplined way. You may like to read an interesting book called ‘The Corporate Athlete: How to Achieve Maximal Performance in Business and Life by Jack L. Groppel (Author), Bob Andelman (Author). To build on your understanding of Peak Performance in prospecting, I encourage you to read the following vignette of a salesperson who is regarded as being one of the best in their field in developing and growing new business.

Vignette

"Karen won the award as the Business Development Manager of the year for a leading manufacturing of computer software. Throughout the past 3 years, she consistently surpassed her sales target. She described herself as "highly driven and very competitive". Karen started off doing 40 cold calls each day. She now has 250 accounts. She says her greatest thrill comes from converting dormant accounts into and active ones. Karen believes that "it is vital to establish and build relationships." She hates losing a sale. When it happens, she says "Its usually because I haven't grasped the opportunity quickly enough".

Karen completed a personality assessment. Her personality strengths were found to be persuasive, extremely confident, definitely willing to take risks when necessary, and very assertive, disciplined, and gregarious. She came across as a truly outgoing, engaging individual who genuinely enjoys opportunities to meet new people and to transfer her knowledge. She enjoys persuading others or "guiding" them to what she believes is the best solution for them. And, because of her confidence and assertiveness, she won't hesitate to share her point of view - which because of her discipline and focus, is usually very well considered. Underlying all these qualities is a fundamental urgency, or a need to get things done "now". This sense of urgency enables her to capatalise on opportunities and not allow commitments to go unfulfilled.

Karen's approach impresses customers because she conveys a definite perspective, in a confident manner, and wants to make sure her solution is thorough and, ideally delivered before it is even expected."

(Adapted from Greenberg, Weinstein & Sweeney, How to Hire and Develop Your Next Top Performer. The five Qualities that Make Salespeople Great. McGrawHill, 2001).

Now having looked at person who is considered a Peak Performer in prospecting, consider the notion of Peak Performance as it relates to you or your sales team. Do you believe you and/or they have been performing at a peak level over the past 12 months? Review the options below:

Not at all or very rarely
Occasional Glimpses
As often as not
Almost Always

If you have ticked one of the 1st three options what do you and/or they need to do to get to a Peak Level of performance in your prospecting? If you believe you already are there, try to identify opportunities for further improvement.

Areas to consider may be:

Skills
Knowledge
Motivation
Attitudes
Your well-being/energy
Mindset around prospecting
Prospecting Plan
Clarity/direction/information/tools from management etc.

I wish you happy and prosperous selling.

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How Your Procurement Practices Affect Your Sales and Brand - By Sue Barrett

About the Author: Sue Barrett

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'Selling is everybody's business and everybody lives by selling something' so says Sue Barrett, sales expert, writer, business speaker and adviser, facilitator, sales coach, training provider and entrepreneur. Sue founded Barrett in 1995 to positively transform the culture, capability and continuous learning of leaders, teams and businesses by developing sales driven organisations that are equipped for the 21st Century. Since inception, Barrett has worked with hundreds of Australian companies challenging thinking to create compelling reasons and continuous learning pathways for people and organisations to develop their skills, knowledge and mindsets to create the shifts they want and ensure they are well informed and equipped for the sales journey ahead.
Sue is one of the leading voices commenting on sales today. Sue has a unique way of getting to the heart of the matter - she combines extensive knowledge, research, insight, and practical experience with a deep sense of compassion to bring forth a more enlightened way of thinking and participating in the world. This makes her stand out from the usual crowd of existing business commentators.

Her ability to distill complex ideas and relate them to life's everyday challenges and opportunities has audience members and readers leaving with a stronger understanding of "self" and how they can begin to achieve excellence through purposeful action. Presenting and writing on a wide range of topics about the world of 21st Century selling Sue's presentations and articles include sales philosophy and culture, sales leadership and coaching, sales training, selling skills, resilience, neuroscience in selling and more. Sue's articles are some of the most widely read in Australia and she is gaining a following overseas as well. Besides publishing on Barrett Sales Blog site, Sue has been the lead sales writer for www.smartcompany.com.au since 2007, and is also regularly published on other highly regarded publications such as Australian Anthill Magazine, Niche Magazine, Marketing Mag, Business Chicks, and Business Deals.

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