We all have those friends or colleagues who are natural salespeople. They’re charismatic, strong communicators, and persuasive. Sure, they may have some natural gifts, but the majority of their talents can be attributed to something we can all learn: sales skills.
Defined as the overall set of capabilities, knowledge, and activities needed to carry out sales within an organization, sales skills, and the people who have them, are necessary for the day-to-day function, health, and longevity of a business. Sales skills help your business find your target customer, connect with them, and convert that lead into a transaction.
From selling physical items door-to-door to instantly pinpointing a prospect’s challenges on the phone, the most important sales skills differ based on your industry, business, and company goals. However, there are a handful of key skills that are important for every salesperson to master:
A bad hire is expensive. Case in point, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh estimates that bad hires have cost the company “well over $100 million.”
While it’s important to have a wide range of skills on your team, there are five key sales skills to look for to ensure you hire the right person to join your sales team:
When it comes to developing sales skills, the learning never stops. Even the most experienced sales reps can benefit from training, educational reading, or even taking on a project outside of their comfort zone.
In that same vein, don’t discount reps who don’t immediately have key sales skills. Sales training can equip your team with well-rounded communication skills, confidence, and the ability to overcome objections. Look for a willingness to learn and you’ll find someone with the potential to be an excellent salesperson.
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