By Kristen Gielow

Selling is about helping people see how our products or services — or the pursuit of our vision — can help them in business and in life.

When we experience disappointment in the sales process, we cope with things like apathy, fear, desperation, arrogance, greed, ignorance or complacency. These "Sales Sins" give us temporary relief, but end up preventing us from reaching our professional goals.

If you are feeling stuck, perhaps these sins are acting as a roadblock.

I recently wrote a blog series on the behaviors and attitudes that could be stopping you from reaching your goals. I encourage you to explore each sin listed below and learn about the struggles facing sales professionals and how to overcome sales obstacles.

7 Deadly Sins of Sales Professionals

1. Apathy – Lack of feeling, emotion, interest or concern. A state of indifference.

When we get disappointed or rejected in our sales profession, oftentimes our prescription is apathy, because it feels better to disassociate ourselves from the emotion that may have made us feel bad.

2. Fear – Emotion induced by a perceived threat. Causes you to pull away and hide.

The only way to overcome fear as a sales professional is by understanding the genesis of why the fear is actually there. Are you afraid of rejection? Do you feel high net individuals may ask you questions you cannot answer? Do you not want to look desperate? Whatever the reason fear sinks into your business, figure out what “it” is, and then get to the bottom of it.

3. Desperation – Emotional state in which you feel hopeless and without options.

Remember, sales professionals at the top of their game have no time to be desperate. Fill your days with the right activities and the right people and desperation will be something meant only for housewives on TV shows.

4. Arrogance – The belief that you are better, smarter or more important than others.

You have to take a good hard look at who you measure yourself against. If you can’t shine unless you make someone else dull – you are displaying arrogance. A truly confident and healthy individual doesn’t need others to fail in order to feel successful.

5. Greed – Desire to possess far beyond basic survival and comfort.

It is the driving force behind why we work 80 hour weeks, put our prospective clients before our families and find ourselves overweight and unhealthy. Because, no matter how hard we work, we want more.

6. Ignorance – Lack of knowledge.

As sales professionals, we need to know the product or service we are selling better than anyone else. We need to study all there is to know about it and then study more. As we do this, we will gain knowledge, not only about our product or service, but also about how to present it to interested buyers.

7. Complacency – Being satisfied and not wanting to improve.

We see complacency, mostly after you have achieved some success in your career. It likes to rear its ugly head just when you think you have mastered your craft. It comes in the form of comfort. You sit back, rest on your laurels and assume that what got you here, will get you there. That is when complacency sets in.

I hope the tips and tools offered in these articles will help you avoid The 7 Deadly Sins of Sales Professionals and set you up for a successful and productive sales career!

Check out more info on Building Champions' Coach Kristen Gielow!

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