Listening to some sales coaches and motivational speakers, you’d think that selling as a profession is nothing more than a constant diet of record orders, massive commissions, and incentive trips to tropical islands.
I hate to burst your bubble, but that’s not always the reality …
Of course, you already know that, but the point is that selling is not always as easy as people make it sound. Also, being a salesperson isn’t always as fun as people seem to think. You’re going to have bad days … even some that are terrible. There will be problems with your orders, customers will go bankrupt or try to cancel contracts unexpectedly, your company will go through changes, friends will leave or be fired, and otherwise the sky will fall once in a while.
But, these times are not going to last forever, in fact, they are rarely going to last long, and the faster you get through them, the sooner you will make money again. With that in mind, here are five ways to shake off a bad sales day, from mildly haunting to downright depressing, and get back on track:
1. Think creatively:
Before you go to the deep end, remember that news is not always as bad as it sounds. For example, the fact that your best client is leaving for a new job might seem like a difficult break. But, if they can buy from you in a new position and you can keep selling your replacement, then maybe things are looking up. Before you get too upset about something, see if you can find a silver lining to the situation.
2. Give yourself an hour:
On the other hand, sometimes you just don’t find much good news. Despite what kitten posters may have to say about it, some things are just plain bad luck, no matter how you look at it. If that’s the case, don’t try to pat yourself on the back and paint a good picture of the situation. Instead, go the opposite direction and take an hour to wallow, get depressed, and even complain to your friends and colleagues. However, once that hour is up, decide that you are going to get over it and move on. The difference between a bad time, a bad day and a bad week is usually how long you leave it.
3. Find some motivation:
As human beings, we like to think that we have a lot of control over our own moods and actions. However, the reality is that we are incredibly susceptible to the messages that reach us from everyone around us. For that reason, one of the best ways to get out of a depression is simply by listening to something motivating or uplifting. It may seem like an oversimplified tip, but give it a try; Often times, a little humor or something inspirational is all it takes to turn your day around.
4. Remember a success:
Most of us have some kind of award certificate, letter from a satisfied customer, or other reminder of a semi-recent win that we can turn to. Well now is the time. Look at your past victories for inspiration; Remember that great success in the not too distant past can be a great motivator to move on.
5. Take the day off:
If none of this works and things are really getting you down, take some time out of the office. Go out for a cup of coffee, see a friend, or even catch an afternoon movie. It may not be the most productive use of your time, but as long as you do it from time to time, there is nothing wrong with spending a little time away from work. Moving away from the problem or situation a bit can give you a different perspective, and even if you don’t, at least you won’t spread negativity to your colleagues. You don’t want to be depressed with bad news too often, so return the favor and take some time if you can’t get out of a bad mood.
