Dealing With Rejection In Sales

Flickr CC Mickey Michalik

It’s never a pleasant feeling getting rejected, but it is crucial for success. Hearing the word no is never final. Even some of the richest and most famous people in the world get rejected frequently. Rejection happens all the times in sales, and if you can’t deal with it, sales might not be for you.

Rejection is usually the one thing that stands in the way of the success that sales people see for themselves. It can turn confident and courageous people into insecure people. The ability to handle rejection can have a direct relationship to sales performance, and the fear of it is ingrained into us. Fortunately, habit that you learn can be unlearned.

Follow these steps to help deal with rejection:

Find Out Why

Think about it and put together why you might have been rejected. Maybe you got your customer at a bad time or maybe your sales pitch wasn’t as great as you had hoped. When it comes down to it, figuring out what you did wrong will keep you from making the same mistakes. Even if it wasn’t your fault, accept it and try it again.

Manage The Fear Of Rejection

Big deal, you got rejected. Don’t be too hard on yourself and move on to the next client. By now, you should expect that you’re going to be rejected by a customer from time to time. This is not the end of the world. Tell yourself that you’re going to get what you want next time, and go out there and get it done. Realize the bigger picture: it’s not what you sell; it’s how you sell it.

Don’t Take It Personally

Many sales people will take a rejection to heart when they really shouldn’t. Rejection is part of the business and it happens to everyone. Instead, see it as a time to learn something about yourself and your sales strategy. Customers come and go, and the more you interact with them, the more your skills will grow. Rejection is just part of the game of sales.

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