On average, I spend about 200 days a year on the road training staff at our salon and distributing partners. I’ve noticed that one of the most common factors that differentiate a successful salon from a mediocre salon is its sales team. Like the old saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” It’s the same with your staff: you can give them all of the necessary tools to succeed, but if they don’t want to be successful – you can’t make them be so. This month, I’m writing to our salons’ front line – our tanning sales force. I offer five ways to boost confidence and help them to become better, stronger and more successful versions of themselves.
- Get dedicated! Is this a job you like? Do you enjoy being a part of this industry? Do you like the sales aspect? If you answered “yes” to all three of these, then it’s time to decide to give it your all. My mother always told me that anything worth doing in life was worth giving 100%, and if it’s not worth your 100% then it’s not worth doing. Nothing in life will come easy. Buckle down and work hard – then reap the benefits.
- Identify your biggest weakness. This is hard for most of us to do, so ask your colleagues or manager in what areas they think you could improve. Then make a plan to become absolutely awesome at those things. The best way to execute a goal is to write it down, set a deadline, and make a plan to work on it every day.
- Surround yourself with like-minded people. If you associate yourself with motivated, driven and hardworking people you will naturally strive for better. Remove yourself from situations in the workplace where people are negative or complaining as this is not productive for you, them or the business.
- Constantly evolve. Your day-to-day work changes, the people you see change, and as the industry continues to grow, so do you. Re-educating yourself is incredibly important. This is a fast-paced, fun industry with new and exciting products, equipment and methods coming out every day. Keep up with the times by opening up your mind to constantly learn. This is a great time of year for your team to complete a professional salon operator training program – Devoted Creations recommends Sun is Life®.
- Take positive action toward your goals. Be proactive rather than reactive. In a sense, grab the bull by the horns! As a salesperson, you’re in the driver’s seat of your own destiny. A sales job is one of the only careers in which you control your income. Come to work every day planning to make that day better than the one before. A positive mindset can go a long way in helping you to succeed.
I’ve found in my years of being in this business that most successful salespeople are intensely action oriented. They have a sense of urgency. They have a need for action. They possess a “Do it now!” attitude. They feel compelled to close sales. They maintain a fast pace and move quickly in every aspect of their lives.
If you love what you do, believe in yourself and know that you can achieve more, it’s time to stop making excuses and start making adjustments.
