Be authentic : Prepare Yourself for a Career in Sales

[Reyed Mia (Apprentice, DIU)]

Be authentic : Prepare Yourself for a Career in Sales

- You know those people who seem to act differently depending on the setting they're in? They might put on a show of authority in a group meeting, or seem aloof when they don't wanna get involved with a team project, or gloat when they've had success just to make sure everyone is aware about it. When we first start as salespeople, we'll sometimes get advice from people saying that we need to be more outgoing, more aggressive, or extroverted and so on and so forth. Some may say that we need to have a personality of a salesperson. Well, what does that mean? I'm here to tell you no.

No, you don't need to change your style or your personality. You need to be yourself, be real and be authentic, because that's who you are. We all can improve our qualities and skills, but deep down we really can't change who we are without risking being a phony. For me, being authentic boils down to three things, vulnerability, character, and transparency. There have been many articles and some terrific books written about being authentic. In fact, I recommend you pick up a book and read more about the subject since I think it's so important in business and our personal lives.

Being authentic is just being who you are and not trying to change yourself based on who you're with or who you may be meeting. It's showing your positive skills, while at the same time not being afraid of letting others see your weaknesses, areas where you may need to improve, and even exhibiting a dose of vulnerability. All of this closely ties into your character which is what I feel is the true substance of being an individual. Being true to yourself, being real and authentic are not just qualities important to be a successful salesperson or business leader, but as an individual too.

Our character is how people perceive us, trust us, and want to work with us or be around us. There are many great quotes about character, but one of my favorites is from John Wooden who said, "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, "because your character is what you really are, "while your reputation is merely what others think you are." People who are authentic and real are admired for being transparent. Colleagues, peers, and customers don't have to worry about trying to figure out what open and authentic people are really saying.

They are respected and trusted to be honest and often referred to as people that are what you see is what you get. Isn't that much better than being a salesperson where people don't have any clue with who they're dealing with and question what you're really saying? As salespeople, we need to be transparent and real. If we're to be known as someone who's hard to figure out or people aren't sure if we're embellishing a statement or not, then we can run the risk of not being approachable, or worse yet, not trusted. Frankly, it gets too complicated.

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/prepare-yourself-for-a-career-in-sales/be-authentic