3 Reasons Why Sales Professionals Need A Life Coach
According to some experts, a whopping 50% of people working in the sales profession will be looking for new jobs in 2020. If you’ve been struggling to find success as a sales professional, you may want to consider enlisting the help of a life coach. Read on to learn why it's so important for those in sales to have the guidance and expertise of an outside expert.
Sales professionals often view themselves as their own best advocates. As such, they try their best to stay focused and energetic even when things are going poorly at work or when life throws other issues at them.
Yet, no matter how hard they try, sales professionals can’t always seem to make the right decisions. In fact, according to a survey done by The Sales Coach Institute , some 87% of sales professionals say they are not confident in their decision making abilities.
Of course, it’s perfectly natural for new or experienced sales professionals to feel uncertain about their ability to make the right calls. They may even feel inept at times – even though they know that intuition is important in their profession. After all, intuition guides them as they try to make sales.
At the same time, however, sales professionals may feel overwhelmed by the whole process. After all, selling is a high-pressure role that demands tremendous attention to detail and a sharp awareness of the bigger picture. As such, it’s easy for sales professionals to get lost in their work and forget about life outside of their business world.
Of course, it’s easy for new and experienced sales professionals alike to lose track of what else there is in life outside of selling . This can lead them to feel ashamed about themselves or their work – even though they know that feeling shame isn’t a great thing for business leaders.
"We know that most people are not living the life they want and that a majority of individuals in society are not living up to their greatest potential. We know that shame is a major component of this problem." - Brene Brown
Shame is a destructive emotion, and it can negatively impact those in all aspects of the selling profession. As such, sales professionals must be careful to avoid being overcome with negative feelings on a regular basis. At the same time, they must learn how to manage these emotions so they don’t undermine their success as business leaders.
Fortunately, life coaches can help guide business owners through mental blocks and emotional struggles. In fact, many business professionals count on their life coaches for practical wisdom and for emotional support.
According to research done by The Sales Coach Institute , some 85% of sales professionals consider themselves to be in need of a life coach. This includes 54% of those who work in entry-level sales positions – even though the number is lower than some other professions.
At the same time, 63% of those surveyed say they are already working with a life coach – which means that they’re already aware that they need help overcoming these challenges. Still, it's important for new and experienced sales professionals alike to take advantage of all the coaching options available to them.
A life coach is a valuable asset to any sales professional who wants to have the right mental tools for their job. At the same time, there are plenty of other ways for sales professionals to get perspective and support when the going gets tough.
Social Media, Meetings, and Self-Improvement programs can all help address some of these mental issues. After all, it's possible to overwork oneself without realizing it. Since many people in sales were raised in an environment where being busy was a good thing , they may be working themselves into exhaustion at times.
Of course, this can also be dangerous on occasion – as 40% of employees reported feeling burned out . Even if you're not burned out, exhaustion or fatigue can take its toll on your personal and professional life. With all of this in mind, it's important for new and experienced sales professionals alike to do what they can to get help when needed.
In this case, getting help from a life coach is a good thing . At the same time, however, all sales professionals need to remember that there are plenty of other stress factors people in all professions face. Even if your sales team feels like they need a life coach , you shouldn't feel pressured into doing so.
Since most professionals are already aware of the need for additional support it's up to most sales professionals to initiate some sort of change within their careers . Of course, it's up to each individual to determine what kind of change will work best for their needs .
"Every profession has a high risk of burnout. The difference is that many people don't know it, or feel overworked and beaten down. No matter how good the job feels...it doesn't have to be this way." - Brene Brown
If you're in sales, however, you may want to take things one step further. In fact, you may want to consider seeking help from a life coach – especially if you struggle with making the right decisions.