How to Manage Stress in a Sales Job
More than any other profession out there, a job in sales can be extremely stressful. With the delicate and sometimes volatile nature of dealing with clients, plus the pressure of meeting weekly or monthly goals, the stress of a sales job can negatively impact your life both professionally and personally. It can even take a toll on your physical and psychological health, with research showing that individuals suffering from stress are more likely to shut down and use automated responses instead of genuinely engaging with clients, or worse yet, convince themselves that reaching their goal is impossible. In a sales job, confidence is everything, and without it, your performance is sure to decline. In order to keep that from happening, try some of these techniques to reduce stress and make your job more pleasant.
Take Breaks Often
Breaks are an essential tool for combatting stress in a sales job, and this is why taking them often throughout the day is important. If you can get your mind off of your work altogether for a bit, you will return with a sharper sense of focus and a desire to accomplish more. Whether you go take a short walk, do some deep breathing exercises, chat with a co-worker (about something other than work!), listen to music or read an article, take some time to do something that will relax you so you come back feeling invigorated. And don’t forget the importance of taking a vacation every so often, as getting away even for a short while will help you unwind and recharge.
Keep Growing
It is in your sales manager’s best interest that you achieve success and with that in mind, remember they are there to help guide you and can answer questions as they come up. While it may feel like you’ll never reach the same level some of your co-workers are at, keep in mind that sales jobs take dedication and time, so talk with them and see which tactics have helped them to triumph or successfully handle their own stress. Attending seminars or taking classes can also help gain insight into the art of selling. Realize you are not alone; each and every person working in sales has endured stress and pressure, likely on a regular basis. Learn from your mistakes, keep experimenting with methods until you find some that work for you and keep going, because in time, you will find success.
Handle Failure Well
Rejection is unfortunately part of the game in sales jobs and can become a paralyzing problem if you let it. Dwelling on failures will only make it more difficult to close future sales, so do your best to learn from the experience and move on. If you know you have done your best and still couldn’t close the sale, realize the situation was out of your hands. Of course, there is always room for improvement, so alter your pitching or closing techniques if needed, but learn to let go of the negative emotions that can wreak havoc on your sanity and ability to perform.
These tips on sales jobs certainly won’t keep stress from entering your life, but they may just change the way you react and can hopefully give you some perspective. Happy selling!