Detachment in sales is crucial for success because when you’re attached to closing a sale; what you think, how you feel, what you say, and your energy repels. When you’re detached from trying to close a sale, people know you’re there to help them, you’re authentically there to serve them and not for selfish needs.
Tale of the attached sales reps
The other day my partner and I went into a clothing store in London. Within 1 minute of stepping into the store, one of the sales reps asked, “can I help you”. “We’re just looking, thanks”. Less than 2 minutes later, another rep came and asked us what we’re looking for. Within 6 minutes all 4 sales reps approached us.
We love the clothes in that store, but we were so put off with the desperate energy we felt like leaving.
Sound familiar?
Clearly these sales reps are commission-based. They don’t care about you, they just care about getting you to ring something through the till with THEIR name on it.
They are attached to a goal, they are attached to their commission.
How detachment in sales will help you sell more
Looking back on my career, I know the times when I was focussed on trying to close or trying get the sale, the things I said and my energy repelled clients. But when i stopped worrying about targets, competition, or closing, that’s when I was most successful.
So when you are selling your products or services and you are attached to the goal, you are emitting that very same energy as the store sales reps. And clinging on to the need to close a deal and make money comes from a place of fear and insecurity. But when you are detached, you free yourself and you’re less likely to force solutions on to problems, instead you can listen for more inspiration.
Staying attached to goals and outcomes takes you away from the present moment.
- You’re not completely there
- You cannot completely serve your client if you’re fixed on an end-result
- You’re being “me” focussed
And people feel that energy. My partner and I could feel those sales people’s energy, their mouth was saying one thing, “can I help you?” but their energy was saying “I want you to buy something from ME so I can get MY commission”
Detachment in sales is important because you will face lot of rejection. For every 10 calls you make, 9 might reject you, and if you take it personally, you will feel lower and lower with each rejection. So staying detached you won’t take it personally, and this gives you the strength to keep going and give each call your full attention.
When you’re detached from trying to close a sale; what you think, how you feel, what you say, and your energy is different, and others can feel this.
When you’re detached from trying to close a sale, people know you’re there to help them, you’re authentically there to serve them and not for selfish needs.
This doesn’t mean you give up on your goal and intentions, not at all. You simply give up your attachment to the result. Instead, focussing on giving your full attention to serve.
How do you detach?
When you are present, that is, not thinking about other things or worrying about targets, present is when you’re there, fully, wherever you are. It doesn’t mean you have to sit in a quiet spot and wear robes, it just means you don’t get stuck to thoughts and let them carry you on a roller-coaster of emotions!
1. Ask yourself: What am i thinking? Asking this question helps you become mindful of your thoughts, and therefore detach from them.
2. Take a conscious breath: when you listen to yourself breathing, it creates a break in the stream of thoughts. You can do this during your meeting or calls with clients.
Tweetable:
When you’re attached to the result you’re repelling; when you’re detached from the result you’re compelling – @Mindful_sales
More?
Listen to this short podcast on how to do mindful cold calling.
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