I admit that I enjoy watching American Idol once the initial auditions are completed and they start narrowing down the number of contestants. Here are six reasons why sales people should watch this show and the lessons they can take away.
EVERY performance counts. Many think that this “next performance” is their most important one or that it’s okay to make a mistake because their previous performances have been good. However, in a competition like this, you seldom get a second chance. You are only as good as your last song or performance.
Every sales call is important, regardless of the dollar value to you or your company. A small sale must be treated with respect and importance because it can lead to a larger opportunity. Small sales give you the chance to refine and improve your approach so that when you are faced with a big opportunity, you will be better prepared.
Winning requires emotional strength. What’s also intriguing is the number of contestants who don’t have the necessary mental or emotional fortitude. It’s not uncommon to see emotional breakdowns and watch people choke under pressure. They often complain when they are cut but they fail to realize that it will only get tougher as the competition continues the emotional challenges will only intensify.
The world of sales is no different. It gets tougher every year. The competition becomes fiercer as time goes on. And it requires grit and determination to achieve long-term success.
You need more than natural talent. In addition to having talent, the people who progress through the competition are the ones who listen to the judges and incorporate their feedback into their subsequent performances. They work extremely hard at improving each and every performance which means they are much better performers at the end of the show than they when they first auditioned.
How hard do you work at developing your sales talent? Do you read books, attend webinars, workshops and conferences? And do you actually apply the concepts from those learning opportunities into your routine?
American Idol winners make good song choices. They choose songs that fit their voice and their ability. They know that the wrong song can make or break their chances of moving forward.
Are you selling a product or service that you believe in?
Willing to take a risk. Several of this year’s contestants chose songs that they had written and in every situation, they moved past the pack. Others put their own spin on an existing well-known song and this also helped them stand out from the crowd.
Put 100 percent effort. This ties in with the first point but it goes a bit deeper. It is critical to put 100 percent effort into every performance, every practise, and every song. One performer put so much effort into his performance he burst into tears afterwards—he left everything on the stage.
Do you put EVERYTHING into all of your sales calls, meetings and presentations? Are you emotionally drained at the end of a day?
If you watch this television show, what other sales lessons do you think it offers? Take a moment and add your comment.
