Many people are under the illusion that all they need to do for a great career is get qualified in their area of interest, apply for jobs, then work later and work harder. This is a great beginning, but if you want to move ahead of the pack into bigger and better things, you need to go the extra mile in a different direction.
The two most important skills that people lack are communication and sales skills. Many of us believe that sales skills are only required for sales roles. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have to sell ourselves everyday: when we go for interviews, when we try to get our ideas across to our boss or other managers, ask for a pay rise, when we deal with clients or with other internal staff. Every time we want something done we have to sell our idea, or sell the urgency of the matter so the desired response is achieved. We are always selling, whether we realize it or not, whether we want to or not, and whether we are good at it or not.
If you've ever wondered why some less experienced people are on the fast track to success, and you are more skilled but being left behind, think about it. Unless you are wearing your CV on your chest, most people you deal with don't know every aspect of your experience and qualifications, they only know what they see and hear from you as you stand before them. It is your communication and sales skills that will make you stand out from the competition. In meetings with staff, a boss, or clients, a person with superior sales skills will usually win over everyone because they know how to sell both themselves and their information or ideas. Another person who is technically more skilled or knowledgeable but lacks sales skills may present in a less effective way, with ultimately a less successful result.
Regardless of what your career path is, excellent sales skills can be the difference between a highly successful or a mediocre career. Be one step ahead, learn sales skills to really enhance your career prospects in any job or industry. There are many excellent books and short courses available on the subject. So learn and leap!
By Tracey Winning
Australian Correspondence Schools