Introverts make Great Salespeople

I know telling you that introverts make great salespeople might surprise you.  You may even think, “Lauri, you have really gone off the deep end with this one”.  Maybe, but I speak from experience.  

How many times have you encountered a super extrovert sales person telling you all the great things about their product and service and not once do they ask you a question about you or what you are looking for?  They dive right in for the sale, and when you say no, they get this completely surprised face, like they can’t believe you just said no to them.  

Being an Introvert – My Story

I have been in the business of selling a product, service, and opportunity for well over twenty  years, and I have found that introverts can make some of the best salespeople.

When I first started in sales, I was terrified.  I am not only an introvert, but back when I first started in sales, you could easily say I was an extreme introvert.  I was a master of invisibility and avoiding any type of conversation with anyone.

When I first started working in Network Marketing, my first eight months were a disaster.  I really just sucked at it.  I would follow people around trying to get the courage up to hand them my card, then chicken out because I just knew that they knew I had been stalking them for the last half hour.  But, I finally figured it out.

Treat everyone like they have a sign around their neck that says, “Make me feel special”. ~Mary Kay

I finally started booking some appointments and found that once I had a chance to get to know someone, I could really sell.  I found that being an introvert was a great asset to me.  It was an asset because I really knew how to listen.  I was okay with silence, while someone thought about what they wanted to purchase or how they wanted to purchase it.

I was really good at asking questions to find out about the person I was talking to.  I had gotten really good at asking questions, because it allowed me to divert the attention away from me.  I had no idea that this would be a skill that would really benefit me one day.

Listening is the Key

Introverts tend to be great listeners.  They hear what you have to say and ask great questions.  They are okay with silence while you figure out what you want to purchase or how you want to purchase it.

I know the perception is that you have to be an extrovert to be good at sales.  But I know for a fact that introverts can be great at sales, too!

If you are an introvert, yes, it is a little more challenging to be seen and talk about yourself.  Ultimately sales is about having a conversation with another person and really finding out about that person and how your product, service, or opportunity can help them get what they really want.

You, as an introvert, may have to learn things that don’t come naturally to you, but so do extroverts.  As an introvert, you have great listening skills.  You ask great questions and get to know whom you are talking to.  The person you are talking to feels heard and understood, which is one of the most important skills in getting people to say “YES, I want to work with you”.

My Challenge to You

So, I call all introverts to go out, be bold, build relationships by listening, and really understanding where your future clients and customers are coming from.  This is your secret weapon in building your business!

You don’t have to be an extrovert to get people to say “YES, I want to work with you”!