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Rejection is part of life. And especially salespeople encounter rejection frequently, but it's not always easy to handle. During my studies in persuasion sciences, I learned how thoughts can affect people's behavior. Curious about why rejection can be tough to deal with, I did some research. The study by DeWall and his team in 2010 provides some insight on this. Participants were given a painkiller or a placebo and placed in situations where they felt excluded. The painkiller group felt less hurt over time. Eisenberger and Lieberman's 2004 study found that the brain regions responding to physical pain also respond to social rejection. This actually means that rejection can literally hurt the brain. These studies show that feeling hurt after being rejected can be a totally normal reaction.
Don’t take it personal While it may sound cliché, it's important to remember that when a prospect says no, it's not a personal attack. It's more likely that they're declining the product or service you're offering, or it's not the right time for them. It's important to separate our personal identity from the rejection and remember that it's just part of the sales process. By not taking rejection personally, we can maintain a positive attitude and keep moving forward towards the next opportunity.
Keep a positive attitude
A positive attitude not only keeps you motivated, but it can also impact your interactions with potential customers. People are naturally drawn to those who show positivity and enthusiasm. Setting goals is a great way to maintain a positive attitude in sales. Dr. Heidi Halvorson, author of the book "Succeed," emphasizes that having clear goals can significantly impact your attitude. Writing out your annual goals and keeping them visible can help keep you motivated to achieve them. Additionally, breaking down these goals into smaller, achievable steps can make them feel more manageable and help keep you on track
Learn from it
In sales, trial and error is just a part of the game. It's important to sometimes take a step back and reflect on your sales process from start to finish. This means analyzing every step, from reaching out to potential customers to closing the sale, and finding ways to improve. Don't let rejection get you down - in fact, it can be a great opportunity to improve your skills. Sales is something that takes time and practice to get really good at, so every rejection is a chance to learn and grow. Over time, you'll become more comfortable with rejection, and you can use the feedback you receive from peers, mentors, or books to become better and better. Don't give up - keep learning and growing, and you'll find success in dealing with rejections and in sales.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while rejection can be tough to handle, it's important to remember that it's not a personal attack and to maintain a positive attitude. Each rejection is an opportunity to improve and refine your sales approach, and with time and practice, you'll become more comfortable with it. Rejection will always be part of the sales process and you can use it as a chance to grow and learn. By setting clear goals and analyzing your sales process, you can continue to improve and achieve success in sales. The most successful salespeople have likely faced more rejection than anyone else - it's how they handle it that sets them apart. So keep pushing forward, stay positive, and don't give up. The more you learn and grow from rejection, the closer you'll get to achieving your sales goals.