The Sales Power of the Introvert
OKTOBERFEST SOFT PRETZELS
Inspired by Tasty.co
• 1 1/2 cups warm water • 1 tbsp salt • 1 tbsp sugar • 1 packet active dry yeast INGREDIENTS
• 4 1/2 cups flour • 3 tbsp oil, divided • 2/3 cup baking soda • 2 eggs, beaten • Coarse salt, for sprinkling
When we think of careers suited for extroverts, sales often springs to mind. After all, nothing could be more exhausting to an introvert than having to talk to dozens of people every day. However, a surprising study by the Harvard Business Review (HBR) disputes this belief. And there are many introverts within the financing industry that prove it’s not always the extrovert who makes the sale! The HBR reports that being an extrovert had no impact on a salesperson’s ability to sell; in fact, some of the negative qualities of being an extrovert, such as bravado and overt friendliness, are more likely to alienate customers. On the flip side, humility and modesty were two traits possessed by those who were 90% better than other sales people in their company. Interestingly, these traits often accompany an introverted personality. As Entrepreneur.com reports, being effective at sales does not require a profound skill for speaking with ease to a crowd. Instead, salespeople need to be great listeners . This attention to detail and attentiveness to their subject is often found in introverts.
DIRECTIONS
1. In a bowl, combine water, salt, and sugar. Add yeast and let rest for 5 minutes. Add flour and 2 tbsp oil, then mix thoroughly into a dough. 2. Remove the dough from the bowl. Coat bowl with remaining oil, then return the dough, cover with plastic wrap, and set it aside in a warm place for 1 hour. 3. Preheat oven to 450 F. 4. Cut dough into 8 pieces. Roll them into thin ropes, then twist ropes into pretzel shapes. 5. In a large pot, boil water. Add baking soda, then boil each pretzel for 1 minute, flipping halfway through. 6. Transfer pretzels to a baking sheet. Brush them with egg and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 10–15 minutes. Enjoy!
Take a Break
Now, that doesn’t make extroverts bad at sales. At CHB, we have learned that having a diverse team of people, whose traits vary and strengthen others on the team, makes for a powerful group of employees. So, consider the ways you can harness the power of an introvert by doing the following: 1. Establish Trust: Introverts have a powerful ability to connect one-on-one with whomever they are speaking to. They thrive on personal conversations wherein they can build a rapport with one or two other people. Doing this can make prospects feel safe and heard. 2. Ask Questions: A long spiel about a product or service is overwhelming, especially when the person providing it feels like a total stranger. Before launching into a pitch, an introverted salesperson knows to ask questions, begging the prospect to lead the conversation and push the salesperson into the appropriate action for a sale. 3. Keep It Relational: People remember stories. They want to hear stories of success and failures, often applying the lessons from those stories to their own lives. Introverts can captivate an audience — many introverts are also authors — so salespeople have to strike that balance between sharing stories and listening.
BLACK COSTUME GHOST HALLOWEEN
HAUNTED MOON MYSTERY ORANGE
PARTY PUMPKIN SHADOWS SPOOKY
For more guidance on how introverts can maximize a sales team, pick up Matthew Pollard’s book, “The Introvert’s Edge.”
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