| Written
by: Marcella
McMahon
As
I read an article from a Continental
Airlines Magazine (The Technovangelist,
by Kevin Markey) about Philips
Components which is the worlds largest
supplier of drives,
subassemblies and components for TV and is
number one in LCD screens and screens for
handheld devices like the one I am typing on
right now, I am struck by the large print
question this company asks itself, "What
do we have to do to become better?"
Philips has actually created an entire
internal learning organization, which keeps
asking that question of itself as a company.
|
 |
How many of us ask ourselves “What do I do
to become better?” in our own lives,
personal or professional. Look at your
company, do they ask what it is that they can
do better? Or if you are a manager, how often
do you stop to reassess what it is you can do
better? Or how you can help your staff to do
better?
What does it take to be the best?
Being the best takes:
1. Self Assessment
2. Group Assessment
3. Utter Honesty
4. Ability to Handle Criticism Appropriately
5. Perpetual Search for Growth
These steps work for anyone in any aspect of
life, be it personal, family, spiritual,
physical, or business. Since this is a Sales
Newsletter – let’s focus on business life.
Self Assessment
Take a look at where you are in your career.
Good Questions to Ask Your Self:
· Am I where I want to be?
· Where do I need to grow?
· The one thing I would change about my work
is…
Now you have some areas you might change. Take
for example, one of my clients who made this
common statement, “I want to grow my
earnings.”
You’ve heard the statement, “Think outside
the box.” That’s what I want you to do
next. Whatever your issue, don’t think along
conventional lines.
So take increasing your earnings and think
outside the normal and use brainstorming
techniques, which means no criticizing ideas
at this point (see archive articles
Brainstorming).
Some ideas on increasing earnings for a
commissionable position may include:
· Self-Marketing and Networking – How can I
increase my customer base? In turn will
increase my revenue.
· Treating my job as self-employment –
Since sales is commission based the more sales
I make the more earnings I acquire. Maybe I
could hire an assistant to help me accomplish
more in a day. Maybe I could develop an email
marketing campaign and drive sales directly to
me. Or maybe I could…
Group Assessment
Assess your group means: analyze whom you
group yourself with:
· Which company do you choose to work for
· What type of sales team you have
· Who you hang around
Those directly around us affect our beliefs
about ourselves and motivate us to greatness
or hold us back. Do your surrounding entities
have the qualities you strive for? If not, why
are you choosing this group or organization?
Making your company better and your group
better will only make you better in the long
run.
The truth is when your parents said, “You
are who you hang around” they were giving
you excellent advice.
Utter Honesty
It takes a strong self-esteem to handle
self-honesty as well as honesty from others.
I recommend asking trusted allies to assess
your strengths and weaknesses. If you have
trouble taking in advice, I highly recommend
reading some self-help books on self-esteem.
My personal favorite is Pia Mellody’s Facing
Codependence (the title is quite deceiving).
It takes vulnerability to be open to learn and
grow. And as crazy as it may sound,
vulnerability actually takes strength of
character.
Ability to Handle Criticism
Take it in stride. Criticism can be a tool of
growth. ”How?” you ask. By using the FLACK
method.
1. Forget who the criticizing is coming from
2. Listen to what is being said
3. Assess what is true and what is not
(Sometimes it is more about the person doing
the criticizing, but see if you find any truth
about the criticism in your heart)
4. Change the negative behavior
5. Know that you will have to fight the old
negative behavior for a long time before the
new behavior is easy habit
Fight Criticism with FLACK!
Perpetual Search for Growth
A perpetual search for growth is absolutely
necessary to BEING THE BEST. When searching
ask yourself, “What do I need to do to make
myself better?” “What do I need to do to
make my company better?” “What do I need
to do to make the world better?”
Use a journal to track your growth. Write in
it at least once per week. Write about where
you want to go – plot your course and
you’ll get there. Then review your journal
monthly to see how far you’ve come. I make
this guarantee…you will be surprised!
Keep searching and growing.
“If you don't keep moving forward, the world
will. Stand still for a moment and the world
will continue to pass you by.
For to truly move ahead of the pack, your pace
must be twice as fast.”
Let’s Make A Difference!
Sincerely,
Marcella McMahon, COO
Phone: 800-926-5953
mailto:marcella_sells@yahoo.com
http://www.PositiveResults.com
SUBSCRIBE TO: Sales Executive News at http://www.positiveresults.com/sen
Marcella McMahon is a professional speaker,
entrepreneur, business consultant,
motivational coach, counselor and COO of
Positive Results. Her presentations are right
on. She coaches many entrepreneurs to success
and loves instructing. She gives her time
freely to the non-profit organization
“Junior Achievement” teaching the youth of
America to be entrepreneurial and understand
business’ role in free enterprise.
(c) 2001 by Positive Results, The text of this
publication and parts thereof may not be
reproduced without the written permission of
the author.
|
