The sales manager was fed up with the constant back and forth
between two of his best salesmen. So much so, that he decided he and
his two reps in question would join a monastery where silence and
meditation would encourage them to change their ways. This monastery
observed a strict code of silence, only one person per year was allowed
to speak. Any violators would be kicked out immediately. The sales
manager added, "If either of you get kicked out, I'll fire both of you
immediately!"
The first year passed, and the first salesman whose turn it was to speak, stood up and said, "I rather like the mashed potatoes around here, they're very tasty."
At the end of the second year, the second salesman stood up and said, "I don't like the mashed potatoes around here, they're too lumpy."
At the end of the third year, the sales manager stood up and said, "I'm leaving this monastery because nothing has changed. You two are still constantly bickering!"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that in order to succeed at sales you need to be able to get along with your co-workers. Your energy is needed to fight the competition, not one another. Constantly bickering can lead to one adopting a siege mentality, where you are constantly dug in and prepared to fight. Such thoughts lead to a stifling of creativity, reduced ambition and a huge decrease in job satisfaction. So in 2014, rather than criticize, empathize with those around you and mutually strategize on how to work together going forward. United, you will realize some major gains in your commission checks, making 2014 your best year yet.
"Fear not those who argue but those who dodge." - Dale Carnegie
The first year passed, and the first salesman whose turn it was to speak, stood up and said, "I rather like the mashed potatoes around here, they're very tasty."
At the end of the second year, the second salesman stood up and said, "I don't like the mashed potatoes around here, they're too lumpy."
At the end of the third year, the sales manager stood up and said, "I'm leaving this monastery because nothing has changed. You two are still constantly bickering!"
Moral of the story. True sales professionals know that in order to succeed at sales you need to be able to get along with your co-workers. Your energy is needed to fight the competition, not one another. Constantly bickering can lead to one adopting a siege mentality, where you are constantly dug in and prepared to fight. Such thoughts lead to a stifling of creativity, reduced ambition and a huge decrease in job satisfaction. So in 2014, rather than criticize, empathize with those around you and mutually strategize on how to work together going forward. United, you will realize some major gains in your commission checks, making 2014 your best year yet.
"Fear not those who argue but those who dodge." - Dale Carnegie
