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Education

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With Natasa Cvijanovic

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I am grateful for …

By Natasa Cvijanovic example of gratitude for your team to follow. When col-
Tesla Payments leagues appreciate one another, and when an attitude of
gratitude is the bedrock of a professional workplace cul-
efore you start daydreaming about cranberry ture, entire teams are elevated, and one person's success is
sauce and mashed potatoes, before the holi- the success of all. But what does it mean to truly express
days, the beginning of the new year and all gratitude beyond simply saying we are or engaging in
B the associated traditions that usher in a time acts of gratitude, and how can salespeople benefit from it?
of gratitude and relaxation, there is still work to be done. Remaining optimistic
As Thanksgiving approaches, it is only natural to reflect Most merchant level salespeople (MLSs) recognize that
on all the things for which one is thankful. Generally, selling is not always rainbows and sunshine. Merchants
expressions of gratitude are made within the context of will refuse to speak with you, you will be rejected and
close and personal relationships, such as friends or fami- ghosted, and promising sales leads will be derailed for
lies. But what about gratitude in your professional life? reasons beyond your control.
For example, what about your merchants, sales teams and
support teams? Have you thanked them recently? On days like that, it is easy to get angry and upset. How-
ever, allowing yourself to become consumed by a lost sale
Although gratitude can play a significant role in foster- or missed opportunity can leave you in a perpetual state
ing a positive and productive work environment, its role of gloom that doesn't benefit your future sales success.
in business is frequently overlooked. The words "busi- You can, however, make the most of even the most dif-
ness" and "gratitude" are rarely used together. ficult sales situations if you practice gratitude.

Expressing gratitude at work may be challenging. As pro- Even though you will always face challenges, you must
fessionals, we are conditioned to mask our vulnerabilities maintain a positive outlook and attitude because even
and emotions behind an air of confidence, decisiveness the most challenging circumstances can be turned into a
and unwavering patience. Showing these vulnerabilities chance for sales success if you cultivate a grateful attitude
and emotions at work can be viewed as a flaw. We can and keep an optimistic outlook.
shift the conversation and this flawed thought process,
but we will need those who have successfully implement- Appreciate failures
ed gratitude in leadership to set the example.
Recognize and learn from your failures and mistakes.
Even though fostering a culture of gratitude within your Gratitude as a response to setbacks is not the norm. None-
company may not be a priority yet, that doesn't mean it’s theless, learning from one's failures, mistakes and other
negative experiences is extremely valuable. Those who
too late to start now. There are many ways to use gratitude
in sales, ranging from being thankful to merchants to be- can overcome their initial disappointment over a lost sale
or missed opportunity are typically able to gain some
ing happier in your sales career. It enables more effective
selling, a more profound connection with merchants, and perspective and learn from the experience. These les-
sons learned are carried forward, making even the worst
the creation of a work environment where people want to
work. sales call experiences valuable because they provide the
knowledge and experience necessary to achieve future
successes.
If you want to instill this culture in your team, no matter
how big or small your team may be, you need to set an
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