The Green Sheet Online Edition
August 8, 2024 • 24:08:01
Embrace authenticity
Did you know it’s common for sales professionals to focus on how they should behave rather than expressing their true feelings? This often leads to pleasing others superficially while harming themselves and their clients in the long run.
Consider whether you go through your day with a smile, pretending to be satisfied with your company's new platform, customer support or other aspects of your work when in reality, you are frustrated. If this sounds familiar, you likely aren't fooling anyone. The quality of your work may be declining because you lack the motivation to perform your duties.
Look into yourself
If you suspect a disconnect between your actions and true feelings, consider these questions:
- Has my current behavior improved the situation?
- Who benefits from my actions?
- What am I avoiding?
- Who am I trying to protect?
- What would happen if I lived authentically?
In bringing your issues to light, you may find that trying to protect yourself or others isn't actually helping anyone and might be worsening the situation. For example, if you don’t believe in your sales materials, potential clients will sense your insincerity during presentations. This can erode trust and damage your professional reputation.
Customers can distinguish between those who genuinely believe in their work and those who speak out of obligation. This insincerity puts you and your company at a disadvantage. Communicate with your peers Instead of pretending all is well when you have unvoiced concerns, talk with your colleagues and explore ways to improve the situation. Embracing this type of collaboration and strengthening your partnerships with peers can not only create a better working environment, but it can also dramatically enhance your service to clients.
Authenticity in your interactions builds trust and fosters long-term relationships with clients. When your actions align with your values and beliefs, you can achieve remarkable things. You understand your desires and emotions, communicate them clearly and reduce misunderstandings.
This alignment allows you to serve both your clients and yourself effectively. When you are authentic, you are paving the way for sustained success and happiness. 
Whether you want to upgrade your POS offerings, find a payment gateway partner, bone up on fintech regs or PCI requirements, find an upcoming trade show, read about faster payments, or discover the latest innovations in merchant acquiring, The Green Sheet is the resource for you. Since 1983, we've helped empower and connect payments professionals, starting with the merchant level salespeople who bring tailored payment acceptance and digital commerce tools, along with a host of other business services to merchants across the globe. The Green Sheet Inc. is also a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals.
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