Actions lie louder than words.

- Carolyn Wells

ave you ever been on the receiving end of a disgruntled driver's "sign language"? Offensive as it was, you probably knew just what that driver was thinking. The driver's actions and opinions were perfectly aligned.

Are your everyday actions in sync with what you believe? It's worth taking some time to examine this.

Let's be clear. I'm not advocating telling off your superior or ranting to a client, but sometimes sales professionals focus on how they should act rather than convey how they truly feel. They intend to please others, but many times the opposite occurs: They end up hurting both themselves and their clients.

For example, are you going about your day with a smile on your face and acting as though you are completely satisfied with your job when, in truth, you are secretly frustrated with your current responsibilities?

Chances are you aren't fooling anyone. It's more likely that the quality of your work is declining noticeably because you are not fully motivated to accomplish your duties. Wouldn't it be better to take action by discussing your circumstances with your boss or human resources department and identifying ways to improve the situation?

Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed by your client load, yet you refuse offers of help for fear of appearing incompetent. If others want to come to your aid, it may be more obvious than you've been able to admit that you're in over your head. Wouldn't it be wise to accept the help, form partnerships with your peers and serve your clients better?

If you suspect your actions are not conveying your true feelings and opinions, ask yourself the following questions:

• Has my current behavior made the situation better?
• Who am I helping by acting this way?
• What am I avoiding?
• Who am I trying to protect?
• What would happen if I lived honestly?

You're likely to find that while you are trying to protect yourself and help others, you are actually helping no one and possibly making the situation worse. For instance, if you don't believe what your sales materials say about your products, potential clients will know you are insincere when you make presentations.

Your customers know the difference between people who truly believe in what they're doing and people who say things simply because they think they should. This scenario puts you and your company at an extreme disadvantage.

Acting in opposition to your feelings and beliefs can affect other areas of your life as well. Not only will you have more difficulty attaining goals, you may begin to believe you have no power to shape your career or life.

Alternatively, when your actions are aligned with your values and beliefs, you can accomplish great things. You know what you want and how you feel. You are able to clearly communicate those beliefs to others. You are able to decrease the likelihood of misunderstandings. And you are able to serve both your clients and yourself to the best of your ability.