Sales performance begins with having a great sales leader. You are the leader of your business whether you operate a one-person consulting firm, a retail store with several staff or a manufacturing business employing many people. The following 10 qualities have been identified again and again as essential to successful sales in any business.

Have a Growth Mindset

Successful sales leaders (and business owners) have a growth mindset. They know what they want to accomplish and plan their approach, using goals that are specific and achievable.

Invest in Yourself

Top salespeople are continually investing in themselves. They make sure they have the tools that will support their performance such as software to effectively manage their database, sales training, and memberships in business organizations where they can network with prospects.

Persistency and Consistency

It takes drive and determination to start a business, and these same qualities are essential to being a great salesperson. In the face of constant obstacles that entrepreneurs inevitably face, how your handle these barriers will determine your level of success

Listen and Ask

The best salespeople never lose sight of the customer’s goals, objectives, concerns and hesitations. In fact, standout salespeople not only meet the standard that satisfies their customers, but they also set out to exceed those standards and often succeed in delighting their customers.

Be Passionate! Share Your Excitement

The more passionate you are about your business the more likely you are to succeed. This is simply because when you love what you do you are going to put more effort into your work. We all want to be around people with positive energy and we tend to buy from people we like.

Be Responsible and Courageous

It takes courage to move forward and make cold calls even in the best economy. Do not hesitate to pick up the phone.

Work Hard

Top performers work hard – there’s no way around it. While quantity and volume of activity aren’t everything, it has consistently proven to be a common factor in the behaviour of successful salespeople.

Stay in Touch

Stay in contact with your customers in order to retain them. Successful salespeople send thank-you cards, birthday greetings and anniversary cards to their clients. They are constantly looking for new and creative ways to keep their name top-of-mind with their customers.

Demonstrate Value

In today’s highly competitive business world, the value customers associate with a product or service may be the most important reason they buy – in fact, perceived value is often a greater motivator than price. It’s about focusing on how it will benefit your prospect specifically, and presenting the features and benefits in terms your prospect will understand.

Stay Committed to Growth

Successful salespeople – and small business owners – are in for the long haul. And they are always looking for a better way to reach their goals by improving their approach and honing their sales techniques.