Being a successful salesperson is not easy. You get to meet all sorts of people and need to indulge all of them in order to seal the deal. Each client represents a different project, which demands careful analysis and thorough preparation.

But there are certain features common to all sales professionals. The best agents have a full bag of tricks and don’t hesitate to use it in negotiations. If you want to become a better salesman, you need to understand and develop the corresponding qualities. In this article, we will show you 13 traits every salesperson hero possesses.

13 Qualities of a Highly Successful Sales Agent

Business experts at Aussie writing service believe that sales proficiency is a combination of several different factors. According to them, it’s not enough to possess two or three qualities but a full scope of traits to succeed in the sales business. But what exactly are these traits? We will reveal 13 most important qualities here.

• Confidence

Serious sales agents are confident and self-assured. They are not afraid of new challenges and look at job duties as opportunities, not problems. They possess enough knowledge and the ability to negotiate even with the pickiest clients.

• They learn quickly

Perhaps it sounds unusual but you would be surprised to know that many sales representatives don’t learn very quickly or just don’t want to do their homework. On the other hand, the best sales professionals are eager to learn more every day because they know that knowledge is what makes them better. Even more, high-performing sales organizations are twice as likely to provide ongoing training as low-performing ones.

This is especially important in industries where new products emerge every once in a while (who said information technologies?). In such circumstances, it is crucial to show intelligence and willingness to keep learning. And clients will notice it – they will always discover your knowledge but you won’t be able to hide ignorance, either.

• Focus

Although they are often multitasking machines, sales representatives are extremely focused when it comes to client relations. They listen carefully and remember the specifics, knowing that even the smallest details can boost negotiations. They are eager to help customers and don’t start another job before completing the present one. Clients love this virtue because it makes them feel respected and appreciated.

• Extroverts

It’s hard to imagine superb salesman being an introvert. This job requires excellent communication skills and sociable characters that enjoy establishing new private and professional connections. Of course, not everything is black and white here. You also need to make the right balance between being open-minded and pushy. Try to act in a friendly manner but always keep in mind that you can chase away the client in case they realize you are being too salesy.

• Empathy

Empathy is the action of understanding and being aware of the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another person. This is exactly what good sales agents do well. As the matter of fact, hero salespersons are the champions of empathy. They can identify with clients and detect their needs, problems, or desires, which usually helps them to make the purchase agreement.

• Funny

Starting a conversation with new clients is often the most difficult stage of the sales process. But if you are a funny type of person, you can break the ice with a nice story or even a joke. This is not mandatory but the most efficient salespersons know exactly when it’s the right time to tell something funny to make the conversation more relaxed.

• Responsibility

Superstar sales agents are trustworthy individuals who take responsibility for their actions. They always get things done and don’t blame other colleagues for potential mistakes. They don’t make excuses and accept critics as something that helps them to evolve and become even better at what they do. For this reason, both clients and employers love good salesmen and enjoy working with them.

• Optimistic

If you really believe you can do something, you will get it done eventually. This is ancientmotto but it remains true in all areas of life and business, including sales. Optimism is the art of positive thinking and it gives you the energy to endure even if the situation seems hopeless. Optimism leads to persistence, which is very important bearing in mind that over 80% of sales require 5 follow-up calls after the meeting. Pessimists would never try so hard to seal the deal.

• Competitive

Most sales agents are positively egocentric and result-driven. They like to compete with other colleagues as it gives them one more motive to increase sales. Such individuals enjoy working and get the feeling of self-fulfillment every time they learn that they achieved the best results in the team. They don’t avoid obstacles – they overcome them.

• Well-educated

Only the most capable sales representatives are able to engage in conversations about all kinds of topics. They turn formal education into the huge advantage as it enables them to discuss everything from business and marketing to science and art. This is very helpful if you have to build stronger connections with a client before making the final agreement on cooperation.

• Honesty

Although their job is to sell all sorts of products or services, high-performing sales agents will never lie to their buyers. They want to maintain healthy relations with their customers in the long run, so they don’t mess around with potential purchasers. Instead, they are being honest about the shortcomings of the brand they represent.

According to the research, more than 70% of purchasing decisions are made to solve a specific problem. The best salesmen know this and they tell clients whether the product can solve the problem or not. If not, they recommend something else. In such case, honesty doesn’t interfere with their job. On the contrary, it helps them to secure the purchase.

• Storytelling

As open-minded and honest professionals, salespersons need excellent storytelling abilities. They don’t only talk about technical specifications of products or services. On the contrary, they also explain how these items makeclients’ life easier or more comfortable. It’s almost as if you are able to feel the product before buying it, which really thrills an average customer.

• They build portfolio

The best salesmen are not shy about asking their clients for a recommendation or referral. They build a professional portfolio and note the biggest career achievements. Being ambitious, sales agents know this sort of information can help them advance and make the next step in their careers, so they go for it directly.

Conclusion

If you want to become a superstar salesman, you have to invest a lot of time and efforts in self-improvement. It is necessary to understand and build a full set of qualities to be able to negotiate even with the most demanding clients.