WHY I LIKE TO HIRE FORMER ATHLETES FOR SALES ROLES

When I have the chance to, I love to hire former high school or college athletes for sales positions I may have.  I have found that they have some great qualities that help them to become successful sales reps.  Let’s explore some of those traits now and see if the sales team that you have currently displays some of the same characteristics!
To be successful on the playing field, high performing athletes have all five of these traits in common:
Drive to be the best – athletes are great at setting goals and going for them!  They have a constant drive to be their best!  They look to find ways to improve season after season to help their team and themselves.  Great sales people have all the same qualities.  They set goals, they figure out an action plan to get there and they go for it!  They are always trying to figure out a better way to achieve the results they want.  They know they are part of a bigger team and when they perform well, it helps everyone around them!
Work ethic – great athletes are not afraid of hard work and to grind it out!  They understand that it takes hours of preparation to be able to perform at peak performance when needed to.  They set up a work out routine to put them in the best possible position to perform at their highest level when it’s game time!  Great sales people do the same!  They prepare for their calls with clients, new and old.  They understand that they must focus on what they can control, which is their preparation to be in the best possible position to close the opportunity.  They repeat the routine, week after week until they change their goals and strategy.
Teamwork – great athletes know that teamwork is critical for them to succeed.  Even when you watch individual sports like skiing or golf, they always comment on how special it is to play for and represent their country.  They know they need to be supportive of the folks around them and to push each other for greatness.  They understand that they all have a role that is important to help the greater good.  Great sales people are the same!  They understand that they need to work well with the other departments for them to succeed.  They understand that they need to support and work well with all the key people at their clients.  They understand that today’s dishwasher could be tomorrow’s Executive Chef!
Coachability – great athletes like to be and listen to their coaches.  They want feedback from their coaches, so they can improve and to perform better.  Great sales reps understand this too!  They listen more than they talk.  They seek out coaching and input from their managers and peers. They know they need an extra set of eyes to help them achieve their goals!
 
What does all this really mean for you, the business owner.  Let Sales Xceleration help you to assess your sales team.  Let us be that coach on the sideline providing feed back for improvement.  Let us use our years of experience in leading sales teams to drive a higher performance from your sales force.  We have proven practices and methods that allow sales teams to reach their potential!   Click on the link for a 5-minute sales assessment for free!  www.salesxceleration.com/take-sales-agility-assessment/?gf_advisor_slug=scott-yelle.