You'll notice we speak of sales as service, and service as sales in a singular voice and dependent on the other. You see the best salespeople are the ones that understand that they are in the service of others. Similarly, those that are experts in the service industry have the innate attributes to excel in the sales field. The talents and personalities are strongly similar, and you will see quickly the glaring correlation in the way each conducts business.

Let me explain.

If you have ever been to a restaurant and gotten fantastic service, more than likely the server was doing everything they could to make your stay enjoyable. They had energy, commitment, and a desire to serve and made you feel like you wanted to come back again, right? They literally closed the deal and probably talked you in to a delicious piece of pie and a cup of coffee didn't they? That is in a sense selling, and wouldn't you agree that those attributes would be enjoyable to you as a buyer of a car, truck or TV? You see people who excel in serving, will probably excel in sales, and those natural innate talents are glaring when you start to see the similarities.

Conversely, let's look at a salesperson that sells computers and has natural and innate skills like the restaurant server. They followed up with you based on your initial interest, they asked caring and probing questions, they we're polite, honest and energetic and you liked them. You probably bought that computer, an upgraded mouse pad and a 23" monitor. Would this person excel in the service industry? I think so, and for sure they would have sold you the pie and coffee. Again, the innate talents of an individual in sales will be similar to someone in service. And understanding these natural talents will help you understand that thinking of each group as one in the same will be an excellent start for your teams redevelopment.

Whether you're in the retail business, restaurant ownership or leading a multi-million dollar sales organization, we all have the same desire...success! We want growth through profitability, and are continually looking for ways to nurture that attitude and find the hidden secretes to success. Look no further, as we mentioned in the first paragraph, your reasons for not achieving the desired results may be right in front of you.