During a group call last month with my Advanced Leadership members of the Direct Sales Virtual Academy, we were tackling the topic of phone-phobia. They were sharing the typical concerns about picking up the phone – they were afraid they were bothering people, they felt uncomfortable, etc. I asked them if there was ever a time when they felt comfortable picking up the phone to get orders or bookings. One of the members shared that in the past week, she'd had great success with both because she was promoting a charity event.
I asked her what the difference was. What was it that made her feel comfortable on those calls? She said normally, when she was making calls for her business, she felt selfish because she was asking them to do something to support her, that would put money in her pocket. With the calls for her charity event, however, it had been easy because the proceeds from that event were going to support a cause she believed in.
So, I asked her, what's wrong with believing in yourself at that same level? What if you believed that your business was a worthy cause and that the value you bring to your hosts and guests by offering your products and services was a gift? Would that change things for you?
She had a huge breakthrough. Her words to me: It's just a mindset shift. The calls are no different. I can choose to believe that I'm being selfish or choose to believe that I'm offering something of value. The reason for the call doesn't change!
So the simple mindset shift that might make picking up the phone easier for you? Think of your host as your charity event, and the benefits to her a gift. I think it's a brilliant idea. What about you?
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Julie Anne Jones is direct sales corporate consultant, coach, and trainer, and the CEO of Julie Anne Jones, Inc. She is known for her authentic and easy-to-use scripting and specializes in specific language and tools for success in direct sales. To learn more about Julie Anne and her products and services, and to read her weekly blog posts, visit her at www.julieannejones.com.
Thanks, Angela, and thanks for sharing. That’s a huge realization on your part and I’m sure you can break through it now that you’ve identified it. Good luck!
I'm reviewing many of your blogs and wanted to share what I discovered a couple of months back about my "mindset". The person I call the most is my mother. I speak with her nearly every day. However, EVERY time I call, she performs an amazing guilt trip on me describing how I've interrupted her, made her have to stop what she was doing or she will answer with a snarky attitude of some type because I didn't call or come by when she thought that I should. It has been a huge break through, coming to the realization that not everyone answers the telephone the way that my mother does! I am hoping to truly overcome this one single trauma that is holding back my creative bookings in 2012. Thank you, Julie, for all of your insight and encouragement!
Glad you liked it and that it helped, Linda.
Timely article. I have struggled with this after leaving a more catalog based direct sale biz and joining a home party plan biz. While I’ve never had a fear of the phone before I find myself not promoting my current biz like I should by making those all important calls. This article helps ALOT!
Thanks!