Salespeople have a lot of pressure at work, so they are not foreigners to stress. Stress is known to cause issues if left unmanaged. It can cause mental and physical problems, especially if it continues for an extended period of time. Some adverse effects can be depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and heart disease. People who work in sales are often expected to have a positive attitude and outlook while being faced with strict sales quotas. Because of the daily pressures of the job, the sales team at any company must learn to deal with the daily stressors that come with the job. Not only is it essential for employees to manage their stress, but it is also vital for businesses to focus energy on it as well. According to the American Institute of Stress, absenteeism due to stress costs large employers nearly $3.5 million annually. Here are some ways to help manage the stress that comes with being a salesperson.
Accept What You Can’t Control
It is easy for anyone to get worked up over a frustrating situation. Salespeople know how stress-inducing it can be to work so hard on a sales pitch only for the potential client to go with a competitor. Sometimes the outcome these kinds of situations were never in your control, to begin with. Learning to let go of what you cannot control is a great way to reduce your stress, especially for a salesperson.
Check and Alter Your Own Habits
Sometimes it’s easy to forget just how much your daily habits affect your health. Stress can worsen when you are not taking care of yourself. Salespeople often work long hours to ensure that a deal goes through and that they have new potential clients in their pipeline. To keep your stress levels more in balance, you should make sure that you get 8 hours of sleep and keep up a regular exercise routine. During your workday, be sure to take moments to stretch and breathe. Maybe take a walk during your lunch break or remember to stand every hour.
Make Stress Management a Team Effort
If you know that you are very stressed in your role as a salesperson, chances are the other people on your team are stressed as well. A great way to maintain these stress-reducing habits is to employ the help of your team. It is helpful to be able to confide in other sales reps about demanding clients or a tricky situation. Making it a goal to collectively reduce stress levels will help individuals and the company as a whole.