Christian salespeople have a special ministry in the Kingdom.  As they meet prospects and customers, they interact with a large and continuously growing group of people.  This gives them the opportunity to influence at a high level – to be salt and light to more people than most.

           Because they have often developed excellent people skills and self-management disciplines, they are often highly respected by the people who work in the businesses they represent. 

           They are well paid, and are often among the highest wage earners in their organization

           This higher degree of standing brings with it a higher level of responsibility. Particularly for a Christian salesperson, the greater degree of influence they wield calls for them to be more mindful and focused about their job.

           And that means striving for excellence.

           Your colleagues may be accepting of the status quo. From my experience, only one out of twenty salespeople has invested $25 of his own money on his own improvement. 

           That defines a huge opportunity for Christian salespeople. By deciding to  invest in yourself and pursue excellence you will separate yourself from your colleagues and increase the respect you receive from your customers, managers and coworkers. 

           Striving for excellence on the job is an ethical response to your position.  You employer hired you, not only for the skills you had, but also for your potential.  If you fail to develop yourself, you decrease your company’s return on their investment in you.

           Excellence in your job will bring greater influence as well. There is a relationship between excellence and influence.  Excellence produces influence, and influence calls for excellence.

           So, pursuing excellence in your job is a moral imperative as well as a practical strategy to stand out in your profession. Here’s what it looks like to pursue excellence in sales.

Five Christian Sales practices

1.  Invest in developing yourself.

           Regardless of the efforts of your company, regularly and methodically invest in improving your skills and competencies.  One of the things that I have always enjoyed about sales is the constant challenge to improve. You are never as good as you can be.

           Invest at least one hour a week, every week, devoted to reading the books, attending the webinars, listening to the podcasts, etc. that provide education, motivation and inspiration. 

           In the last century, James Allen observed: “Men are often interested in improving their circumstance, but are unwilling to improve themselves, they therefore remain bound.”

           Don’t let this apply to you.

           As you implement what you will learn, you will eventually rise to the top of your profession.

2.  Be timely with everything. 

           Be on time to meetings, get your paperwork in on time, show up for appointments a few minutes early.  Being late shows disrespect for the other people involved and diminishes your influence.

3.  Follow directions.

           There is a tendency in sales to think that the rules don’t apply to us. We become enamored with our own success and influence and believe we are above the rules and directions from our bosses.  Don’t succumb to this temptation.  Instead, be an example of someone who values management oversight and the policies and procedures the company has put in place.

4. Do everything with integrity

           Years ago, I discovered that integrity was both morally right, as well as good business.  It’s one place where faith intersects with good business.

           No promises you can’t keep, no exaggerations or omissions in conversations with customers, no short cuts in anything.

5.  Keep stewardship, top of mind.

           You are in a special place because God put you there.  Your job, your customers, your skills and abilities are gifts from God, temporarily loaned to you.  Keep that truth top of mind.

           Remember:

           Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are    serving. Colossians 3:23.

           As you grow excellent in your job, you’ll accrue even more influence.  Your light will shine in more dark spaces.

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Grab a tool to help you stay focused. Download a free copy of The Christian Salesperson’s Manifesto here.