What does Artificial Intelligence (AI) say about sales? A lot. Some of it was obvious to anyone with sales experience. Yet the answers highlight what AI says for sales success.
What does AI say are sales challenges?
I asked ChatGPT a few different ways about the challenges that salespeople face and what they find difficult in selling.
Here’s what ChatGPT said salespeople dislike and find challenging:
- Rejection: Sales is a field where rejection is common. Salespeople often face numerous rejections before closing a deal. Constant rejection can be demotivating and impact their confidence.
- Pressure to Meet Targets: Sales targets are a constant source of stress for sales professionals. Meeting or exceeding targets is crucial for job security and advancement, but the pressure to perform can be overwhelming at times.
- Uncertainty and Instability: Sales can be unpredictable, with fluctuating market conditions, changing customer needs, and evolving competition. This uncertainty can create instability in income and job security, causing anxiety for salespeople.
I read the list and thought, “Well, duh.”
Who likes to be rejected? No one I know. Is there a job today without targets to meet? I don’t know of one. As for uncertainty, it seems to me that uncertainty is a feature of sales, not a bug. The idea that every day can be different is exciting. A Ground Hog’s Day existence for some salespeople and loss of control would be a prescription for depression.
What does AI say salespeople like about selling?
I asked ChatGPT what salespeople like about selling and this is what came out:
- Autonomy and Flexibility: Sales roles often offer a degree of autonomy and flexibility in how salespeople manage their time and approach their work. This freedom allows them to tailor their strategies to fit their strengths and preferences.
- Financial Rewards: Sales can be a financially rewarding profession, with opportunities for commission-based earnings, bonuses, and incentives for meeting or exceeding targets. Successful salespeople can enjoy a significant income based on their performance.
- Variety and Challenges: Sales roles can be dynamic and diverse, offering a variety of challenges to keep things interesting. From prospecting and negotiation to problem-solving and relationship-building, each day brings new opportunities to learn and grow.
It seems that the conditions that make sales so challenging are also what makes sales so desirable to some.
And that’s the point. Not everyone is suited for sales.
What does AI say for sales success?
I asked CHatGPT what it takes to be successful in sales. This time I think AI got it right.
The top three skills crucial for success in sales are often:
- Communication Skills: Effective communication is paramount in sales. Salespeople need to convey information clearly and persuasively, listen actively to understand customer needs, and build rapport to establish trust and credibility.
- Negotiation Skills: Negotiation is a critical aspect of sales, whether it’s negotiating prices, terms, or closing deals. Strong negotiation skills enable salespeople to find mutually beneficial solutions, overcome objections, and secure agreements that satisfy both parties.
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage one’s own emotions and understand and influence the emotions of others. Salespeople with high EQ can empathize with customers, build rapport, navigate challenging situations effectively, and maintain composure under pressure, leading to stronger relationships and better outcomes.
Now you know what a robot and a human agree on what it takes to be successful in sales.