SalesHQ

 I spell horribly. I am very slow typing. In the past I was very quiet and shy, and at times I still am. As a leader I had to work extra hard not to alienate employees of average abilities. The rap on me was, I was great with the super stars but could not relate to average performers. That was fine when I managed a small group. In a small group it is possible to have a team of stars. As I developed as a manager and received larger responsibilities, I learned to respect and develop relationships with average performers. If you agree, most organizations are 20% above average, 60% average 15% below average and 5% on death row,5% will never make it. Then you will discover the average performers make your business.

 Through out my career, I looked for things about my self in which I could improve on.I have taken coures on prsentations skills, written communications, selling skills, advantage executive programs, and much more. I still spell horribly, but I have improved my computor skills . I had to come out of my shell in order to be successful in sales and marketing.

I share this with you for 2 reasons. A job interview, and your personal growth as a business person. I remember my interview at Xerox, I the quiet shy, early 20 something young man interviewing for a sales job. I looked as good as I could with a nappy afro and a borrowed suit.

I thought I was on a roll and then the Manager said, tell me your weaknesses. I am thinking, " you want me to tell you what, you can't be serious!" He was and I muttered something like, sometimes I work too hard. Ya that's it.The point is, do not be intimidated by this question. Be prepared to discuss how you have improved upon a weakness you to have and are working on a solution to a current developmental opportunity.

Speaking of development, take personal responsibility for your own inprovement. Be hard on yourself but be aware of things that if you can improve upon, you will be more productive.You will get your review from your boss but in many cases you will be aware of weakness the boss dose not know about. In the case of strenths, you will speak up, if the boss misses some. For weaknesses, it is not your place to point them out.

As a business pro, you are your own product. It is your duty to make you the product as productive and valued as possible. There are many ways to get at your chronic weakness. In my case for spelling and typing, I had good secetaries or can figure out how to spellcheck. I do not alway spellcheck because I have learned, a good post today is better than a great one tomorrow.

So tell me, What are your weakness, what are you going to do to improve. Give us an example of fixing a weakness. For blacks in business with white management, sometimes their feedback is bias. That is why we have to be able to manage ourselves. Working on improving a weakness is a good way to start.

rich34232 says ...

 I did a forum thread discussion of this exact  topic. Not to many enered into this as we do not like to discuss our weaknesses.However I do beleive in order to overcome the weakness it must be put on paper and serve notice that I must try to make it disappear.

  Jim I am with you concerning spelling might want to add grammar.Often times it is due to not caring. I figure those that get my meaning fine if others want to by pass the meaning and concentrate on the spelling and grammar they can go fly a kite. That may be another weakness! LOL

 I think my weakest  weakness I sometimes  am a little more blunt than I should however once people get to know me they undersand that it is not as harsh as it comes out more times than not. On a stronger note I want to get things out in the open and nip them in the bud before they have a chance to develop into something more serious then it should. I am an extrovert and will sometimes have a go with introverts.

 I speak from the heart to much .

Rich, I love your communication style, if you are going to lead and influence you must be honest, we are a like in the aspect of spelling and grammer, if someone monitors that and misses the point, it is a loss. Thanks for commenting

Rich? blunt? lol, I wouldn't have figured.

My weakness is that I like to take over. Sometimes I don't have the patience to wait for others to do their jobs and I take over.

I takeover at home, work, lol play, can't help it. I just like to succeed at everything.  Like your bluntness, maybe you can't stand stupidity and that's why you lay it out straight. 

ahh, I see practice made perfect hugh.  Glad you were able to change the way you worked prior to someone kicking your butt.

Yah, I have my blonde moments too, lol maybe that's when the blonde streaks start impairing my brain.  Have fun with that one Rich. lol

rodiehl says ...

Chocolate...oh you mean in regards to sales.  I want things to be so perfect that often I look at what is not going right to correct it instead of focusing on what is going perfectly.  I also find it hard to live up to my standards therefore I am very concerned about my making the grade.  I am not talking about dotting Is and crossing Ts.  I often forget the small things in favor of the big picture but I am concerned that my customers did not receive something I promised (my word is HUGE to me) in the time I promised.  I agonize on how to make my customers happy while continuing to make the company profitable.  I do not toss off stress well.

Rosemary, You made a valid point in which there is much debate. that is more and more leaders support a focus on increasing strenghts as oppose to a focus on weakness. the theroy is, you can be more productive for making your strenghts strongers, where as, your weakness may not improve ever but over time can discourage self development

rich34232 says ...

 Yeah I know go figure huh such a caring and sensitive guy like me. I lovew this stuff and I get  excited and passionate about sales and what it means to the client.

rich,  I hear many people in business call themselves blunt, it has a mach ring to it. Blunt is another word for telling the truth, it is a rale quality in the business world. many will tell you want you want to hear. People have told me, they always know where they stand with me, yet I do not consider myself blunt, I try to be sensitive as well.

 I've always thought, being blount is one of the tools in the salesman's "kit" .when and how  (and understanding "why) to use it is just one of the many fine touchs of the master salesmen excellence and finish. this also goes for sweetning the truth to the taste of the customers .

but "bluntness or showing insensitivity" is not a tool that should be used often or on a regular basis, it's a little clumsy for getting to the point or expressing a truth or getting on the same playing field as the customer) and while it's quick and to the point, it can alsomimply many things about the salesman... a weakness or self esteem issue, a lazy way to make a quick sale or a lazy way of getting to the point or truth. Not enough interest in the crafft of sales to find another way around being offensive no matter how slight.? It shouldn't be your crutch.

As for weaknesses and an example of fixing one first, , are you counting the 7 deadly sins and the 10 commandments I can't think of any... :)  

but, if forced to admit to a weakness and fix, I'd have to say something that is detrimental to my sales figures is that i have no apetite for any of the hype, and really not much for money (or debt) and all that comes with it (good and bad) that motivates. But, the fix is, I am motivated by something else which leads to  creating things i've never done:) thus solving two problems with 4 solutions.

MSI says ...

One of the most insightful things I ever learned about weaknesses was when I was at a leadership development class and they talked about how your weaknesses are generally your strengths used to excess.  For example, Smile says she has control issues.  When things are going well, that would be one of her greatest strengths but when used in excess is actually a weakness (by jumping in too soon or too often.)  For me, that was a real eye opener. 

Like Rich, I have a very direct communication style which can be rather blunt.  I prefer to always get the bottom line, bypassing all the details and when under pressure, that style becomes even more dominant.  My preference would be to not  hear about how someone is going to do something, just what the end result will be.  I work hard on making time and lending an ear to those who have to work through all the steps, even if it does drive me absolutely batty sometimes. 

MSI, very interesting

i am 100% with you on standing firm and not getting kicked around. if you always want to win a knife fight, it's best to have a gun handy.

Goldsmith that is a heck of a view. Better to hone your sales skills (karate) and disarm the knife-wielder. LOL

goldsmith says ...

i am 100% with you on standing firm and not getting kicked around. if you always want to win a knife fight, it's best to have a gun handy.

right on, you have to bring some ass to kick some ass

HarrietAlison says ...

Weaknesses???   where do I begin???  opening, middle and closing for starters.    I feel I need all the info with me and then if I have forgotten something I feel really bad,.  Or if there is sofmething they ask that I didn't think about and don't know how to answer..omg

I just need more confidence.  I feel I need to have a really good deal for the client.

Harrriet, i read your post andd have been worrying about you all day and wondering to myself, why is harriet from saleshq's letter troubling me so much...?

 I really feel for you as i've been there the hard way... Door to door selling life insurance when i was a young pup. Started out, the company gave me a draw to last 12 weeks (and really good training). I spent 15 hours day making calls for the entire 12 weeks and never made a single sale... I talked to 25 people a day, 1/2 being full presentations...

the company called me in to let me go but i convinced them to give me another week without any draw and swore i'd make it up. they agreed... about the 5th day into my last week and i was starting to really get discouraged... around 1am. driving though a rural area on my way home i noticed a light in a guy's garage and i pulled in... I told myself, i was going to sell this guy a life insurance policy no matter what and after i tried everything and day break came i had a signed contract and his deposit of $69.00 for his 6 month premium. (small face value policies)

Than,, I went to the gas station to fill up, sold the guy filling up next to me and also the attendant... i was so excited, i got pulled over for speeding and sold the cop a policy for his kid and talked my way out of a ticket.

next day i sold 5 policies and each day sold more. something happened that night, i got into the grove, the sales god's took pity on me or something but it just clicked... in 2 more months, i was a heavy hitter and 15 policies per day was my average. some day's i'd sell 25 policies, won awards and all the rah  rah bs..

i dont know what you are selling but the difference between me not selling and selling was miniscule as far as everything i was doing. my pitch was spot on, dress and appearance perfect, no physical changes, only one day i was a lousy and kicking myself every night  for being a complete and utter failure and the next and there after, everything changed. I could sell life insurance policies in my sleep and it all got really really easy... i mean really easy. like taking candy from a baby easy. I got very comfortableand it became fun. Like i say, i ws a young kid and this was in the 70's but i was knocking in 500 to 900 a week. pretty good since my previous job paid $2.35 per hour.

I hope you find your grove, good luck. try not to worry about everythig so much and use your current insecurity to your advantage till you get secure and confidant, than use your confidance to your advantage. try to have a little fun with the customers...

jim yes, that is sage advice to stay out of situations that would require a gun or the use of larate.

 and congrats, i like to hear stories about ol guys who haven't lost it... it gives me hope for when i am an old guy like you) :) jk

goldsmith,

thank you for your concern.  I am OK really,  I am working on learning how things are changing  and what can and cannot happen.  I sell TV advertising and we just switached to digital with 4 channels instead of one with new offers and packages so I am relearning stuff.  but I will get it.  I have an appointment in 30 minutes with a gentleman from Pre-Paid Legal who wants to buy some commercial air time so I am hopeful something will work out there.  I think I just do need to relax and let it flow and maybe it will come naturally ( if I don't try to force it.)  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1  harriet