Salesmanship is an art and a science, but most crucially, it’s an act of faith. The essence of every successful sale lies at the intersection of personal conviction and professional duty. This wisdom isn’t a modern-day corporate mantra; rather, it finds its roots in the teachings and actions of a master salesman—Jesus. His ministry, as chronicled in sacred scriptures, exemplifies the power of harmonizing belief and conduct. But how can we, in our everyday roles as salespeople, team leaders, or even as parents, embody this wisdom? How can we rise above mere transactions to forge meaningful relationships and shared aspirations?
If you’re in the business of promoting traditional radio stations but Spotify is your personal choice for music, you’re failing in a significant way. Your personal preferences and professional claims are disconnected, which makes your pitch falter in credibility. A similar situation applies to a roofing salesperson who endorses steel roofs but lives under shingles. These inconsistencies create gaps that customers sense intuitively, diminishing your credibility and undermining the message you are trying to convey.
Think about the tech industry. Your commitment as a salesperson should go beyond selling individual devices or software packages. It should encompass a thorough understanding and love for the transformative potential of the entire tech industry. This conviction, akin to a profound spiritual belief, signals to your customers that technology is more than just gadgets. It’s a vehicle for solving global issues like poverty and health inequities or improving vital sectors like education.
The Bible gives us this wisdom in its teachings about authentic commitment. “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,'” says Jesus in Matthew 5:37 (NIV). This simple but powerful scripture underscores the importance of integrity, which is as applicable to sales as it is to life. Living one’s beliefs isn’t just a matter of convenience or professional strategy. It’s a moral imperative.
Speaking of beliefs, allow me to introduce the Triad of Belief, which focuses on three core elements—belief in your industry, belief in your company or product, and belief in yourself. If you study Jesus’ ministry, his conviction never wavered. He was steadfast in his belief in the Kingdom of God. He didn’t just preach; he lived what he believed. As salespeople, our belief in our industry should be equally unwavering. It’s not about merely liking or respecting your industry but having a deep-rooted conviction that this industry can bring about positive changes in the world.
This conviction, combined with the IDEAS Sales System—a comprehensive approach to selling—takes the sales profession from a transactional to a transformational experience. The IDEAS acronym stands for Introducing, Discovering, Evaluating, Adapting, and Serve. If you’re committed to your industry and align your selling strategies with the IDEAS framework, you’re not just selling; you’re serving. “Selling is serving,” the book The Master Salesman: Jesus and the Art of Service discusses, is a notion that demystifies the act of selling and places it within the larger framework of service and ethical considerations.
Moreover, the Triad of Belief and the IDEAS Sales System are like the bread and fish in Jesus’ miracle. Alone, they are mere elements, but together they can transform and multiply, fulfilling not just hunger but nourishing the soul. Just as Jesus wasn’t merely a carpenter but a provider of spiritual sustenance, a salesperson is not just a vendor but a consultant, a guide, and most importantly, a believer.
As for me, like many of you, I struggle too. I struggle with faith, with imperfections, and to be the person I aspire to be. But I also understand that our struggles don’t define us; our beliefs do. And it’s this belief that brings me to my profession of coaching, sales training, and life coaching. If you find yourself struggling to align your personal and professional beliefs or aiming to elevate your sales strategies, I’d like to invite you to explore one-on-one training and coaching at Closer Classes. Sometimes, we all need a little guidance to help us navigate the complexities of sales and life.
The customer is ready to buy. He needs you to help him believe.
Article Summary
This article delves into the importance of aligning personal convictions with professional responsibilities in sales. Drawing on teachings from the Bible, it introduces frameworks like the Triad of Belief and the IDEAS Sales System that emphasize the transformative potential of authentic salesmanship. It serves as a guide for anyone aiming to imbue their professional life with moral and ethical substance.
