Success is more than just luck…

Many of us enjoyed a fantastic Easter holiday weekend with friends and family. Some of us were also glued to our television screens and the 2012 Masters. Even if you are not a golf fan, watching Louis Oosthuizen, the South African golfer, make Masters history with one of the most impressive shots ever at Augusta National was a treat.  From 253 yards away on the second hole, Oosthuizen crushed his second shot, watched the ball soar through the air and then travel 80 feet across the green and into the cup for only the fourth albatross (or double eagle) in Masters history. Everyone in the room immediately talked about his luck… One shot vaulting him into the lead for the tournament and placing him as the player to beat for the coveted green jacket. I think it was more than luck. Just having the ability to compete and contend at that level indicates a tremendous commitment to self improvement and personal achievement. It also represents years of practice and training in order to achieve the success you see in the highlights on TSN.

Why does this make me think of the importance of sales training?  Because to be good at golf, hockey, tennis, soccer, piano, guitar, singing or dancing… people take private lessons or participate in practice with a coach.  Lawyers, doctors, accountants, HR professionals and many other professions are required to take additional yearly training and report their educational credits towards maintaining their professional certifications. 
However many companies do not make an effort to help their sales professionals refresh or upgrade their sales skills. Yet sales professional’s earnings are tied to revenue and productivity. It just makes sense, as a sales professional, to invest time in sales training and self improvement and practice to achieve personal success.
Metroland invests in people’s success… Apart from our scheduled sales training sessions held at our Vaughan and at our Wolfedale locations, we introduced 27 new 90 minute sales training workshops last year.  Over 650 sales staff attended our new regional training sessions in 2011.  

This year we have already had 296 staff attend sales training sessions in their regions. We have also listened to requests from regions for additional sessions and would like to introduce eight new topics including;

•       After the Sale -Selling With Service

•       Business Etiquette

•       Cross Selling

•       Diagnosing Solutions - Individual Customer Analysis

•       Key Account Management

•       Managing Expectations

•       Recognizing Opportunities

•       Selling with Spec Ads

•       Selling Specials & Sustained Features 

Additional NEW topics currently in development include Understanding Body Language and Effective Email & Voicemail.  We also offer an extensive list of scheduled training sessions, pre-recorded webinars and our full list of regional workshop’s available on www.metrolandhr.com.   

Every sales person wants their hole-in-one or even better the more elusive albatross or double eagle.  While it is widely accepted that is a really lucky shot even for a pro… playing well is based on training, practice for self improvement and good coaching feedback.

My message to you no matter what month of the year you are reading this - sign up for some additional sales training!  You will learn from other sales professionals and the sales conversations that take place. Sales Training will assist businesses of all sizes achieve plan easier, reduce turn over and out-sell, out-think and out-serve their competition with a better sales training.  And if your company doesn’t offer sales training – register for courses on your own. 

 I think Stephen Leacock said it best… “I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it” … Good luck getting your next hole-in-one... Bill