When things are going great, work harder because things never stay great. And when things are tough, work even harder because things never stay tough.
Slumps, droughts, funks, whatever you want to call it, are common. When you notice you hit one, keep your sanity; It does NOT have to be tough to get out of it.
Before we get into the most effective ways to handle a sales slump, what exactly is a slump?
A slump is a period when, for no apparent reason, you just can’t seem to do anything right. You may lose your touch, have trouble keeping up with the fast-paced nature of sales, or it could just be that you’re simply not feeling it anymore. If you currently cold call, it may even lead to the dreaded cold calling anxiety.
But the truth is, slumps don’t always come around for no apparent reason. We often create them by forgetting the little things that got us to where we are in the first place.
With that being said, here are three sure-fire ways to prevent a sales slump, and to get out of one before it even begins.
Table of Contents
Take a full day or long weekend off
Do not think or talk about any sales or business. Sometimes, the brain needs a break from the high-level stress of sales. After all, the brain is just like any other muscle. It requires rest to get stronger.
Do whatever you feel is necessary to escape. If it’s relaxing, do it! If it’s partying and blowing off steam, do it! If it’s taking a trip somewhere, do it!
Believe it or not, this one step alone can be the cure to your slump. On the flip side, deliberately doing this can minimize the chances of you falling into that slump in the first place.
Go back to the basics
Going back to the basics is exactly how it sounds. What did you do to grow when you first started in sales or your business? Did you keep track of your stats and all of your numbers?
Did you have regimented breaks? Did you start work early and leave late? How many hours non-stop would you work? Did you work Saturdays? Did you practice your sales pitches and research like there was no tomorrow? Did you constantly brainstorm for new ideas that could take you to the next level?
Suppose you answered yes to all of these; congrats! You’re already ahead of the game. If you’re an experienced salesperson or business owner, chances are your slump results from not doing one or more of these essential elements.
Add these back into your regimented routine. If anything, doing this should feel like a fresh breath of air because you know you’re doing the things that helped you get to where you’re at in the first place. You’re doing things that, you know, work. And guess what that leads to? Unstoppable confidence. Learn more about developing a killer confidence in sales.
Work your way out of it
Exactly what we said at the beginning of the article. “When things are tough, work harder because things never stay tough.” When pro athletes are in shooting slumps, how do they get out of it? They’ll tell you that they have to shoot their way out. The same concept applies.
If all else fails, it’s time to muster up every bit of energy you have and just go full speed, balls to the wall, at work. And as you do this, keep reminding yourself that you’re getting closer and closer to exiting this slump.
Don’t give up, and don’t think about quitting.
Sometimes when you’re in a rut, all it takes is working your way out of it.
Conclusion
As much as it sucks, sales slumps happen and sometimes there’s nothing you can really do to stop them from happening. But there’s a silver lining and a reason to be excited.
Once you make it out, and you will, you’ll come out on top. More importantly, you’ll bear witness to your strength, your inner resolve, and the obstacles you can overcome and shatter.
