America has been called the melting pot: meaning that the the population of the United States is comprised of nationalities from all around the world. People born in different countries and who now call the US "home," work in practically every industry, including the sales industry.
For those sales professionals who speak with an accent from their home country, there may be times when their accent aids them in earning a sale and times when it serves as a sales hinderance.
Dealing with Prejudice
Despite the advancements the US has made with regards to Civil Rites, prejudices still exist. Those in sales who speak with an accent may encounter prejudicial prospects and customers, solely because of the way their voice sounds. While some people who either admit or deny their prejudices, in sales, the best way to overcome the negative presumptions of others is to adopt an honest approach in all interactions.
Remaining authentic and not allowing prejudices to negatively effect your emotional state is a powerful example to yourself and others than staying professional mitigates the challenge of prejudices. There will be some who, despite your professionalism and honesty who will simply not be able to overcome their limiting beliefs and will not buy from you because you sound different than they do. However, not even the best sales professional in the world wins every sale. It is more important that dealing with a prejudicial customer does not lessen your resolve than it is that you turn every prospect into a satisfied customer.
Remaining Professional
When faced with prejudice while working with prospects or customers, it is challenging to remain professional. At its root, prejudice is a belief system that some people hold that categories specific groups of people. If someone has a prejudice that those who speak with an accent are less capable or less honest than those who do not speak with an accent, they will look for indicators to reinforce their beliefs.
The greatest defense when facing prejudice on the job is to remain true to who you are and stay professional. If your skills are strong, rely on them and not on anger when dealing with a prejudicial person. They may be expecting you to behave in an unprofessional manner and by demonstrating who you truly are by remaining professional, their belief system may begin to crumble.
Sometimes, it Doesn't Matter
People make decisions for their own reasons. Sometimes, the reason a customer does not choose to do business with you makes no business sense. Such is the case when a prospect doesn't buy from you or a customer chooses to leave you and go with another vendor based on their ignorant beliefs. Sometimes, it won't matter how professional you are or how good your product or services are. Sometimes, customers just make bad decisions for bad reasons.
The important factor to remember is that, if you lose a sale because of apparent prejudice, the event has no bearing on who YOU are as a sales professional. The blame (if there is any blame to assign,) is on the person who judged you based on their prejudicial belief system.
No one wins every sale and there is not one person in this world whom everyone likes. Your mission is to put the lost sale behind you, learn from the experience and emerge from the event an even stronger, more professional and centered sales pro.
Dealing with prejudice is certainly challenging in all facets of life and very few people can honestly say that they have never been wrongly judged. But those that know who they are and are focused to improving themselves understand that while they cannot change the fact that prejudices exist, they can change how they respond when judged against a belief system based on prejudices.
For those sales professionals who speak with an accent from their home country, there may be times when their accent aids them in earning a sale and times when it serves as a sales hinderance.
Dealing with Prejudice
Despite the advancements the US has made with regards to Civil Rites, prejudices still exist. Those in sales who speak with an accent may encounter prejudicial prospects and customers, solely because of the way their voice sounds. While some people who either admit or deny their prejudices, in sales, the best way to overcome the negative presumptions of others is to adopt an honest approach in all interactions.
Remaining authentic and not allowing prejudices to negatively effect your emotional state is a powerful example to yourself and others than staying professional mitigates the challenge of prejudices. There will be some who, despite your professionalism and honesty who will simply not be able to overcome their limiting beliefs and will not buy from you because you sound different than they do. However, not even the best sales professional in the world wins every sale. It is more important that dealing with a prejudicial customer does not lessen your resolve than it is that you turn every prospect into a satisfied customer.
Remaining Professional
When faced with prejudice while working with prospects or customers, it is challenging to remain professional. At its root, prejudice is a belief system that some people hold that categories specific groups of people. If someone has a prejudice that those who speak with an accent are less capable or less honest than those who do not speak with an accent, they will look for indicators to reinforce their beliefs.
The greatest defense when facing prejudice on the job is to remain true to who you are and stay professional. If your skills are strong, rely on them and not on anger when dealing with a prejudicial person. They may be expecting you to behave in an unprofessional manner and by demonstrating who you truly are by remaining professional, their belief system may begin to crumble.
Sometimes, it Doesn't Matter
People make decisions for their own reasons. Sometimes, the reason a customer does not choose to do business with you makes no business sense. Such is the case when a prospect doesn't buy from you or a customer chooses to leave you and go with another vendor based on their ignorant beliefs. Sometimes, it won't matter how professional you are or how good your product or services are. Sometimes, customers just make bad decisions for bad reasons.
The important factor to remember is that, if you lose a sale because of apparent prejudice, the event has no bearing on who YOU are as a sales professional. The blame (if there is any blame to assign,) is on the person who judged you based on their prejudicial belief system.
No one wins every sale and there is not one person in this world whom everyone likes. Your mission is to put the lost sale behind you, learn from the experience and emerge from the event an even stronger, more professional and centered sales pro.
Dealing with prejudice is certainly challenging in all facets of life and very few people can honestly say that they have never been wrongly judged. But those that know who they are and are focused to improving themselves understand that while they cannot change the fact that prejudices exist, they can change how they respond when judged against a belief system based on prejudices.