Ten SALES skills that require zero talent.

For almost 20 years after my own high school graduation, I taught, instructed, and lead scholastic and/or independent drumlines, marching bands, and drum and bugle corps organizations as an evening and weekend hobby. It was a creative outlet that afforded me the opportunity at masking a close community of friends, colleagues, and mentors, who all had similar work ethics, drive, and passions for the activity and the students we taught.

We enjoyed each others’ friendship and camaraderie as competing instructors with our respective groups. And whether we knew it at the time, we were developing transferable leadership skills by mentoring and leading students and other young adults using music education as the vehicle.

Plus, it’s how I met my wife (teaching on the same marching band staff) and mother to my children, back in 2011. So, major life points!

As a student and participating member in the same activities years earlier, the discipline and focus that it took to be successful aided my development as a young adult beyond measure.

And ironically enough, when I’ve looked to hire Sales Professionals throughout my career, I’ve used a very similar measuring stick of “skills” to identify high-potential individuals.

So, what are they? Let’s take a look!

_{Do you follow Twitter? If not, I’ll post my “Sales Tweets of The Week” below, for more thought-provoking ideas, trends, or stories. Check them out below!}

No experience? No problem. Focus on these skills to separate yourself from the pack!

Whether you saw my tweet from back in March or not, these skills not only transfer to SALES roles but to most others, too. They're generic, but if you think about how you go about your week-to-week, do you find yourself living by these important traits?

^Effort

If you can’t give effort, what can you give?

^Energy

No one wants to continually work with someone with low energy. Be inspiring and motivating, and have energy that others want to feed off of.

^Passion

Having passion doesn’t mean to you need to love your job 100% of the time, but it does mean that you need to display a passion for SOMETHING, in life.

^Attitude

Having a positive attitude can make any negative situation… not so negative! Others will gravitate towards you if you have the right attitude in each situation.

^{Work ethic}

You don’t need to be the best at something, but for those that try the hardest (in learning, being coachable, and more) and always have the right mindset, the law of averages will say that person will be successful.

^{Doing extra}

Ever complained about not being promoted? Do extra, first. Then get rewarded, second.

^{Being on time}

To be early is to be on time. This is the easiest one in the book. Just be on time.

^{Body language}

Non-verbal communication is the most important type of communication.

^{Being prepared}

When you show up prepared, it tells the other person (ie. your boss) that you care and that you want to be there.

^{Being coachable}

If you can display the first 9 skills and traits, you more than likely are someone who is coachable. Managers want to work with subordinates who are coachable.

The moral of the story? It doesn’t take a specific skill to stand out in a crowd. It doesn’t take years and years of experience to get yourself in the front of the line.

All it takes is having effort, energy, and the right attitude for a task. Being passionate about something shows you have desire and care. Trying hard and showing a work ethic never has failed… anyone.

And how does someone become coachable? By displaying the right body language, being prepared to learn, and not being afraid of doing a little extra.

Oh, and just show up on time, ok? Ok.

Sales Tweets of The Week!

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