“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” ~ Thomas Edison
I’m a huge fan of Thomas Edison, or at least of his quotes on work and accomplishments. I do wonder what he would have been like on a bad day – you know those gone-ta-pott days when you wish you could crawl back into bed and wait for tomorrow.
In my imagination, Thomas Edison was the type of guy who pushed through those days by generating activities where the doing could overcome the thinking. When bad days come, it is important to have a way to get out of our own heads – the downward spiral of thought is something we can control (that is what I believe) and it is easiest if we STOP THINKING and START DOING.
So what are some activities we can do in sales management and leadership jobs that move us forward?
- catch people doing the right things (then praise them to encourage more of the same)
- call your salespeople’s best contacts boss – or their boss’ boss – moving up the corporate heirarchy in top accounts.
- create / revive a game for your team to play (you can always use the UpYourTeleSales Frustration or Success bingo)
- anything you have stopped doing because “I don’t have time” but know is important to your team’s success.
Let’s face it, in a role where success relies on other people – sometimes thoughts that our activity doesn’t matter surface and take hold. Instead, let go (at least a little) and DO SOMETHING.
Before you know it the end of the day is here and you’ve pushed past the badness… or at least the day is over.
Don’t give up – take Thomas Edison’s advice & try one more time!