What do pop stars, politicians and sales people have in common?

There are certain professions that strive for ultimate success and achievement. They’re elite performers and will stop at nothing until they can be the best they can possibly be. These professions include politicians, pop stars, CEO’s and athletes among others and they all have one thing in common. They invest in coaching to lift their performance and outshine their competitors. In the sales world, top performers also strive and crave for this same success.

Sadly, many businesses don’t place value on personal development and ongoing training and coaching. However, many top sales performers need and want this continuous learning. Your own personal coach, just like for all the other professions mentioned, keeps you on track, focused and motivated. They can also provide a genuine listening ear and guide you while you establish your goals and objectives.

Many sales professionals engage in external coaching services because their current employer wasn’t providing this for them. They all highly benefit from ongoing coaching sessions and see their results increase. After the experience of having a coach many salespeople go on to find new employment where coaching is valued as they see the significance of coaching for their professional development and career growth.

Like elite athletes, salespeople need to keep “sales fit”. The sales world is ever changing and demanding and resilience is essential to the makeup of a salesperson. If salespeople are serious about their profession and want to take their careers to the next level then coaching is the next step. However, keep in mind that not all coaches are the same and you will need to find a coach that meets your specific needs. The following are tips and things to remember when you’re looking to employ a sales coach and will help you find the coach that will be the right fit:

Experience – Make sure they have had extensive and relevant experience in the sales industry. They need to have a clear overview of all the different aspects of sales. They will need knowledge and experience in sales strategy and planning, prospecting, account management, team work and negotiation.

Walk the talk – Having the knowledge and theory isn’t enough. They need to be able to sell well themselves. When you find a coach that can put their words into action and do it well you know you’re in good hands.

Qualifications – Your coach should have recognised coaching qualifications as well as a minimum of 100 hours of sales coaching experience. Ask for testimonials and see what sort of feedback your potential coach has had.

Know where they stand – Whatever relevant experience and qualifications your coach has is what they should be coaching when it comes to you. If your coach starts delving into areas such as medicine or psychology but doesn’t have the qualifications to do so, find yourself another coach.

Having a coach is a valuable and life changing opportunity. If you think having a coach is right for you, approach your business and employer about this. However, if this isn’t something they place priority on go out and find your coach externally. It may seem like a bit of an investment but the professional and personal outcomes are priceless.

Sue Barrett is an experienced business speaker and adviser, facilitator, sales coach, training provider, entrepreneur and founder of Barrett Consulting.