The Psychology of SalesmanshipAtkinson, William Walker
Science
The Psychology of Salesmanship
Atkinson, William Walker
Selling -- Psychological aspects
_Approbativeness_, or Love of Praise, when highly developed causes one
to be susceptible to flattery, desirous of praise, fond of "showing off"
and displaying himself, vain, sensitive to criticism, and generally
egotistical and often pompous. This quality when highly developed is a
weakness and gives to an adversary a powerful lever to work. The
Salesman, while secretly detesting this quality in a buyer, nevertheless
finds it a very easy channel of approach and weapon of success, when he
once understands its characteristics. These people can be reached by an
apparent "falling in" with their opinion of themselves, and a
manifestation of the proper respect in manner and words. These are the
people to whom the "soft soap" is applied liberally, and who are carried
away by an apparent appreciation of their own excellence. They will be
willing to bestow all sorts of favors upon those who are sufficiently
able to "understand" them, and to perceive the existence of those
superlative qualities which the cruel, cold, unfeeling world has
ignored. These are the people for whom the word "jolly" was invented,
and who are ready to absorb the available world-supply of that article.
_Self Esteem_, or Self Reliance, is a very different quality from that
just described, although many people seem unable to make the
distinction. Self Esteem when highly developed causes one to appreciate
one's powers and qualities, while not blinding oneself to one's faults.
It gives a sense of self-help, self-respect, self-reliance, dignity,
complacency, and independence. Carried to an extreme it manifests as
hauteur, superciliousness, imperiousness and tyranny. It is a
characteristic of the majority of successful men who have made their own
way by their own efforts. These people insist upon having their own way,
and using their own minds--they resent apparent influence or
suggestions, and often deliberately turn down a proposition simply
because they think that an effort is being made to force them into it.
The best way to deal with these people is to frankly acknowledge their
right to think for themselves, both in your manner, tone and
actions--and to present the proposition to them in an impersonal way,
apparently leaving the whole matter to their own good judgment. A
logical appeal appeals to them providing you do not make the mistake of
pitting yourself against them as an opponent in argument. You may play
the part of the lawyer to them, but remember always they want to play
the part of judge, and not that of the opposing counsel. If a matter be
subtly suggested to them in such a way as to make them think that they
have thought it themselves, they will favor it. Always give them a
chance to think out the point themselves--they like it. One need not
cringe to or flatter these people. All that is necessary is to maintain
your own self-respect, but at the same time let them walk a little ahead
of you, or stand just a little bit higher--that is all they need to make
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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