The Psychology of SalesmanshipAtkinson, William Walker
Science
The Psychology of Salesmanship
Atkinson, William Walker
Selling -- Psychological aspects
It is not so much what a man _says_ when he approaches the prospect, as
the way he acts. It is his manner, rather than his speech. And back of
his manner is his Mental Attitude. Without going into subtle
psychological theorizing, we may say that it may be accepted as a
working hypotheses that a man radiates his Mental State, and that those
he approaches feel these radiations. It may be the suggestion of manner,
or it may be something more subtle--no use discussing theories here, we
haven't the time--the fact is that it acts as radiations would act. This
being recognized it will be seen that the man's Mental Attitude in the
Approach must be right. In the previous chapters we have had much to say
to you regarding the factors which go to create the Mental Attitude. Now
is the time to manifest what you have learned and practice--for you are
making the Approach.
Carry in mind Holman's catechism, of which we have told you. Maintain
your Self-Respect, and remember that you are a MAN. Pierce says of this:
"One reason for this is that self-respect is necessary in your work. And
self-respect cannot obtain where there is lack of confidence either in
your own ability or in your line of goods. Assuming that you take only
such a line as you yourself can enthusiastically endorse, it must be
remembered that your goods place you absolutely on a par with the
merchant. Hence, you talk to him shoulder to shoulder, as it were. You
are not as a slave to a master! as a hireling to a lord; as a worm to a
mountain; although this is the usual attitude untrained salesmen
consciously or unconsciously assume. They are timid. They feel they
might know their goods better. They feel, perhaps, that the prospect
knows their goods or their competitors' goods better than they do
themselves. Fear is written all over their faces as the approach is
made. Nine-tenths of the fear is due to ignorance of the goods. The
other tenth is lack of experience."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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