Can B2B Sales be fun? Only if you are.
💡 Intro
Like many office jobs, B2B Sales don’t always offer the most entertaining circumstances, especially for the in-between stuff you need to do, such as: writing emails, making calls, drawing up reports or participating in endless team meetings. Most of us have to do some type of menial work, no matter how many automation softwares we use or how many sales executives report to us.
People usually stay in sales for the thrill of closing deals, the witty client meetings, the occasional bluebirds and lucky strikes. Even though these events provide enough positive feelings to keep you in the game, they are more difficult to control and replicate.
For the most part, the sales activity translates into many repetitive tasks done over a long period of time. When you have years on the job, it’s harder to keep your enthusiasm while performing those tasks. It becomes very tempting to start complaining about the things you consider below your pay grade.
💠 A change in perspective
Instead of complaining, I started thinking about ways I could bring more excitement and interest to my menial tasks. This process didn’t happen in one go and it was not necessarily intentional. I had to look at the same things in new ways. I don’t think I can capture this change in perspective using a step by step process. I can, however, share its results.
🕹️ The 5 Sales Games
📎 The Paper Clip Cups Game
Feeling paralised in front of your many repetitive tasks? Try the Paper Clip Cups Game!
How it works: We have a cup for to do’s and a cup for finished tasks. Each to do has a corresponding paper clip. Every time we successfully complete one task we move one paper clip to the other cup.
Goes well with: Calls, leads, data entry, CRM updates. I currently use it with leads as you can see in the photo on the left.
Why do I find it useful: There is something satisfying in moving the paper clips and actually seeing your progress in front of your eyes. Also it’s colourful and goofy.
🌅 Make a vision board
Getting bored on the road? Make a vision board!
How it works: Think about what you’re going to do with your sales commissions, find some photos that fit your vision and glue them to a board.
Goes well with: Reaching your sales quota
Why do I find it useful: The process of getting where you want is sometimes longer than you would expect. Using a vision board helps heighten the salience of your goals and objectives. Whenever you get bored or unmotivated, you can contemplate a few minutes on your future success with the aid of the photos you picked.
💸 The Fine Jar
Complaining about clients? Add some money in The Fine Jar!
How it works: Use a large jar. Set a fine, let’s say 5 dollars. Whenever someone in the team complains, they add 5 dollars in The Fine Jar.
Goes well with: Managing Sales Reps
Why do I find it useful: Every time someone in my team would start complaining about anything related to a client or prospect, I’d point to The Fine Jar. Focusing on the good rather than complaining about what’s not working puts you in a mindset where you’re more willing to come up with solutions instead of giving up.
📞 The Cold Calling Challenge
Not feeling engaged enough? Start a cold calling challenge!
How it works: This one is pretty self explanatory. If you have to call clients, start a friendly challenge with one of your co-workers. See who can set more meetings in the same period of time.
Goes well with: Cold calling, boosting team engagement.
Why do I find it useful: It’s easier to get going when you have a work buddy, especially if you engage in some type of friendly competition.
The Choose Wisely Game
Not liking your team? Yeah, I don’t have a trick for that.
Switch to the game of job searching or recruitment, depending on your current status. It’s not worth spending time with the wrong people. Find a team where you belong.
No matter how many boring tasks you have to do, it gets better when you have fun colleagues around. You can always find your own little tricks to keep yourself interested, but multiplayer games are far more engaging.
Let me know how it works!