What I learn from my son's challenge

My 3-year-old male probably has TOS (language development disorder). This means that his speech does not come naturally. It is a huge challenge to teach him speech. To keep his world orderly, he has an enormous need for fixed patterns. Fortunately, he gets professional help and we get tools to deal with this.

The special thing about a challenge is that there is often a downside. In this case, a huge learning curve. Not only for him but certainly for me as well. I will give you an idea of what I learned as a result and can apply further in my life and work.

There is often a positive upside to a challenge!

✅ Patience

To understand him, to do something according to his familiar pattern, and to make something clear to him, I achieve something fastest by being patient. If I take my time with him and put myself in his shoes, we achieve the most together.

It is quite possible to teach someone who seems to be trapped in his own world something with patience. Time and patience are essential.

✅ Clearly and concisely convey a message

A jumble of words does not reach my little guy. If I make short sentences and restate the main word separately, my message arrives.

Too often we want to clarify our story with a mincing of words, hoping to make the other person understand what you mean. It is much more effective to express the core of your message concisely and powerfully.

✅ Nonverbal communication is key

Using sign language, we are teaching our little man to communicate. In the last few weeks, he is making huge leaps and discovering the value of being able to express himself in this way.

By adding gestures, you make your message audible and visible to the other person. Double a message in one go. Talk about impact.

✅ Learning from all ages

This morning my little son made a gesture I was not familiar with. Because he was pointing to a specific white object, I suspected he was gesturing the color white. After checking in the gesture app, I was confirmed in this. My 3-year-old son was teaching me the meaning of a new gesture! I am so proud of him.

Very often we want to work and connect with people with experience and knowledge. I myself sometimes make the mistake of thinking that someone must be of a certain age to have the necessary wisdom. Yet it is young people who pick up new things the fastest. This also makes them a valuable source of knowledge.

✅ Don't go too fast

If I want to do something quickly that is contrary to his familiar way of doing things, my son can become extremely sad. The familiar pattern is rudely disrupted. What was safe suddenly gives uncertainty and he cannot put words to it.

If we want to help someone and we already see the solution ourselves, too often the focus is on that. This can cause you to lose connection with the other person. If you go too fast, causing the other person not to understand you and creating chaos, so to speak, you may not be the safe teacher.

✅ Confirm that you heard the other person.

My son speaks some words and has sounds for other meanings. When he wants to make something clear he repeats this sound until I confirm him with the intended word. This way he gets recognition and confirmation of what he wants to make clear.

In our communication, repeating the other person's words or summarizing their story can let you know that you have understood the other person.

These are some examples of what I have learned and the translation to the professional world. Besides enjoying his happy presence immensely, I am learning a tremendous amount from my beautiful happy little man.

Survey: “Hey salesman how's your business?”

Survey on the sales profession

In the fall of 2020, many a vendor received the SalesCenter the request to participate in a survey. The goal was to get a picture of role and duties. Under the title “Hey salesman how's your trade?” were asked more than 20 questions. Through the answers, the interviewees gave a good picture of how they think about the content of the sales profession.

Many salespeople took the time to go over all the questions. This allowed them to share which elements of their job appeal to them and which tasks they feel do not actually belong in the role of salesperson. As a result of the answers, several surprising facts emerged. For example, there may be a perception that salespeople have a lot of bravado. Nothing could be further from the truth; there is a fear or resistance to generating new business.

Some of the initial facts from the survey were collected in a fact sheet. This includes, for example, the key challenges facing the vendor. Below this article is a link to download this fact sheet.

Furthermore, the content and collected facts will be used by the SalesCenter to even better match training needs. Because the answers given show, among other things, that salespeople experience skills training and as an added value.

Finally, if you want to get a total picture of the responses given, that is possible. Let's schedule an appointment for that. You can do this by scheduling an appointment in my calendar plan.

Want to know what the top 3 challenges are for a salesperson?

You can do so by downloading this file:

The Sales Center - Fact Sheet

Top Seller Down

Best top seller,

I saw you sitting in the showroom behind your desk. You didn't see me because you were busy on your cell phone. You had a tired expression on your face. Maybe you had just had a cancellation or the client delayed his order when you had expected to put it on paper today. Maybe you were bummed that your colleague further down the showroom did have clients and by the sound of it came to a deal. Either way you seemed done for the day.

I decided to leave you be. Perhaps you would recover later and come after me. If I showed that I was interested in the products you had on display maybe you would get excited. But even when I extensively looked at and tried on one of the models that I really liked, you didn't come my way.

I realized that I was looking at used models and you might be doing sales only for the new products. So if I went up to the second floor to look at the new models there you would naturally move. If I went up the stairs, right in front of your desk that would probably be the right tricker for you.

I walked around the showroom after coming upstairs. You didn't come after me yet. At least I got the opportunity to quietly look at all your products. Stickers told me that the products were locked for my safety and that if I wanted to see more, just say so. But, dear top salesman, you were not there to ask.

I suddenly heard the stairs creak. And just before I had seen all the products, you came up the stairs. There you came, now it was going to happen! I was going to see the top salesman in action! But I saw that you were looking at your watch with a big sigh. As if you wanted to make it clear that it was an extra effort for you that I had come in after 5:30 pm. Fortunately, you persevered and came up anyway.

I was near the opening of the stairs when you grabbed the last step. You looked at me. “Good afternoon,” you said and as you were already starting to walk around me you asked, “can I help you with something?” I was stunned did you, as a top salesman at a top brand in an A1 location, ask a closed question? And did you think I looked needy that you asked me if you could help me?

I picked myself up and answered your question. In my opinion, the answer you were hoping for. The answer that suited your mood and confirmed it. The answer that allowed you to get the location ready to close so you would be relieved in time and could go home.

“No thanks.”.

I know sometimes you can't have your day.

I know it can be difficult for you as a salesperson. I know that sometimes you can't have your day. And I understand that it can take effort to recharge to go for it again. The bow can't always be tight. So make sure you ask a colleague to make the first move because you just can't do it anymore. And at the same time be man enough that if it does come down to it. Take responsibility when a potential customer spontaneously shows up at your showroom. Let everything that has been in your way slip away. So that you are the top salesperson, for the customer, for the business and, above all, for yourself.