Cold call reluctance

Do you get cold call reluctance?

If I'm not feeling my best or am having what I refer to as a low energy day, I have a lot of reluctance to do cold calling. Sometimes I'm even reluctant to pass out my brochures. I do my best work when I feel good physically and mentally.

Call reluctance (fear of failure or fear of rejection) comes in many shapes and forms (stage fright, over-preparing, ...).

IMO, most if not all salespeople encounter call reluctance in one form or another and not just when cold calling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossMan

Call reluctance (fear of failure or fear of rejection) comes in many shapes and forms (stage fright, over-preparing, ...)

What are the different types of call reluctance?

Some days it’s easy, other days it’s way too difficult, on those days I do something else.

It's all about attitude and mindset

I have a great reluctance to cold calling. Some days I have problems making any sort of call. I find email far easier.

However, I also realize the importance of cold calling in many industries. In a retail gift store, I didn't find it nearly as important a sales tool as I probably should have.

Once I force myself to make cold calls, I find I'm rather good at it, and if I let myself, I actually begin to enjoy it.

In manufactured home brokering, I will be using it quite a bit. I've been thinking quite a bit about various sales tools, and this seems to be one that will likely be extremely effective.

In a retail store in a mall environment, all I had to do was wait for a customer to walk in the store. In bokering manufactured homes, I can't wait and hope that someone will just walk in.

I think I'll be fine with cold calls this time. I have a great confidence in the importance of the service I'll be offering. The biggest difference is I see it as a necessary step in the sales process.

Pam

This may sound too simplistic, but really..... if you don't like cold-calling, don't do it.

After years spent in the recruitment/staffing industry, I always found that if people would allow themselves the freedom to focus on the activities they LOVE doing, their performance sky-rockets.

Yes, cold-calling still needs to get done. But, if you don't like it, partner with someone who does! There are actually people out there who LOVE cold-calling. If you're at your best being in front of people, spend your time doing that instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terri

This may sound too simplistic, but really..... if you don't like cold-calling, don't do it.

After years spent in the recruitment/staffing industry, I always found that if people would allow themselves the freedom to focus on the activities they LOVE doing, their performance sky-rockets.

Don't most people usually find at least one aspect of a job that they don't want to do?

Yes, most people usually find at least one aspect of a job that they don't want to do. That's why most people are not top performers. Most people put in the time for an average performance. My point is to focus on what you love and to surround yourself with others who have complementary strengths. Everyone (you, your colleagues, your clients, your company) wins using a model like this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terri

My point is to focus on what you love and to surround yourself with others who have complementary strengths. Everyone (you, your colleagues, your clients, your company) wins using a model like this.

Is this an option in most sales jobs? What would an example be for retail sales?

Cold call reluctance

Cold Calling Forum