Is Sales Training Helpful?

It’s very hard for most of us to admit that we may be ‘lacking’ in the area of our chosen profession. In reality, however, unless we receive continuing education in our respective field, we are lacking. I can’t think of a single career field or profession that has not and will not continue to change in some way shape or form as time goes by. The medical and educational fields are most aware of this continuing need and require certain positions to acquire and maintain certifications that necessitate annual completion of educational courses.

But most careers do not require continuing education. So, unless the individual is personally motivated to ‘stay on top of their game’, they are most likely, not keeping up with their profession and chosen career. I find this especially true in speaking with members of my generation – the baby boomers. They feel that they have been in their field and doing the job for so many years that they, consequently have seen, heard, and/or tried ‘it all’. They believe that there is no one out there who could teach them more than they already know about what they do all day. Salespersons are no exception to this mindset. Salespersons who have been in the business for over 15 years believe that they have learned all the approaches and techniques to selling. By now they have mastered the new technologies including the internet and e-mail. What more could they possibly learn by attending sales training?

Unfortunately, for those who don’t try it, they’ll never know what they could have learned. I’ve heard the retrospective saying – “If I only knew what I didn’t know.” Life needs to be a continual learning experience. What price can you put on learning? Even if you only learn one new small technique to try out, it could be the key to opening more doors and closing more sales. I’ve attended countless seminars over my years in business on numerous topics. A few of the seminars had very little to do with my work or job, yet I still have to say that I learned at the very least, one new thing at every seminar I attended. So make that investment in yourself and your future earnings. You are never too old to learn something new. No matter how old you are, or how much experience you have had, there are still ideas, thoughts, and techniques out there that you don’t even know about. Find a seminar or training class and expand your horizons.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.