Like in any other field, top-performing salespeople exhibit certain personality traits that separate them from the average ones. Those who succeed in this highly competitive field don’t just rely on their sales skills and strategies. They also maintain specific characteristics that will allow them to attract more customers, close more deals, and last in the business longer than their peers do.

So here are the top five personality traits that characterize successful salespeople:

1. Passionate
Much has been said about the importance of having passion in whatever endeavor we take. Top salespeople are passionate about what they do. They show up not only because of monetary reasons but because they genuinely enjoy their job. Without passion, a salesperson can find it hard to keep going after plenty of rejections and amid the cut-throat competition.

Being passionate also means they believe in their brand or product. This belief becomes evident in their sales strategy as they try to win their customers’ trust.

2. Competitive
The sales industry has much to offer, but it can also intimidate many. The successful salespeople, however, have a burning desire to win and find ways to meet the customer’s needs and close the deal.

High performing salespeople are driven by their ambition to be the best in their team or company. The idea of overachieving excites them. They don’t settle for mediocre results, and they want to beat their previous sales records. They do this by setting clear targets or goals and continuously tracking their performance.

3. Resilient
Every salesperson experiences setbacks at some point in their career. Even high performing salespeople hit a slump once in a while. In times of adversity, top salespeople stay positive and proactive, instead of reactive. They believe in their ability to figure things out and bounce back after the difficulty.

In challenging situations, average or low performing salespeople usually panic and feel overwhelmed and burdened. This in turn negatively affects their performance further. On the other hand, successful salespeople come up with a strategy to deal with the problem. They don’t dwell on the problem but find a solution instead.

4. People-oriented
It is hard to succeed in the sales industry without being friendly or personable enough. Selling involves having to deal with different kinds of people. Great sales reps understand the power of networking and building great first impressions. They join various events and organizations to meet new people and find potential long-term connections.

Yet, being friendly or approachable is not enough to thrive in this field. Top salespeople are also empathetic and spend a lot of time understanding their consumers’ needs. They go out of their way to get to know their buyers’ motivations, challenges, fears and more. This way, they are able to build trust and win their prospects’ approval over their competitors.

5. Go-getter
Among the most important personality traits of a salesperson is being a go-getter. High performing salespeople focus on results, not excuses. They appreciate the positive feedback they get but don’t rely on external factors to keep themselves motivated. They have their own goals to achieve and find ways to make their dreams a reality.

Taking initiative is also a key factor. Successful salespeople don’t always need the go-signal from their superiors to take action or solve a current problem. They are highly independent and critical thinkers. They are quick to think on their feet when dealing with prospective buyers and capable of meeting their sales targets without much supervision.

 

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