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It’s probably no surprise to learn that the possibility of rejection is the #1 fear stopping most women entrepreneurs from adding more clients to their businesses.
Rejection triggers core emotions within us of acceptance, loss of love and questionable survival. No wonder we naturally want to avoid situations that could cause us to feel this way!
But as entrepreneurs, we’re in the unique position of challenging ourselves to grow past the limitations that others accept without question.
And as we forge this growth, we open up opportunities for ourselves — financially, spiritually, in our relationships and in our personal fulfillment of our life’s purpose — that “regular” folks may never get the joy of experiencing.
Which is why it is crucial for your success to learn how to handle sales rejection with grace and ease. Because in the process, not only will you increase your revenue, you’ll be securing your income for life, and, you’ll be letting go of old baggage such as self-doubt that you don’t need to carry around any more.
Intrigued? Good. Here are 3 strategies to help you find your center and step into your power in a sales conversation when threatened by feeling rejection.
Strategy #1 – Don’t Buy Into Your Story
At its heart, rejection plays a part of a story many women tell themselves. For example, stories of “I’m not good enough”, “I’m not valued” or “I’m not wanted” are the most common. Even saying the word “rejection” can cause painful, unpleasant feelings to surface.
The key to freeing yourself from feeling that unpleasantness is to reframe your experience of having a potential client say no.
For example, what if hearing “no” simply meant, “not now”? Or “not this”. Seen from this angle, no isn’t about YOU, it’s about where your prospective client is in their process.
Strategy #2 – Are You Fearless In Diving Deep Enough?
In an enrolling conversation, most women want to skip asking questions that might make their prospective client uncomfortable. So they miss out on asking questions that stretch their prospective client out of their story, and out of their comfort zone, and into a space of seeing (perhaps for the first time) what is really possible for them to solve or achieve.
For example, great questions to ask include:
“Why did you decide that now is the time for us to talk?
“What is one major challenge you’re having in/with
______________ (your area of expertise)?“Why do you think you’re having that challenge?”
Strategy #3 – Find Reassurance
Most women make the mistake of seeking reassurance by opting out so early in the enrolling conversation process that they have no hope of succeeding. While it’s wonderful to give a couple of enrolling conversations and sign up a client, often it takes dozens more conversations to find your confidence, to hone your message and to feel assured in making an offer.
My advice? Find reassurance by asking yourself these questions after every enrolling conversation:
What did I do well? (Be specific and generous with yourself!)
What will I do differently the next time?
Your goal is to be so connected, so engaged and so present with your prospective client, that you ‘get over yourself’ and you step into your place of unstoppable confidence and certainty!
