Good sales skills are invaluable.

Thailand is good at many things, but alas too often, Sales is not one of them.

Over many years I here observed on many different levels the relatively poor sales skills by most such encounters -both in my profession and otherwise. Effective sales is often about empathy and listening, not aloofness while checking ones' phone -or the opposite like over-talking.  It turns out that good sales skills are invaluable in many different real life and business endeavors!

Its about probing what the potential client is ideally looking for, i.e. where his/her interests lie.  Not first and foremost making “a sale” in earning a commission.  

There is often so much fake-news or worse along with integrity issues…hence when a potential client sees the sales-person genuinely interested in them and/or steering away from a mistake listening and being interested in what they are looking for, a win-win often emerges.

Because even if no sale takes place just then, the potential client will have a good feeling/experience and trust has begun. Resulting in good vibes which may well to result in referrals or future sales.

One key element is to find what the potential clients hot-button is.  Are they perhaps overly so price conscientious? Are they looking to solve a problem, or a luxury?  Are they relatively well informed on the product/service sought? Do they have to talk to a partner/spouse before making a decision? Is color, size or appearance a consideration…do they have previous experience with this product or service?  What was the best and worst experience they had around this service/product? Do they need help getting is going/assembled or before use? Etc…

Are they just browsing at present, or in the need to make a decision right away of course assuming they found the right solution/product.  Sales, actually, is often helping finding solutions to a problem:  People don’t buy a dishwasher; they buy the time it saves. People don’t invest for fun; they invest in the hope & expectation of not losing their capital while earning a decent return in something they sort of understand. People don’t buy a new matrass; they buy the hope & expectation of better sleeping nights. These days more and more buy (or look out for) a good & memorable experience.   

Here is an example in the Thai/Broker industry.  A Thai stock broker (here called marketing officer) often advocates directly or indirectly everybody to consider day-trading, which is different than investing.  Most day traders, it's been amply proven especially in bear or stale stock markets loose money over time.  Investors seduced into trading by brokers even more so -as they often make all the classic mistakes. I.e. selling-out ones' winners, while holding-on to losers...and not using stop loss orders, etc.  Hence, despite some short term commissions earned, in time the broker loses both traders and investor clients. Then both may end shying the stock market and brokers for long.....-or forever and talk bad about stocks.  "Burned once, twice shy".  Hence, not a good business model nor for brokers, or investors.  Alas this lesson has just now been learned the hard way.

A charismatic sales person which speaks clearly, asks questions and addresses all raised issues & follows-up and deals with high integrity, in time will attract people whom are ever more near desperate these days to deal with high quality people whom they feel put their interest first and with sincerity.