How Mindfulness Can Drive Sales: 6 Practices That Really Work
Mindfulness practices encourage us to be aware of what is going on — both inside our minds and all around us.
And while chances are you’ve heard of some of the amazing things that mindfulness can do for your mental health, you may not be aware of just how powerful mindfulness can be as a sales tool.
If you’re interested in a tried-and-true sales technique that also improves the mental health of your employees, keep reading.
We’ll be discussing how incorporating different mindfulness techniques in the workplace can boost your sales and enhance the lives of both your employees and customers.
Check out the infographic from our friends at Nectar Marketplace.
Focus on Relationships
It happens all the time.
We get so wrapped up in making a sale that we forget one key factor — the customer is a human being. And we humans thrive on relationships.
If you want to increase sales, being mindful of the way you build relationships is one way to do it.
Being mindful in sales relationships means you’ll be focusing on how you can best serve your customers.
You’ll be building trust and creating a positive customer experience by …
- Having a better understanding of your customer’s needs
- Being able to resolve their problems; and
- Connecting with them on a more personal level
Positive Mindset
Mindset can make or break a sale.
Mindfulness helps change negative patterns of thinking and gives you the tools you need to:
- No longer fear rejection
- See yourself as a “helper,” instead of a salesperson
- View your customers in a positive light
- Empathize with your customer’s needs; and
- Practice active listening
Active Listening
“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” – Bryant H. McGill
Practicing active listening cultivates an atmosphere of respect, and can be as simple as:
- Maintaining eye contact
- Ignoring distractions
- Keeping a positive facial expression; and
- Keeping your arms and legs uncrossed and leaning forward in your chair
Listening well gives your customers confidence in your ability to meet their needs.
Mirroring
Mirroring is when you imitate the:
- Gestures
- Speech patterns
- Physical movements
- Energy level: or
- The attitude of your customer.
It helps you to quickly build rapport and trust and is the perfect companion to active listening.
Empathize
Empathy infuses humanity into the sales experience.
The ability to understand and share your customer’s feelings opens the door to deeper insight into the intricacies of their problem — and how you can solve it.
Empathy may arguably top the list when it comes to critical selling skills.
You can practice empathy by:
- Using active listening
- Asking questions to be sure you are reading the customer’s emotions and needs correctly; and
- Summarizing what they said to ensure understanding.
Meditation
Implementing meditation as part of your mindfulness practice in the workplace can reap huge benefits in sales — and in your team’s physical and mental health.
Just a few of the many benefits of meditation include:
- A reduction in stress
- Decreased cortisol levels
- Strengthened mental resilience
- Increased self-control; and
- Improved critical thinking skills
