Did you know that superheroes practice? It’s true. In the newest trailer for The Avengers, we see Captain America practicing his punches in a gym. Captain America! Practicing!
The upcoming superhero movie is written and directed by Joss Whedon, the guy behind the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’m told by a friend that the show’s heroine doesn’t limit herself to hunting monsters at night; she spends much of the day in intense training. Buffy has superpowers, but she practices too!
These superheroes know what every worthy athlete knows, but most salespeople and sales managers have yet to figure out: practicing is different from playing the game, and practicing is a must. When athletes play the game, they focus on winning, not on building skills. When superheroes battle super villains, they’re intent on victory, not polishing their fighting techniques.
When salespeople are with prospective customers, their attention can’t be on skill building. It has to be on closing the sale. So when should sales professionals build their selling skills?
During practice!
