“Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.”
So says the Dread Pirate Roberts in the classic film, The Princess Bride. His line illustrates the stereotype of sales people as deceitful opportunists who are not to be trusted. Like pirates.
What can you do as a sales leader or sales professional to counter this negative reputation? Being honest comes to mind, but what does this mean?
It means more than being honest about the ups and downs of whatever you sell. It also means being honest about whether or not the product or service you offer is right for the prospective customer.