What are the traits that make people successful? There are books and articles written on the subject all the time. We know that to be a success in any profession, there are certain qualities and characteristics that you must have. This is also true for top sales people. Top sales people share qualities and attributes that help to make them a success as sales professionals.

1. Focus.

Top sales people put all of their attention and resources toward the goal that they want to achieve. They do not allow themselves to be pulled off task or distracted by anything that will not help them to get where they want to be. Top sales people know how to prioritize. They put together a plan and stick to the plan. Being successful in sales is hard work and top sales people know that in order to achieve their goals they will have to do what it takes to produce the best possible outcome. This includes being prepared by doing their homework: knowing who their customer is and what the customer wants. They are organized and practiced and leave very little to chance when they are meeting with prospects or when they are doing sales presentations. In addition, the best sales performers take responsibility for their work and their mistakes. They will never take time to look for someone to blame for a problem or an issue. Instead, top sales people will move on to looking for solutions to correct problems and setbacks.

2. Flexibility.

Although top sales people are very focused, they know the importance of being flexible. Being flexible does not mean bending to the will or whims of others. Being flexible means that you are willing to make adjustments in order to achieve a goal. By being flexible, top sales people are able to understand and work for the needs of their customers. If preconceived ideas are incorrect, these people know that they have to adjust their original plan in order to make the customer happy and to complete the sale. Top sales people know how to adapt and make adjustments to any given situation. We have all been in situations where a sales presentation or pitch is not going the way we had planned. Top sales people will be able to modify their presentation in order to meet the challenge. A large component of being flexible is being prepared for anything.

3. Feeling.

Top sales people understand their customers. They are able to establish an easy, natural and sincere rapport and, because of this, people trust them. To be a top performer, you need to have empathy. This means taking the time to understand and be responsive to the needs of the customer. The best sales people know how to be active listeners which helps them to gather more information than those who do not take the time to listen. In addition, tops sales people have a passion for their work. They believe in what they are doing and they find pleasure in the work and the success that it brings. They are always looking to improve their knowledge and their skills. They are always on the lookout for ways to expand their understanding of their product and their customers.

All sales professionals want to be at the top of their game. Top sales people know that in order to be the best, they must be focused on their goals and flexible to meet the needs of an ever-changing market place. They also realize that they must be constantly looking at ways to better understand the needs of their customers. By working on instilling these traits in yourself, you will be working to be a top sales performer.