PrintBy Keith Rosen, MCC
The Executive Sales Coach TM
Denise and I were getting ready to wrap up our weekly coaching call. She's been a salesperson for about 18 years and recently took a new position in media sales. I sensed that Denise was dealing with an obstacle: some limiting or dangerous thinking that was sabotaging her selling efforts without her even knowing it. We continued our conversation. Here's how it went:
''It's addicting if that's what you mean. You can bet that I'll continue to keep pushing to get more sales. I'll just have to do a better job at controlling the process and each sales call I go out on.''
''That's interesting. Do you believe that a sales call or your sales process is something you feel you can actually control?''
''Well, I'll certainly try harder to do so!''
''Really?'' I paused for a moment, reflecting back to the beginning of our conversation. ''You said earlier that confidence equates to control. May I ask, what's the relationship you have with control?''
''If you mean I'm a control freak, then the answer is a resounding yes and proud of it.''
''Are you familiar with the paradox of control?''
''No, please share.''
''To give you some background, the word paradox is Latin for 'beyond opinion.' A paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement that may be true. They are a way to test and challenge reality or the limiting or general assumptions we have made that stall our evolution.
'''The more we try to maintain control in our lives, the less freedom we create for ourselves,' illustrates one of the many paradoxes in life. While we may strive to maintain control over our lives, our careers, or even other people in order to produce certain outcomes, this desire to control creates rigidity or resistance to change. We feel that if we control certain things, risk and error are limited.
''This lack of flexibility creates friction in our lives, especially in the face of adversity.
''What is the result? As we continue to put our energy into preventing change or into staying within what we know is safe and comfortable, control becomes the very thing that limits progression, inhibiting the ability to create or recognize better opportunities. As we let go of the need to control, greater possibilities unfold naturally.''
You can determine if you fruitlessly attempt control by asking yourself the following questions:
- Are my efforts and actions enhancing my life or consuming my life?
- Do I want to continue doing things the way I am doing them now for the next thirty years?
- Is this my agenda or someone else's?
- Do I have an attachment to the outcome?
- What am I afraid of? Where's my fear? What am I trying to avoid?
- What am I trying to do or create perfectly? What result am I hooked on achieving?
Paradoxes such as this illustrate how the very actions that we take to generate desired results often slow us down and diminish the quality of the outcome we want to achieve. (Another paradox!)
In other words, consider what would be possible if you responded to the events in your life (both in action and opinion) in the exact opposite manner in which you would normally respond to them? (If you're a Seinfeld fan, you may remember the episode where George made better, successful decisions by doing the exact opposite thing he would normally do.)
In challenging or questioning certain beliefs that we may have initially thought of as true, we open up new possibilities for ourselves and for our career.
This exploration into contradiction is evolutionary, because it immediately creates alternative opportunities and paths upon which to travel.
The Only Three Things You Can Ever Control
In life there are many things we try to control. Ironically, there are only three things that we truly have the ability to effectively and consistently control; they are:
- Your actions.
- Your responses to situations and your experiences.
- Your thoughts, beliefs, or attitude.
''That's it. Everything else that we think we can control (the things we complain and worry about) is an illusion. The irony is that most of us spend our time trying to control the things we can't rather than focusing on mastering the things we can: these three areas that we truly do have control over.''
''That is so true,'' Denise declared. ''Hmm. I can't help but think of the countless hours, days, or even years that I've wasted trying to control the things I can't! Well, today is certainly the start of a new day for me and a new approach to selling. Any other jewels you want to share today?''
''Is that one not enough?'' I said, jokingly.
''Oh, absolutely it is! Talk to you next week, coach!''
About Keith Rosen, MCC — The Executive Sales Coach
Keith Rosen is the executive sales coach that top corporations, executives, and sales professionals call first. As an engaging speaker, Master Coach, and well-known author of many books and articles, Keith is one of the foremost authorities on coaching people to achieve positive change in their attitude, behavior, and results. For his work as a pioneer and leader in the coaching profession, Inc. magazine and Fast Company named Keith one of the five most respected and influential executive coaches in the country.
If you're ready for better results quickly, contact Keith about personal or team coaching and training at 1-888-262-2450 or e-mail info@profitbuilders.com. Visit Keith Rosen online at Profit Builders and be sure to sign up for his free newsletter The Winners Path.