Change your Thinking to Achieve Leadership and Sales Goals

​My first “real” job was in sales at Xerox Corporation – this seemed more compelling to me than my “growing-up” jobs on the ranch, picking rock and hauling bales. Although the growing up jobs developed leadership and sales work ethic, they didn’t teach me how to deal with the repeated rejection I got when cold calling in western North Dakota. In fact, if I cried three times a day, I considered it a good day!

 On the fourth cry, I called my boss, Bob, for a pep talk. I was determined not to go back to picking rock and hauling bales!

Bob always listened to me. Then, he invited me to change my thinking, “Danita, when some people get frustrated, they drive too fast and get speeding tickets. Others punch holes in walls. Still others get drunk. Crying seems less dangerous! Cheer up. Get back out there.”

Then, as a consummate sales manager he always ended with “Go get that sale!”

Who encouraged you when you were a young professional?

At some point, I toughened up and started to practice the discipline of changing my thinking to support my goals and dreams. The result? More productive sales and leadership behavior. You’ve been on the challenging journey also, haven’t you?

Change your thinking to support your goals and dreams is the third action step to Sharpen Self-Listening.
I recently read Switch on your Brain by Caroline Leaf. She provides great data-based insights into how we are wired for introspection and self-listening. Thus, we can change our negative thinking patterns….and outcomes.

Our thoughts drive our behavior, and our behavior dictates our accomplishments. We have a powerful choice. Will we be positive, or will we give into the negative?
Here are a couple of tips to help you encourage and challenge young leaders to change their thinking.

• Develop a rhythm of remembering.

Remind Millennials of their goals and dreams on a regular basis. Problem: many young leaders haven’t thought through their dreams. There are lots of tools and resources to help them intentionally chart a path forward.  If they haven’t found a helpful guide, you may want to give them my eWorkbook, Energize Your Dreams.  Jot me an eMail and I’ll forward to you.

• Steer clear of “can’t” thinking.

When we believe we can achieve something, research has shown that we’re more than halfway there!  The opposite is unfortunately also true, so commit recognizing and rewarding construction “I can and I will” thinking from those you mentor.

It’s a win-win to encourage your Millennials to think about their thinking. It’s a win for them, as they achieve momentum towards accomplishing their dreams. Plus, it’s a win for you when you tie their motivation to furthering your business growth and succession strategies.

Encourage the Next Gen leaders you coach to take the advice of my first boss, Bob, “Change your thinking.”

Dakota Way Leadership question: How might you encourage emerging leaders to change their thinking in order to support their goals and dreams?

Dakota Way Leadership lesson: Change your thinking from “can’t” thinking to “can” and “will” thinking.

​​​© Copyright Danita Bye, 2016