Nurture Future Sales Leaders To Focus on Here, not There

A couple of posts back; I mentioned my search for a “respectable” job to save money for my next dream – medical school and becoming a medical missionary.  In Africa.
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My best offer was from Frank, the hiring manager for Xerox Corporation. Naive and still holding on to my Africa dream, I tell Frank in the final interview that a career in sales was most definitely not for me.

I had a lot to learn….

​The greatest place for impact is where you are right now.

The Impact Myth:

I have a friend who’s a highly effective, character-based, virtues-driven sales leader.  She has a critical sales leadership role in a large health care company that’s going through lots of changes. In a moment of honesty, she admits, “I feel like I’m on a non-ending daily treadmill at work – there’s no purpose in my sales or leadership day. I’m not making a real difference in the world.”

Unfulfilled, she’s seriously considering dedicating the rest of her career missions in Tanzania. “Then I can do important work,” she says.

Have you ever found yourself in a position where you felt “purposeless” – only to realize later that it was exactly where you were supposed to be?

Changing The Impact Myth:

My friend has a broad impact throughout the company. People look up to her and respect her. She’s a great listener – she truly cares about the people who report to her, seeking to always create win-win-wins between employee, company, and client. BUT, she doesn’t’ see it!  She’s so focused on “over there” that she can’t see the positive impact she’s having on people’s lives “right here.”
From our sales research, we know that salespeople, who stay in-the-moment and really listen to their clients, will increase performance by 35%. Staying “right here” and “right now” has measurable results!

Remind future leaders, whether in a sales, leadership or entrepreneurial role, to be fully present in the moment with people and projects in front of them. To be “right here” and “right now.” Not “over there” or “out there.”

They can positively impact a life every time they step outside their front door! They don’t have to leave the country to make an impact. Would this bring more purpose and meaning to their daily life?
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In the next post I’ll tell you how your investment in ’Now’ can impact ‘Then.’

Leadership lesson: The greatest place for impact is here, not over “there” (wherever “there” is).

Leadership question: What myths do you see Next Gen leaders believe about their work?

If you struggle to see how you can make a difference and be a positive change agent by doing your job, I invite you to watch this video:   Work as Worship by RightNow Ministries.