If I'm being honest, I've been "formal" and "snarky" more than a few times during my sales and marketing career. And Seth Godin's post got me asking myself "why"?
Why is it that sales professionals feel compelled to change personalities when they're in front of customers? Why do a lot of us slip into some bad immitation of Herb Tarlek from "WKRP in Cincinnati"?
(Gotta click on the WKRP link I just listed, if for nothing more than to catch the catchy home-made synthesizer version of the show's memorable theme song...it's classic...I'm trying to make this version my ring tone).
My immediate thought is that we have some kind of genetic sales DNA that kicks into gear every time we get presented with a selling situation...our traditional, stereotypical view of what a salesperson is supposed to be is so overwhelming that we can't help but conform to that image.
Seth's point is important, because it goes straight to the point of being genuine. And it's my opinion that your customers are desperately looking for that rare, honest, genuine sales professional that can give them what they want: Solutions to their problems.
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