Search Here

Common first impressions of salespersons are that they are persistent social beings. But some of them actually struggle with social anxiety, yet they can build a successful career in sales.

Contrary to the common notion, not everyone in this profession is comfortable with social situations. No matter how much they want to do well at their job, some struggle with social anxiety, which makes it difficult for them to accomplish their goals.

In a study with 15 participants from business-to-business sales positions, social anxiety was negatively associated with sales performance. However, researchers also found that higher levels of mindful acceptance and perceived support from sales managers showed lower social anxiety.

Embarking a career in sales when you knowingly struggle with social anxiety can be an otherwise rewarding challenge. Here's what you can do to succeed.

What to do in your professional life

The first thing to do is to reframe your mindset. No salesperson has a 100 percent success rate, but some people take rejection personally. Doing so hurts a person's mental and physical health. 

Positively talking to yourself will be more helpful. Recognizing small victories, even just the accomplishment of a simple task like making a few sales calls, is a proven technique to put you on a better mental and emotional path that leads to success.

What to do in your personal life

While many think separating professional life from personal life is best, a link between the two remains. Taking care of yourself by maintaining a balanced diet, regularly exercising and prioritizing sleep can help overcome social anxiety. Lastly, experts recommend refraining from comparing yourself with others, especially on social media.