Many seasoned sales professionals suggest shaking things up now and then, and venturing outside of your comfort zone in order to go from a good sales person to a great sales person. It is an exercise that can help you break that sales plateau and expand into techniques you may not have thought of before—but there is an art to stepping outside of your safe zone effectively.
When it comes to professional growth, sometimes change can be a valuable ally. This can mean shifting your approach to gaining new business, reexamining your relationships with current clients, or possibly venturing into new real estate markets.
Yet despite the potential benefits of entering unknown or unfamiliar territory, it can be challenging to know how or where to start. Here are six ways to challenge yourself to go beyond your comfort zone.
1. Take a look at what you’re doing now.
Many times, the best way to challenge yourself is to take a look at your current situation. What are your approaches to building your business? How about your strategies for developing your client relationships? If you find that your professional path has become overly familiar, it may be a sign to explore new tactics.
2. Get inspired by new ideas.
Do you have a colleague who seems to have a great plan for growing their business, or a friend in another industry who is up-to-date on technology and other resources? Don’t hesitate to ask others for their insights and advice. Increasing your exposure to new ideas in books, podcasts, blogs and more can also help prepare you to take on new challenges.
3. Make a plan.
Instead of plunging immediately into unknown waters, take time to develop a plan. Creating an outline of what you want to achieve, what you’d like to change, and how you see yourself attaining the best end results can help you stay on track.
4. Explore different markets.
Perhaps you’ve reached your sweet spot with a certain real estate market or clientele. While it’s great to keep a good thing going, you may be missing out on opportunities to expand into areas with strong growth potential. Look into neighborhoods that you may have overlooked in the past, or try researching groups of buyers or sellers who may be new to you.
5. Take on unfamiliar situations.
Is there a course or networking event you’ve been curious about but have avoided due to a lack of familiarity with the subject? Maybe there’s a professional area that you’ve wanted to improve upon (such as giving presentations or hosting educational seminars). Despite the discomfort that can come with tackling potentially uncomfortable situations, taking them head-on can help boost your confidence, knowledge and skill set.
6. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
It’s hard to get new plans off the ground without giving them a chance—and sometimes this can mean experimenting with different approaches or ideas. Give yourself the time to try out something new, then observe and record what happens. Sometimes the best results can come from the most unlikely situations or sources.
Another way to go outside of your professional comfort zone is to take a look at resources that you may not have considered before, like American Home Shield® Home Warranties. Consider advising your clients on the benefits of getting coverage from AHS®. They have plans that help protect homebuyers and sellers’ budgets from the costs of unexpected breakdowns.
For more information about American Home Shield, please visit www.ahs.com. For more articles like this, please visit ahs.com/home-matters.
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