WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM, Bub?… Recently while paying for some gasoline I encountered an attendant who was Mister Grump. You know the type… mad at the world…a person who is flat out rude! We all run into people like that periodically. It is amazing how fast a variety of questions race through our minds at that moment ( "Who do you think you are?" What's your problem?" You're supposed to be serving me, aren't you?", "I don't have to put up with your crap, Buster", etc.).
Sometimes it bothers us and sometimes it doesn't. It depends on how we are feeling at the moment, doesn't it? Isn't it amazing how our personal Mindset controls our responses.
After my recent experience, I came to two conclusions:
1. Mister Grump was not angry with me… he had something else going on in his life. It would be a mistake for me to take it personally. It has nothing to do with me.
2. If I fall into the trap of being equally grumpy then I am only hurting myself. Sometimes it is hard not to "bite back". I do know that when I am guilty of being equally snarly then for the next couple of hours I don't feel very good about myself. The best antidote is to be very selfish and look after me (in other words… don't react at all).
What does all this mean? It means when you encounter a customer or prospect who is being Mr./Mrs. Grump remember the above two points. Weaker Salespeople use these nasty encounters as excuses to stop prospecting or stop working that day. That's dumb. Be the professional, be mentally tough, just say "NEXT". Get "back on the horse"…make your next call, go on your next appointment, & get over it quick! When you do this, when you "shake it off"…you will immediately feel good inside. There's a BONUS here…The Grump can actually make you feel better about you!!! NO Excuses.
Sometimes it bothers us and sometimes it doesn't. It depends on how we are feeling at the moment, doesn't it? Isn't it amazing how our personal Mindset controls our responses.
After my recent experience, I came to two conclusions:
1. Mister Grump was not angry with me… he had something else going on in his life. It would be a mistake for me to take it personally. It has nothing to do with me.
2. If I fall into the trap of being equally grumpy then I am only hurting myself. Sometimes it is hard not to "bite back". I do know that when I am guilty of being equally snarly then for the next couple of hours I don't feel very good about myself. The best antidote is to be very selfish and look after me (in other words… don't react at all).
What does all this mean? It means when you encounter a customer or prospect who is being Mr./Mrs. Grump remember the above two points. Weaker Salespeople use these nasty encounters as excuses to stop prospecting or stop working that day. That's dumb. Be the professional, be mentally tough, just say "NEXT". Get "back on the horse"…make your next call, go on your next appointment, & get over it quick! When you do this, when you "shake it off"…you will immediately feel good inside. There's a BONUS here…The Grump can actually make you feel better about you!!! NO Excuses.