I know, I know. Another quarter of the year has gone, you’re not where you want to be, business is in a slump, your sales(team) is sucking wind. What are you going to do?

First off don’t panic! Prospects can sense desperation in sales people from a mile away and they’ll cross the street just to pretend they didn’t see you coming. Take a deep breath, be calm and let’s focus on what needs to be done.

Secondly, now is not the time for pity party.  (well ok, just two minutes and that’s it!)  Shake it off. Focus on positive experiences, the times that you triumphed over adversity, the new client or contract that you worked on for so long and finally nabbed. Feels good doesn’t it?

And lastly, Put your energy towards what you can change, not what you can’t. When you’re in a slump, you need to be totally in control and assure others around you that you know exactly what to do. (especially that person in the mirror!)

Don’t know where to start? Let me give you some tips for Getting Out of a Slump and Getting Back on Track.

1. Get Back on Track – Review your goals and either recommit to the action plan you set for yourself at the beginning of the year – or create a new one!

2. Declutter your Environment – It’s impossible to feel excited about what you do if you can’t see your desk and your computer files indicate hoarding tendencies. A chaotic work environment will make you depressed to be there and if you’re depressed to be at work, you won’t snap out of your slump.

3. Change It Up – Your office is not always the most creative space if you need to brainstorm. If you need motivation, go sit in a coffee shop with a nice view and read those books and articles on positive thinking and self-improvement you’ve been stockpiling. Because I live and work  on Vancouver’s North Shore, I will go for a long walk through the woods or hike up hill if I need to get re-energized. It’s amazing how physical energy can feed intellectual energy. Not close to a park? Hit the stairs in your building or walk around the block. Don’t make excuses!

4. Have Lunch with a Leader – Ask the best sales person you know for lunch. (they don’t have to be in the same industry!) Find out what they’re doing differently than you, and how you can incorporate those ideas in your business.  Or if you are up for it, ask to shadow them on their sales calls.

5. Audit – even better than lunch, invite someone to go with you on your sales calls, or sit with you when you make customer service phone calls. Ask them for feedback – and listen to it. If you aren’t able to have that live person with you, video or audio record your calls and presentations.

6. Get a Mentor/Coach – Whoever you choose, ask them to be honest with you, and when they are, do something with the advice they give you. Consider it a verbal kick in the butt.

7. Refresh, Renew – isn’t it time to refresh your presentation? Are you incorporating ‘normal’ words or jargon? Does it still resonate with your target market? Think about updating any images you use or phrases/words. What may have worked in the past certainly isn’t working now or you wouldn’t be in this slump, right?

8. Avoid Energy Vampires and One-Uppers – You know them, we all know them. They are the ones that will suck the last bit of positive energy or thought out of you if you let them. “Everyone’s out to get me.” “Life isn’t fair.” “My wife/husband doesn’t understand me.”  “You think your headache is bad, mine is a migraine.” You’re lucky your kid just got the measles, mine got pnemonia!” blah, blah, blah.  Run away!

9. Tell Someone – You know what you need to do to improve things so tell someone. I have found that if I tell someone whom I admire either in business or personally what I will do in the next day, week etc. I hold my self accountable. Call it guilt, ego, it doesn’t matter – as long as it works.

10. It’s Insane – Remember, if you keep doing the same thing and expect different results … well, you know!

 

Now Go Get Connected!

About Cathy Kuzel

With 25+ years of experience as a successful Entrepreneur and Business Consultant helping Entrepreneurs succeed, she is recognized across Canada for her in-house and public seminars on “All Things Small Biz”. Named one of the Top Ten Mentors in Canada, Cathy is the Founder of The Connected Woman Association, Author of “Are You a Collector or a Connector?”; “I’m on the Phone!”; the internationally known “Daily Espressos” and is a networking maven.