National Sales Center

The Swine Flu Has The Potential To Effect Sales And How We Sell

Salespeople deal with the public and often find themselves in airports, on plans and in meetings. So, when I started to hear about this Swine Flu, I immediately thought about salespeople, their health and how this flu could affect business.

It’s still early and there is no reason to panic but I feel this Swine Flu has the potential to alter the sales and business landscape. We can all hope this flu dies out quickly but the concern about it is already with us. Today, I heard that one major corporation has placed travel restrictions on its employees that travel out of the country on business.

I wonder if the Swine Flu will put a strain on sales prospecting. Will prospects be cautious about meeting with new people? Will the customary “handshake greeting” be put on hold? You have to assume there will be a decrease in “face to face” appointments and a sharp increase in phone appointments. I also expect an increase in conference calls and video conferencing. Things may change for a while so be prepared.

The flu could also expand “comfort zones” during a sales call. Perhaps it’s both prudent and polite to leave more space between you and your prospect during a sales appointment. Doing so may temporarily be the best way to establish rapport with a prospect. We could see selling techniques change in a big way.

Yes, we all know about washing our hands often and other measures we can take to protect ourselves against the flu. Obviously, if you feel sick, stay home and don’t report to the office. This is no time to be a hero and it’s the right thing to do for the rest of the sales team.

THIS GREAT VIDEO HAS MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU

I’m confident many HR departments are already discussing issues related to the flu. Should National meetings be delayed? Should sales training seminars or other group Employee Development sessions be rescheduled? Should more employees be encouraged to work from home? These are difficult issues many are facing for the very first time.

My thoughts concern two areas. What special measures can salespeople and sales organizations take to further protect themselves against this Swine Flu? Also, has this flu already altered normal business practices?

I’d appreciate it if you share your experiences with other visitors to this site. Feel free to post your comments below. I know that others will be interested in your thoughts, suggestions and experiences.

Stay well, stay successful!

Nick Moreno

Tags: sales