Summary:

Remember Rodney Dangerfield, an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and author.  He became famous for his self-deprecating one-liner humor. He became famous for his humor, saying, “Don’t get any respect.’ He had other great one-liners:

My wife and I were happy for twenty years, then we met.

I know how to make a girl say, Yes   I ask her, Am I bothering you?

I get no respect.  The way my luck is running, if I were a politician, I would be honest,

My psychiatrist told me I was crazy, and I said I wanted a second opinion.  He said, “Kay, you’re ugly too.’

Article:

Dignity and respect are part of your heritage and culture.  Interactions with others are regular parts of your daily life. The way you treat others reflects what is going on in your mind.

Dignity, a universal state of being that exists within all of us, is a person’s inherent worth and value.  It is earned through our words, thoughts, actions, and values and is fundamental to our humanity.

Expectations are reciprocal. We play a role in upholding the dignity of fellow human beings, and we must be mindful of the impact of our words and actions on others. If we fail to treat others respectfully, we extinguish trust and dignity.

Respect is showing consideration or worthiness of others.

Showing dignity and respect to others is not just a matter of cultural common courtesy; it’s a fundamental aspect of our humanity.  Our actions can inspire others to show respect and contribute to a more dignified society.

Outside forces, such as religion, political leanings, social strata, conventions, and norms, sometimes affect this equation. How do we treat rich people, poor people, special needs people, religious, non-religious, anti-vaxed people, fat people, older people, and others with various qualities that appear to be unique?  For instance, respecting a person with special needs could involve being patient and understanding, while respecting someone from a different religion could include being open-minded and tolerant.  For example, when interacting with a person with special needs, you can show respect by being patient and understanding their unique challenges.

When engaging with someone from a different religion, we should show respect by being open-minded and tolerant of their beliefs. Similarly, when interacting with someone from a different social stratum, we can show respect by acknowledging their achievements and treating them with equal respect. Ask them questions and listen.  For instance, when dealing with a potential client from a different social stratum, we can show respect by acknowledging their success and asking about their business needs rather than assuming they know what’s best.  This may involve inquiring about business objectives, understanding their challenges, and proposing solutions that align with their specific needs. It’s about understanding their perspective and showing empathy, which can go a long way in building a respectful sales relationship.

Tribal social instincts affect the equation.  These instincts can manifest in various ways, such as a perception that a subset is chosen as God’s favored children or that their religion and Its Associated figures are superior to those of others.  Therefore, some may feel that they are better.  Some may think they are better than those who do not subscribe to their emotions and cognitive mechanisms, i.e., (how the brain processes activities such as perception, learning, memory, thinking, and consciousness).

All the above is filtered through our frame of reference and influences how we treat others, including in sales relationships.  For instance, if you believe that your product or service is superior to others, this belief may influence how you interact with potential clients, potentially leading to disrespectful behavior if they don’t immediately see the value you see.  This rude behavior can damage the relationship and hinder the sales process.  Respect is a two-way street; disrespectful behavior can have severe consequences in sales relationships.

As we navigate our day, we must remember that treating others with dignity and respect requires a conscious effort. Our actions can significantly contribute to fostering a culture of mutual respect, and we can stand tall as individuals who are giving and sensitive.  This conscious effort is a clear sign of our engagement and commitment to this cause, and it is this commitment that will lead to a more respectful society.

How does this relate to a salesperson? When salespeople are treated with overt disrespect and indignity, they should try the soft approach and extend a hand of friendship.  I have had relationships that started with people who were hort, condescending, and aloof, and I was able to turn them around. If that does not work, it may be necessary to disengage from the lead or discontinue active marketing.  This disengagement, which I call the ‘big approach,’ should only be considered when the salesperson is specific that the lead is uninterested in working with you in the future. The big D approach involves politely disengaging the lead so that you will no longer pursue the business relationship due to their disrespectful behavior.

A few prospective and failed budding relationships are not worth the abuse.  It’s like trying to date a sociopath; it will never work.

The salesperson has three types of lead interfaces:

As salespersons, our diligent efforts to develop many relationships where mutual respect is not just a key but a cornerstone can significantly impact our success.  These relationships, built on familiarity, trust, and shared values, are the seeds that grow into solid business connections.  Regular personal contact is crucial to nurturing these relationships and fostering a culture of respect and trust, where each party feels valued and integral to the process.

The salesperson’s job is to develop ongoing friendships and mutual respect, which increases the likelihood of referrals and repeat business. It is also helpful to assist others in promoting their businesses.  For instance, we can share their posts on social media, recommend services to our network, or even collaborate on a project.

The business motive should be understood when soliciting or communicating with someone who may or may not be interested in our services or have other clients benefiting from them.  This type of lead should be marketed digitally through email, direct mail, and online presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, and similar platforms, where respect for the recipient’s time and attention is paramount; otherwise, it should be eliminated as a personal contact.

As salespeople, we understand that time is a limited resource.  Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.  Therefore, the time spent following up personally should be cherished.  Spectful and productive communication is critical to maximizing this precious resource and building successful sales relationships, where each moment is valued and the urgency of our role is felt.

The salesperson may follow up with leads who are disrespectful or condescending.  When this occurs, the salesperson should give them another chance in case they just had a bad day. Maintaining professionalism and sending them an email that says something like this is crucial. Thank you for taking my call. Yocall. Running into the conversation. Would it be with you if I didn’t contact you personally in the future?  Based on the response, you can continue to call them periodically directly.  You may keep them in your marketing database for email, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other media that do not require personal contact. Of course, the last option is the big D.

Handling Rejection: The first element of handling rejection and occasional disrespect is realizing that a few prospects will mistreat us, but it is not about any of us.  It is about them. The second is learning how to handle both rejection and occasional disrespect as a salesperson.  A prospective buyer or lead may not intend to be personally disrespectful, but rather to reject the request.  The rejection was not meant to be individual.

Receiving multiple failed sales requests or disrespectful rejections daily can be exhausting. For our salespeople, it can be a valuable learning experience.  It is part of the sales business, which is the primary reason that a sales job is one of the most challenging jobs in our society.  All the rejections can easily affect one’s self-worth.

Over time, if the salesperson cannot learn to take rejection and occasional disrespectful comments personally, that person may be better suited to functioning in a support role rather than on the front lines of the sales effort.

Listening and taking a sincere interest in our clients and their needs: If the salesperson listens to the subliminal reasoning for a disrespectful rejection, one might find that the person being solicited has multiple personal problems outside the conversation.  The person may be projecting their issues onto the solicitor.. As tricky as it may seem, the master salesperson will treat the solicited party with kindness and respec,t, even when receiving a disrespectful comment.  Any decision about altering the marketing approach and follow-up of the person can be made later.