Sales representatives and salespeople often have a lot of stress build up due to the demands of their jobs. The pressure to perform, make sales, or get through the workday can be challenging. If you find yourself rubbing your temples, squinting your eyes, or feeling nauseous from nerves, sales job stress may be starting to get to you.

Stress and other mental health ailments are not uncommon side effects of sales and/or call center positions.

You may discuss your stresses with your team and take time to decompress. Doing so can make stress more manageable. Consider using one of the many methods outlined here to ease inside sales pressure and to deal with the stress of your workplace, the need to make sales, and handling challenging customers. Remember to maintain the lines of communication with your sales manager and fellow team members to take some of the pressure off of you as you work to recover from the effects of stress.

Signs of a Stress-Related Health Decline

Stress manifests in different ways for everyone. However, there are some telling signs of stress impacting health and causing a decline.

Some of these signs include the following:

It is integral to be on the lookout for stress-related health issues that may arise from the demands of a sales job.

If this list includes things you’re experiencing, discuss your health-related ailments with a primary care physician or emergency doctor that can prescribe medications. Additionally, mental health therapy may be able to hand you some vital coping tools you can use to ease the pressure of stress and help you find peace again.

Check with your HR Benefits department to see if they offer mental health counseling services or other mental health resources to assist in dealing with stress and anxiety as a result of demands from work.

Reduce Stress and Earn Your Peace Back

Reducing stress can be difficult, but it ultimately does not have to require a lot of time or energy. Sometimes reducing stress can be done by simply taking a step back, using positive affirmations, and keeping yourself grounded. However, healing from some stressors may require more energy and time.

Here are our tips for dealing with the day-to-day stress of sales in an effective manner. You might not need that extra donut to cope after all!

Do Not Take Any Words Personally

Whether these words come from a coworker, an angry customer, or someone else on the premises, they are not worth your mental and emotional peace.

If an instance requires intervention, you may wish to visit your company’s HR department and file a complaint. However, try to let the words of discouragement leave you and not focus on what was said or what other people think of you. Holding harsh words close to your heart may only bring you down and will not let you focus on what matters: yourself and your well-being.

If needed, try mental exercises to help erase the words and not let them seep into your thoughts. Envision the harsh words as a bubble and allow them to float away from you and pop in the atmosphere, never coming back. Try deep breathing while doing this exercise, as it can help you feel more centered and slow down a rapid heart rate.

Remember That Customer Anger Is Not About You

Not taking words personally and having the tools you need to deal with challenging customers can help diffuse a situation. It can be hard to face a challenging customer who explodes on you. In sales jobs, this can happen often and discourage many sales reps.

It is unfair to have to calm down an angry customer when you were not part of their problem. However, it comes with the position.

Speaking calmly and remaining focused on the outcome is the best thing you can do when dealing with an upset or angry customer. Try to omit any of their negative, mean, or harsh words from your thoughts and focus only on getting the outcome necessary to end the interaction.

You may wish to speak with a supervisor about the next step when dealing with an unruly customer. A supervisor can assist you when you’re in trouble and guide you. However, it’s important to remember that another person's anger has nothing to do with you and is not a reflection of your personality, competence, or effort.

Take Time To Decompress

Decompressing means to ease some of the pent-up pressure you may feel from the workday. A decompression activity is anything that offers you an emotional or physical reprieve from the stress you may be feeling.

Some decompression methods may work better for you than others, depending on personal interest. Some people enjoy a glass of wine while making dinner or watching their favorite TV shows. Some people take long baths, burn fragrant-smelling candles, or read their favorite books as a way to decompress after a long day. These activities are designed to help melt stress away from your muscles and leave you feeling prepared for another day.

The outcome should be less stress and more peace of mind, regardless of the method you choose to achieve it. If your chosen activity is not providing you with emotional relief, consider trying other activities until you find one that meets your needs. Playing video games, watching television, taking a bath, or enjoying a drink with friends are common ways to decompress.

Remember To Breathe

Deep breathing helps you to manage rapid heart rate and stress. Deep breathing involves taking a long breath for three seconds, holding it for three, and then taking time to release the breath.

Mental health experts and therapists use deep breathing techniques for those plagued by stress and anxiety. This method is also useful for those suffering from panic or anxiety attacks. While also helping keep your nerves calm, deep breathing can also assist in relieving muscle and stomach tension.

This breathing technique can also assist relieving in high blood pressure. Because deep breathing enables more oxygen to enter your body, your nerves will inevitably calm, and you will feel the stress melt away.

Take Breaks

Taking breaks is integral to keeping your mental health in a good place. Without taking enough breaks, you may feel overwhelmed over the course of your daily routine. Pacing yourself and taking breaks is vital to prevent emotional and physical burnout.

A sales position requires a lot of persuasion and mental processing. You will be less effective at persuading others to make purchases if you are not taking care of your mental health needs.

You need to give your mind a break from the constant bombardment of persuading others what they need. Even just a five-minute break can help you feel rejuvenated after a hard workday.

Talk it Out With Coworkers

Speaking with your coworkers and comparing experiences can help you feel a sense of community. This may validate your feelings and let you know that everything you feel is rooted in reality.

Having a challenging sales job can be difficult. But with a group of people around to support your opinions and experience, you can see that the demanding parts of your job are also demanding resources from others. Sometimes, blowing off steam by speaking with others with the same struggles can help you release the pressure valve of your emotions and come back with a clearer mind.

Seek Out Advice and Feedback

If you feel you are having more issues than your peers, you may want to sit down with your supervisor for a discussion. Getting feedback and advice from someone who has been in your position can help guide you in a better direction and assist you in fulfilling your job functions.

Knowing what is expected of you and the best methods to reach a satisfying outcome with a sale can make all the difference with stress.

Controlling Stress Is Possible

Stress may build up from the demands of your sales position, but it does not have to be all-consuming. Using the methods outlined in this article can help prevent and ease the stress from your sales position and help you regain some peace of mind.

Note the signs of stress-related health decline, and be sure to identify the impact of these signs on yourself and the people around you. When you are aware of these signs and the consequences of stress on your life, you can better choose one or multiple methods to help yourself adjust to a new regimen of handling the pressure. Whether it means deep breathing and meditation or seeking advice from a supervisor, you can handle stress in a way that makes your work easier to get through. You may even see your sales numbers improving after adopting relaxation methods. When you take care of yourself, you’re better able to take care of others - and your numbers!

GET THE REPORT

DOWNLOAD PDFORDER PRINT