{"id":1744,"date":"2019-07-10T15:57:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T15:57:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=1744"},"modified":"2023-10-18T17:35:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T17:35:38","slug":"work-life-balance-salespersons-dilemma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ca\/blog\/work-life-balance-salespersons-dilemma\/","title":{"rendered":"Work-Life Balance and the Salesperson\u2019s Dilemma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Let\u2019s go ahead and put the truth out there: It seems nearly impossible to have work-life \u201cbalance\u201d in any role in today\u2019s market without very intentional planning. This is especially true for salespeople. The constant demand to be available at any time for clients and for your company can burn out even the most promising sales professionals well before their careers ever get going.<\/p>\n

We have the ability to always be in contact with our company and clients through text, email, social media, and other channels.<\/p>\n

But it doesn\u2019t have to be that way.<\/p>\n

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Why Having Balance Matters<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s easy to stay \u201con\u201d when it comes to our work life; in fact, it\u2019s easier now than it was 20 years ago to avoid shutting off work. Our phones are constantly buzzing. Social media apps keep us connected 24\/7. The constant \u201cding\u201d of a new email entering my inbox interrupts the day. We\u2019re plugged-in to more devices throughout the majority of our day than ever before, and sometimes it\u2019s hard to turn it off because we\u2019re so afraid of missing something.<\/p>\n

But just like that smartphone you sometimes forget to plug in, at some point our bodies and brains run out of battery, too. We need to recharge ourselves before we run out of juice. That juice could be stamina, motivation, energy, excitement, or any other positive force that drives salespeople to succeed.<\/p>\n

This stresses the importance of balance.<\/p>\n

For a personal example, during the periods when I worked all day, seven days a week, I found that after five or six days, my creativity, patience, and willpower diminished immensely. I struggled writing short blog posts and the small tasks that would normally take 30 minutes would stretch throughout the majority of my day.<\/p>\n

My brain was running on fumes because I was solely invested in the work. I neglected the recharge. I became addicted to always being \u201con,\u201d whether it was being available by phone at any hour for customers, constantly engaging followers on social media, or prospecting new clients. Eventually, I went from being productive to only being busy \u2014 and busy doesn\u2019t necessarily equal productive.<\/p>\n

Once I started forcing myself to take breaks and observe weekends, I found that my work productivity, focus, and energy skyrocketed those first few days back. In fact, I got more done within a four-or-five-day span after resting than I had in a 12 to 14 day stretch of working nonstop.<\/p>\n

The ability to step away from our work, both physically and mentally, is ultimately what makes us more productive in it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s almost like physical fitness. You only gain strength by training a few days in a row, then resting. Your body needs the right nutrition and rest in order to repair those muscles. If you keep working out the same muscles day after day after day, your body never gets the opportunity to repair itself and grow stronger.<\/p>\n

Our brains work the same way and require rest in order to perform at their peak. <\/p>\n

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How to Create More Work-Life Balance<\/h2>\n

Creating the necessary rest \u2014 time away from work \u2014 requires intentional action. Every one of us has been guilty of slipping into the trap of constantly being on call, especially because today\u2019s technology makes it possible. When it comes to salespeople and the multitude of parties they\u2019re in constant communication with, it seems necessary to live this kind of lifestyle.<\/p>\n

But everyone in sales can create a healthy balance with their work-life responsibilities by taking careful action to plan ahead, set boundaries, and discipline themselves. <\/p>\n

Plan Ahead<\/h3>\n

\u201cIf you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.\u201d \u2013 Benjamin Franklin<\/a><\/p>\n

A successful salesperson creates a plan with their customers to account for onboarding, as well as details on how they can build a successful business relationship. Just the same, that salesperson can create a plan that explains what to expect from their ongoing communication. Let the client know when you\u2019ll be out of town, who your next point of contact is, and upcoming scheduled meetings to help you both plan out a steady communication thread that doesn\u2019t have to include after-hours contact.<\/p>\n

You can prepare clients ahead of time, and help ease any concerns or questions, by clearly setting your calendar \u2013 and availability \u2013 in advance. This establishes the norms of your relationship with the client, rather than simply diving in and, after the relationship has been ongoing, you find yourself always on call. <\/p>\n

Set Boundaries<\/h3>\n

You have to teach people, even your clients, how you want to be treated. Understand what areas of your life outside of work need to be non-negotiables. Block them out on your calendar, every day, to set a personal appointment with yourself for these times. For example, I have colleagues who have daily appointments to:<\/p>\n