As an employee, it’s important to possess skills in sales and marketing regardless of what position you hold. With sales, one has capacity to develop self-discipline, master proper communication skills as well as develop determination among other vital skills crucial for career growth. Diana Nawatti, an educator believes skills in sales give one the ability to listen and effectively communicate, which is critical in every field. One is able to learn more about effective communication. Mazen Halawy, a business person with an enterprise based in Kibagabaga says with knowledge in sales, one is able to develop self-discipline. He notes that from his experience as an employer, sales are one of the fields where performance absolutely impacts results and rewards in any organisation. Besides, the entrepreneur goes on to highlight that with sales skills, one can easily develop negotiation skills, which can turn out to help them boost their career in general. One thing that is evident is that succeeding in every job requires negotiating with co-workers, employers, and many other people inside or outside your organisation, he says. “Working in sales helps you develop the ability to really listen, to evaluate possibilities and most importantly, identify key important drivers with objections and find a solution within the shortest time possible,” he says. Solange Mutesi, a salesperson says such skills help one develop determination and perseverance, which are also important skills that one needs in their career. This, she points out that it helps an individual master experience that will later help them overcome any challenges that might come their way, thus improving their performance at large. Meanwhile, she also points out that sales skills help one learn and develop different skills that would help them work with others effectively. She believes that as a salesperson, it has helped her personally to widen her diversity horizons, in a really good way as she gets to learn how to handle different kinds of customers, which sometimes is a huge challenge for some people. “Working in sales will help build your confidence as well as give you the skills to step into unfamiliar or even uncomfortable situations with confidence,” she says. Nawatti on the other hand says sales in general can help one reach better decisions within the shortest period of time. She notes that reaching an agreement with others and getting others to act on that agreement is a basic business skill, which is all about sales. “With sales skills, it’s a great way to learn how to close and is a useful skill in every profession, and for the entrepreneurs, this skill goes beyond just that,” she says. In a nutshell, experts believe that no matter what position you hold at work, it’s important to get involved with sales, for an individual who lacks these basic skills faces some major challenges in their career.
