5 Tips for Dealing with Sales Burnout and Sales Anxiety
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the constant pressure of selling your digital products? Do you find yourself experiencing anxiety or even flirting with burnout when it comes to sales? You're not alone.
Many entrepreneurs face these challenges, especially when they are juggling multiple responsibilities or dealing with health issues. In this blog post, I'll share five tips to help you deal with sales burnout and sales anxiety so that you can regain your energy and confidence in selling your digital products.
Why do we feel sales anxiety as small business owners?
As small business owners, the pressure to constantly sell our digital products can be super overwhelming. The need to meet sales targets, handle customer objections, and manage competition can definitely pile up and take a real toll on your mental health if you aren't careful. In fact, when we don't have a healthy sales strategy that works for you as a human, it's all too easy for the pressure of sales to lead to exhaustion.
Additionally, and especially if you're neurodivergent, the fear of rejection and failure can make your sales anxiety even worse, making it crucial to find healthy ways to cope with these challenges.
Is sales bad for mental health?
While sales itself isn't inherently bad for mental health, the way we approach it can have a significant impact. Feeling pushy, sleazy or manipulative when selling can definitely make you feel uncomfortable, unhappy, and unaligned with your own personal values. That's why it's so important to find aligned sales techniques and strategies that not only result in sales but also feel good to us as business owners!
What are the signs and symptoms of sales burnout?
Signs of burnout when it comes to sales in particular include decreased motivation, chronic fatigue, and mood swings, which often come hand in hand with unmanageable workloads and decreased sales that can lead to a downward spiral in meeting quotas. Physical burnout symptoms like headaches and insomnia may also be signs that you'll need to take some mental health days without the pressure of constant phone calls.
Especially as small business owners who don't necessarily have a sales team of dedicated good salespeople to take the pressure off, maintaining your sales targets over a long period of time can be a huge pressure that's hard to reckon with.
What are some ways to avoid burnout when it comes to sales?
To avoid sales burnout, you'll want to create sustainable systems that work for you as well as build strong boundaries to take care of yourself as the business owner and dedicated salesperson for your business.
1. Take care of yourself
It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and grind of running a business and forget about self-care. But let me tell you a secret – taking care of yourself is crucial for your success as an entrepreneur.
Maybe the hardest thing for any passionate entrepreneur is prioritizing time for self-care. Make time for activities that recharge you, whether it's going for a walk, practicing mindfulness, or indulging in a hobby or even binging a good TV show. Remember, self-care isn't selfish; it's necessary for your well-being.
One of the best things you can do for yourself and your business is to set healthy boundaries both for yourself and for your customers & clients. Establish clear boundaries between work responsibilities and personal life to improve your workflow. Be realistic about how much time you spend avoiding long hours without breaks, and make sure to take time off to relax and rejuvenate. And be sure to communicate those boundaries early and often with your buyers.
Finally, it's hard enough to grow and run a successful online business, let alone having to go it alone! Reach out to friends, family, or fellow entrepreneurs who can provide emotional support and guidance during challenging times and be a welcome outside perspective when you're struggling with sales.
2. Shift your mindset
Sometimes our mindset can be the biggest obstacle standing in the way of our success. To overcome sales burnout and anxiety, consider these mindset shifts.
Focus on the value you provide: Instead of obsessing over making sales, shift your focus to the value your digital products bring to your customers' lives. When you believe in the impact of what you offer, selling becomes easier.
Embrace failure as a learning opportunity: Don't let fear of failure hold you back. Embrace it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Remember, every successful entrepreneur has faced setbacks along the way.
Celebrate small wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. Recognizing your progress will boost your confidence and motivation.
3. Diversify your sales strategy
Relying solely on one sales channel can increase the pressure and anxiety around selling. Perhaps you fell into your current sales strategy because it's what you were taught by a mentor or it's the "industry standard", but that doesn't mean it's the right approach for you!
If you hate the pressure of having to pitch and close the sale live on a sales call, you might want to consider moving to a more hands-off approach like sales funnels or email marketing that doesn't require so much 1:1 selling.
Look for alternative platforms where you can promote and sell your digital products. Consider social media, online marketplaces, or collaborations with influencers in your niche, especially if you're finding it exhausting trying to grow and sell to your own audience.
While it's not always the case that you're struggling with sales because your offer is too expensive, it can sometimes feel harder to ask for higher prices for your offers. So why not experiment with some different pricing options for your digital products to cater to a wider range of customers? This allows you to reach more people and increase your chances of making sales which will help rebuild your confidence as well as your bottom line!
4. Find a community
I mentioned earlier that sometimes we struggle so much with sales because we think we're the only ones having a hard time. Finding a great community can not only reassure you that you aren't alone with your sales woes but also help give you practical tips to improve your sales techniques and boost your confidence through positive feedback.
Look for communities with similar types of business owners, ideally at a similar stage of business as you. While it can be fun to hang out with businesses who are way ahead of us, when dealing with something like sales burnout often that can just lead to unhelpful comparisons that may make things worse. Finding like-minded and well-aligned groups where you can get support, encouragement and camaraderie from people who really understand what you're going for can be far more impactful!
5. Seek professional support
If sales burnout and anxiety persist despite your efforts, don't hesitate to seek professional support. If you're struggling with your mental health, please do consider working with a therapist or coach who specializes in things like burnout, fatigue, stress management techniques, and even the pressures of running your own business. They can provide helpful guidance and tools, including meditation, to help you manage stress and build resilience.
If you feel you're struggling with sales burnout more from a lack of appropriate strategies, then it might be time to look for a well-qualified mentor who can guide you to find better-suited tactics for your business.
Remember, dealing with sales burnout, boredom, and sales anxiety is a journey, not an overnight fix. By avoiding boredom, be patient with yourself and celebrate every step forward, especially taking proactive steps to avoid burnout in the first place. By taking care of yourself, shifting your mindset, diversifying your sales strategy, building a community, and seeking professional support when needed, you'll be better equipped to overcome these challenges and achieve success in selling your digital products.
How do you recover from sales burnout?
After dealing with sales burnout, it's crucial to prioritize self-care and recharge your energy and motivation levels. Here are some strategies to help you bounce back:
1. Rest and recharge
Take time off to rest and rejuvenate. Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it's spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness, or enjoying a hobby.
2. Exercise regularly
Physical activity can boost your energy levels and improve your mood. Incorporate exercise into your routine, whether it's a daily walk, yoga session, or workout at the gym. This is the easiest bit of self-care to forget but can genuinely make all the difference to your mental health.
3. Establish a routine
Create a structured daily routine that includes time for work, relaxation, exercise, and social connections. Having a predictable schedule can help restore a sense of normalcy and stability. You may also find normalizing your sales activities by practicing them daily can take the pressure off of each attempt, so you might try blocking off some time each day to sell your offers!
4. Set realistic goals
Sometimes our stress and fear of failure come from simply setting our sights too high. Set yourself up for success by setting realistic, controllable goals and using relevant metrics—so rather than focusing on making X number of sales per month, focus on what you can control and set yourself the goal to make X pitches to your community per month using measurable metrics!
5. Keep your sales mindset sorted
Don't let yourself get into your head when selling. People want and need your products, and when selling you are simply offering them an opportunity to learn more about what you have and inviting them to take you up on the solution you've designed for their struggles. And there's definitely no need for high pressure sales techniques that leave you feeling icky! You can definitely sell your digital products while still respecting your own boundaries and values as a business owner.
6. Connect with others
Surround yourself with a supportive community of friends, family, or colleagues who understand your challenges and can provide encouragement and perspective. You might also want to add in a team member who can act as a sales rep or sales manager to take the lead on your sales. Or you might want to look for specialized business mentorship to work through your sales strategies and build better business practices to avoid overwhelming yourself again in the future. Sharing experiences and seeking advice can help you feel less isolated and more motivated to overcome sales burnout.
In conclusion
Remember, overcoming business owner burnout, especially when it comes to sales, takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself, stay committed to self-care practices, and seek help when needed. By implementing these strategies, you'll be on your way to regaining your energy and motivation to excel in your sales endeavors.
