I'm a Generation Y sales person!

Oct. 30, 2013 - PRLog -- As a comrade of the INATM (It's Not About The Money!) Squadron, an experienced sales executive, and a Generation Y constituent by birthright, I'm often asked how to engage a sales team born just before, or after, the ill-fated wedding of Charles and Diana. The answers are not revolutionary, but surprise many.

1. We are money motivated.

Irrespective of our age, we have decided to work within a pressurised selling environment. This means that we are motivated by cold, hard cash. If this wasn't true, we'd have chosen a different career path.

2. We are not a number!

There is little hierarchical understanding within our thinking, and we certainly require constant feedback and mentoring opportunities.

3. We multi-task well.

You're likely to see us listening to iPods, answering our IM, viewing Facebook, and updating our LinkedIn profiles...all whilst making a sales call. If we're motivated, we'll be as productive as any other.

4. We want to be loyal.

It's likely that we'll look to cross-pollinate our skills soon. We almost certainly want to remain with the same company, but if we cannot relocate, learn new skills, or be challenged further, we'll look elsewhere.

5. We handle rejection well.

We're attuned to winning, but this means that we also handle rejection well. We enjoy creative contests and challenges, and almost always prefer instant recognition over formal praise.

6. We are process-driven.

Sonic the Hedgehog is a platform game where we were occasionally able to add our own creative flair. We learnt that certain positions in FIFA guarantee a goal scored (so long as you held the 'O' for the correct amount of time). We learnt process differently from our elders, but we respond well in a process-driven environment.

It's true that we view the world differently, and most certainly respond best when we have a sense of ownership and belonging. There's a famous quote that I'd like to end with today: "The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disprespect for adults, and love to talk rather than work or exercise...They contradict their parents, chatter in front of company, gobble down their food at the table, and intimidate their teachers."

The announcer of such a quote? Socrates (469 - 399 BCE).