It's Not Personal, It's Just Business
I am sure you have experienced rejection at some point in your personal or professional life, I know I certainly have and it's not a good feeling. Maybe you missed winning a new client account that you worked very hard to land, or perhaps you were passed over for a promotion that you were certain you deserved. Or worse yet, maybe you were recently rejected by a friend or someone you deeply cared about who told you they just weren’t into you. Ouch!
Rejection comes in many shapes and forms, it can be a little bump on the road or it can feel like you slammed into the side of a mountain. The later can cause long lasting negative effects on your self-confidence and self-esteem. If you own your own business like I do, you have probably experienced rejection in ways that have made you feel like totally giving up. I've been there and some days I'm still there. The good news is you can prevent rejection from paralyzing you in your business and personal life. Sharing from my own experience, here are 6 Anti-Rejection Strategies to help you on your way.
"It’s Not Personal, it’s Just Business"
How many times have you heard the statement "It's not personal, it's just business." I don't know about you but when someone says it to me, I still find it hard not to prevent my self-esteem from plummeting. What I have learned over the years, however is that facing the rejection head on and doing something pro-active to avoid it from happening again is a much better way to get back on track. Try not to respond with negative self-talk, but with true compassion for yourself and the situation. Go for a walk, have a cup of tea, go to the gym, talk to a friend.
Try and remember that if your prospect says “no,” they are not rejecting you personally, they are rejecting your offer. Maybe they genuinely don’t need your product or services or maybe they really can’t afford the price. On the flip side, it is also possible they may be rejecting your offer because they think they don’t need it and they think they can’t afford it. Maybe their 'thinking' is wrong. Test your theory and convince them why your offer is the one they simply can't afford to refuse.
Practice your Power Stance
Confidence posing consists of a series of movements and poses that communicate confidence and charisma. According to Amy Cuddy in her famous TED Talk, your body language can actually influence the way you feel and how you see yourself. When you adopt a confident posture, you will begin to feel more confident. As a matter of fact, if you try this before you actually have to influence someone, it may decrease your chances of getting rejected in the first place. Not only do I practice my own confidence poses every day, I help many Jennifer Grant International clients to do the same.
Who has your Back
When you’re starting your own business, you need all the support you can get. Entrepreneurial pursuits are very stressful and emotionally taxing. When you add frequent rejection to that equation, it makes it much harder to maintain the attitude that you need to have in order to stay motivated. To combat this, you need people in your life who will 'have your back' and push you to persevere even when you feel like a total failure. This means you need to avoid the naysayers. They believe they’re doing you a favor, but they may also be sabotaging your determination and confidence. Stay away from them.
Rejection is Not a Death Sentence
The word “no” isn’t always forever. You shouldn’t give up just because your prospect isn’t jumping on your offer right now. The conversation doesn’t have to end after a rejection. It’s possible that it just isn’t the right time. Instead of giving up, try to find out what is needed to get to a “yes.” Maybe there’s a hidden objection that you need to uncover or you need to rethink your strategy. Regardless of the situation, make it your mission to find out what conditions are necessary for your prospect to accept your offer. This can be done by asking good questions and being patient. Think of it as a game of chess and if you don’t play chess, then think of it as a mental challenge that you are determined to win.
Remember Your Victories
One way to remain mentally tough and optimistic is to remember all the times you succeeded. Instead of only focusing on the rejection, focus on the times you actually got someone to say “yes. “When you focus on your victories, it enables you to put things into perspective. The fact that you were rejected this time, doesn’t mean you will be rejected next time. Remembering your successes helps you stay motivated.
Keep Moving Forward
Becoming a master influencer means understanding that rejection is a normal part of everyday business and life. Even the greatest leaders and most successful business people suffer rejection on a regular basis. Remind yourself (often) that if you let rejection discourage you for too long, it could permanently impair your performance to influence others.
If you practice some or all of the strategies I have shared, you will be more likely to conquer your fear of rejection and learn how to become a more successful persuader. As time goes on, rejection will become easier to deal with. Keep moving forward and don’t allow rejection to paralyze you or define you. Jennifer Grant International is here to help and we have your back.