How can you prioritize your mental health while working in IT Sales?

Sales is a fun job. It gives you a high when you win and a low when you lose. But either is not supposed to give you stress. So first is to find the reason of stress. That can be an unrealistic quota, a micromanaging manager, a toxic work culture. It can also be issues out of your hand like product bugs, support quality etc. Your response to managing mental health should emanate from understanding the reason.

One thing I've noticed about people in sales is that we like to talk about the big picture, but we often forget to appreciate the details. This is almost as dangerous as wishing for a result without doing the actual work. I find that the top 1% of salespeople are the ones who are extremely analytical and detail-oriented because data backs their progress. It's the meticulous attention to every data point, the ability to dissect each interaction, and the commitment to continuous improvement that distinguishes them from others. In sales, success doesn't solely depend on the big picture but also on the precision of execution.

While joining a sales team with any org. Pressure comes as a part of the parcel. Be it B2B or B2C one does take it to the heart everytime we hear a NO. I had been following this up since the beginning of my sales career to consider every next call as a new opportunity to understand the problem statement and serve for the solution. I have also experiencedentao health toll while my working hours but what has worked out to de-preassurise had been a bottle of water and small brakes post calls. This helps in getting back into the mental zone of again attempting to find out a problem and serve for the solution. Seeking advise from superiors, reportees and peers always opens up a new perspective to approach problem identification.

The best to prioritise mental health, while working in IT Sector. 1. Exercise regularly 2. Stop abusing alcohol, read a book, play the guitar or go for a walk. 3. Spend time with loved ones. Always a priority when compared with the other two.

When lots of people started to work from home it was a natural thing to start working as soon as you were awake. We wanted to have back to back meetings since you are at your desk using video meetings technology. Without the time to prepare for meetings, digest the information, respond appropriately and most importantly take time to breath, our mind often over rotates, thinking we haven’t accomplished anything. This leads to stress anxiety and paradoxically making us want to do more meetings. When in fact giving ourselves time to wake up, prepare for the day, walk the dog go to the gym talk to family, allows us to have perspective and also makes us much more productive. Min. 30-45 minutes between meetings. Hour for lunch.

To avoid mental illness in IT sales: 1. Set realistic goals. 2. Take regular breaks. 3. Manage time efficiently. 4. Maintain work-life balance. 5. Exercise regularly. 6. Seek support from peers or professionals. 7. Practice mindfulness. 8. Continuously improve skills. 9. Foster a positive work environment. 10. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Every organization has a unique structure, with job duties separated into different functional areas. As a client facing employee, I often receive the calls for assistance on a variety of client needs. I can't always directly assist, but I try to ensure I know where to send a client to get the help they need. Bonus points if I have developed a connection with a colleague in the other functional area, to provide a warm transfer and better customer experience!

It can be difficult to disconnect from work when you're constantly checking email and phone calls, but it's important to set boundaries so that you can have time to relax and recharge. Try to avoid checking work-related messages outside of work hours, and take breaks during the day. Learn to say no. It's okay to say no to extra work or commitments if you're feeling overwhelmed. It's important to protect your time and energy so that you don't burn out.

Boundaries are solely for you to establish a bar of where you work and preform. Set a boundary on when you are focused on prospecting vs. admin vs. I when to do other tasks. If you focus solely one one others will suffer. Set boundaries, be flexible, but be honest in the investment of time.

I believe healthy consistent communication with trusted individuals is self-care. Having people you can talk to about your work and personal life can be very helpful for your mental health. Talk to your friends, family, therapist, or other people in your sales team about the challenges you're facing.

I have found that disconnecting and participating in mindfulness activities is helpful to keep me grounded. Meditation sounds tough when you're used to a demanding job, but it doesn't have to be sitting on a pillow chanting. Walking with my dog, bicycling, and learning simple breathing exercises help me calm my busy mind and relax.

Invest at least 30-45 minutes on yourself, your well-being, and your mental health every day by practicing self-care. Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, such as physical exercise, mindfulness practices, or hobbies that help you unwind and recharge. Prioritizing self-care not only fosters a healthy work-life balance but also equips you with the resilience and energy needed to navigate the challenges of the dynamic IT sales environment.

Working for more than 12 years in IT Sales I follow the below mantra to unwind and care for my mental well-being:- 1. Follow a disciplined work and off work schedule:- Sales specially IT Sales is never ending job. At one point you have to call it a day. Once you are disciplined you will have time to unwind and take your mind off work. Follow for more 1/3

Learning new skills cannot help you; it will guide you, indeed, to grow professionally and personally. Over the years, what I have seen is that most of the people that is focused on constant learning of hard and soft skills usually improve their results and also maintain good mental health.

Recognition is always a pumping of good energy, but equally, or maybe most important, is to be open to "hard feedback" because all people have weaknesses that must be addressed to improve and achieve higher results. We shall always have the best disposition to hear any observation that could be perceived as painful, being that one of the best ways to strengthen our mental health through continuous improvement.

One way to keep sane is to look for the reason why you’re doing IT Sales. You’re not moving the spoon to your mouth for the movement in itself, but because you’re hungry and you want to live. People can endure incredible hardship if they have an important goal in mind. Your job shouldn’t be “incredible hardship”, but fortunately most jobs aren’t

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." - Albert Schweitzer Find meaning and purpose in your role within IT sales by connecting your work to a larger vision and mission. Embrace the opportunity to contribute to something meaningful, whether it's by providing solutions that enhance customer experiences or by aligning with causes that resonate with your values. This sense of purpose can infuse your work with passion and fulfillment, enhancing your overall mental well-being.

In my experience, there are 2 types of people in sales, the one that gets involved personally and the win and company success matters more than the money, and the one who's in just for the money - the "sales mercenaries". Needless to say, who's the one facing burnout, stress, and anxiety - been there, and done that! I learned in time that you need to be more detached and set up boundaries while still keeping your work ethic. This attitude is more successful in the long term, especially for your mental health.

Maintaining mental health in IT sales is vital. To navigate challenges, establish boundaries between work and personal life, manage stress by organizing tasks effectively, practice regular self-care, seek support from mentors or peers, and take breaks to recharge. Prioritize physical activity, healthy eating, and sufficient sleep to foster resilience against burnout and stress. Communicate openly with your manager about workload and seek assistance when needed to maintain a healthy work-life balance.