Membership Overview
Learn what being a member does for you
The Seller Styles
NASP Programs
Catalog
See a summary of all our programs and certifications
Online Certifications
Certified Professional Sales Person(CPSP®)
Develop your potential as a certified sales professional
Certified Professional Sales Leader(CPSL®)
Grow your impact as a certified sales leader
Certified Master Sales Professional (CMSP®)
Join the elite group of sales professionals and leaders
Certified Master Sales Trainer (CMST®)
Online Programs
Advanced Sales Influence (ASI)
Take your influence and leadership to the next level.
Certified Professional Sales Associate (CPSA®)
Learn foundational sales behaviors, strategies, and skills
Power of Contact Marketing
Learn from marketing expert and author Stu Heinecke
ProSeries Programs
Join the top 1% of sales professionals in the world.
Next Level Virtual Coaching
Sales Mastery
Join our ongoing dynamic virtual coaching community
Career Center
Explore job postings from some of the best companies in the country looking for sales professionals
Training Resources
Daily Dose of Influence!
Enjoy our video series of influence tips and strategies
Leads To Growth
Dig into our podcast featuring industry leaders and experts
Coaches Corner
Learn from our high-level sales coaching video series
Women of Sales & Influence – Facebook Live Series
Be inspired by our Facebook Live series spotlighting top women influencers
Women of Sales & Influence – Video Blog
Enjoy valuable, high-level sales strategies to empower your sales goals
Sales Resources
The Growth Quotient
You’ve heard about IQ, but what is your GQ?
Our Commitment to You
We are here to help your approach to sales, how you interact with others, and how you perform and execute
Articles
NASP Sales Blog
Learn from our member-submitted articles for sales professionals
About Our CEO
Standards of Conduct
Testimonials
Common Questions and Answers
Contact
by Wendy Connick
When you speak with prospects on the phone, they can’t tell how you’re dressed or what you look like. All they have to go on is your tone of voice and the actual words you’re saying. And that means that tone of voice during a cold call is at least as important as body language is during a sales presentation.
Always smile when you’re speaking with a prospect. A smile subtly alters the shape of your larynx and changes the sound of your voice. Most people can actually tell whether you’re smiling just by the sound of your voice over the phone. If you don’t believe that, call up a friend and ask him to tell you whether you’re smiling or not as you speak to him. You’ll probably be surprised by how well he can detect your expressions.
Smiling not only gives you a friendlier phone presence, it also interjects a feeling of confidence into your tone. Prospects will pick up on this quite quickly, as few things will turn a prospect off faster than an uncertain-sounding salesperson. If you have trouble remembering to smile, prop up a small mirror on your desk or fasten it next to your computer monitor to remind you.
Standing up while cold calling can also improve your tone. Standing reduces the pressure on your diaphragm, which is why it’s easier to sing standing than sitting. You’ll be able to speak more clearly and easily, plus standing up will give you more energy than sitting down.
Many salespeople drop into a smooth, “sales-y” tone of voice as soon as they pick up the phone. Do everything you can to keep yourself in a normal, conversational tone. The well-known sales tone will turn off prospects immediately, before they even process the actual words you’ve uttered. Ask a friend or fellow salesperson to listen while you call and to tell you if you change your tone.
About the author
My first sales position was a summer job selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door. I continued through a variety of sales jobs ranging from retail sales for a storage company to selling bank products for a Fortune 500 financial institution.
As a small business owner, I now focuses on selling for my own company, Tailored Content, a website content provider. I write on a wide range of topics but my primary focus is sales and how to sell effectively.