MoneyWatch

How to Overcome Fear of Rejection

By Geoffrey James

Updated on: February 19, 2010 / 3:02 PM EST / MoneyWatch

The recent post "Free Coaching: Accelerate Your Career" asked Sales Machine readers to identify the weakest link in their sales skill set, so that we could address the challenge personally. Sales Machine reader Hamblet writes:

My weakest link is fear of cold calling. (Not sure but probably fear of rejection).

MY RESPONSE:
Take heart. Your problem is easy to solve because it's just something that's going on inside your head. You've fallen into the common error of believing that rejection has real, objective meaning. It doesn't. You need to read these posts:

They will explain how to undercut your belief in rejection and free yourself of that worry. Once you overcome the fear of rejection, you will find it much easier to cold call.

I helps, when you're replacing an irrational belief, to replace it with something that leads you closer to success. Check out this guest post:

Cold Calling = Dialing for Dollars

I think it's full of wisdom that you could use, today, to increase your cold calling effectiveness. However, make sure you expunge that silly fear of rejection first.

READERS: Any further suggestions?