GCI Results

When I sold timeshares for Wyndham Resorts, it was probably one of the most hardcore sales job I have ever encountered. Prospective buyers came from all over the country with extremely different backgrounds and interesting cultures. The turnover rate for the salespeople there was what some described to be absurd. However, I was one of the few who did exceptionally well. People have asked me many times what formula or method I used for my sales presentations. I was never able to give them an answer because I myself didn't even know. I never did follow the sales guidelines and if I my sales numbers weren't as effective as they have been, I would have been fired long ago for not following directions.
After spending a few more months with the company, I realized that my effectiveness stemmed from my extreme interest in meeting people who are different than me and having a genuine curiosity about their culture and lifestyle. Taking any initial judgments and putting it aside, I wanted to build solid relationships by respecting their beliefs and being open minded while focusing on their values. My GCI scores seem to reflect that as I scored well on almost all dimensions with an overall GCI score of 6.
The only category that I didn't do well on was category inclusiveness and self identity. I may have extreme interest in learning about someone, but if we are too different I struggle to sustain a solid relationship with that person. It has happened many times before when I find myself in a situation where I don't know what else to say or what topic to bring up to continue a good conversation with someone. I believe it is because I need more real life experiences. I firmly believe people who can sustain a long conversation are also people who have interesting stories to tell. It is easy for me if I am in a sales position because my ultimate objective is to get a sale. But in networking and just making friends, only having a genuine curiosity may not be enough. Being able to relate to that person by sharing personal experiences can really help the other party feel at ease and more open to conversation.