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Karaoke is good for the soul. It has always given me a great deal of pleasure and it picks me up when I'm down. My room mate who has just started singing tells me that it is almost a substitute for sex, especially when she does a good job with a particularly difficult song. What most people don't know is that it is also good for sales.

Sometimes I throw a Karaoke party not just for fun but for business. I have found through years of experience as a sales manager that most people are naturally very shy . . . especially when they are just learning how to sell or have had a bad week. The lack of confidence some people have can be quickly overcome by having a Karaoke party with some of your under performing sales reps. The reason they are under performing is exactly as stated, lack of confidence.

I can remember many employees who were on the verge of quiting when I invited them over for a "party" in the middle of the week. A few snacks and a few drinks later they were up on stage wailing to AC/DC or crooning to the chairman of the board, Frank Sinatra. The next day, once they got over the inevitable hangover, they suddenly improved their sales closing ratio by a factor of two or three.

I actually discovered this by accident when I took a rep out who was about to quit. The next day his confidence was markedly improved and he said it was because of the Karaoke. He figured if he could get up on the stage and sing in front of a bunch of strangers he could sure as hell talk to strangers.

It seems that most people don't know that they have a voice. Everyone has a voice. they just have to find it. I have help a great number of people find their voice and their confidence over the years and have increased my bottom line on nearly every occasion.

If you want to try this, don't tell your staff what you're up to. 99% of them will immediately back out. Once you have them safely in your party room or studio you can nonchalantly start singing yourself. Then you can say, "anybody else want to jump in?". I guarantee after a few drinks they will be up on stage singing (badly). The next day you should see a marked improvement in your bottom line.

Learn more about this author, John O'Neill O'Neill.
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