What personality traits do you look for when you’re interviewing new salespeople? Do you focus on sales skills, hotel industry experience, or confidence, resilience, and enthusiasm? We believe it’s important to have a balance of all three to have a well-rounded, capable person on your team.
Personality traits develop from genetic factors, early life experiences, and social interactions. Childhood family dynamics, education, and challenges faced shape these traits. Over time, repeated behaviours and responses to various situations refine and solidify these characteristics. Understanding how traits form helps identify the best qualities in potential hospitality employees.
“Hiring the right people takes time, the right questions and a healthy dose of curiosity. What do you think is the most important factor when building your team? For us, it’s personality.” —Richard Branson
Here are the top seven personality traits we look for in potential sales recruits.
1. Motivation/Drive
You don’t want to be watching over your team members’ shoulders or micro-managing their every move, so one of the most important personality traits to look for is motivation or an inner drive to succeed. We recommend hiring people who are self-driven and proactive—those who don’t sit back waiting to be told what to do next.
2. Confidence
Your sales team should be able to present your hotel property clearly and engagingly. They need to be comfortable speaking in both one-on-one and group settings, self-assured, and ready to tackle any situation confidently to get the job done.
3. Enthusiasm
A positive mindset and enthusiastic energy will enhance your sales team’s engagement with clients. An optimistic, solutions-focused approach makes team members valuable assets, creating better client experiences and fostering stronger relationships. Hiring individuals with these traits can significantly improve your hotel’s sales performance and customer satisfaction.
4. Resilience
In a competitive industry, it’s essential not to take “no” personally. Successful salespeople view rejection as an opportunity to learn and improve. They persist, continually seeking ways to enhance their skills and strategies, ensuring they stay motivated and effective despite setbacks.
5. Creativity
Thinking outside the box is crucial for a salesperson’s success. A creative approach not only helps them stand out from the competition but also allows them to tailor their strategies to meet individual client needs. This innovation can lead to more personalised and effective sales tactics, ultimately boosting conversion rates and client satisfaction.
6. Adaptability/Flexibility
This personality trait enables individuals to think independently and devise practical solutions. By avoiding rigid thinking, they can adapt their responses to each unique situation, ensuring a more personalised and successful approach. This flexibility is crucial for sales success, allowing team members to meet hotel guest needs.
7. Self-Awareness
A great salesperson within the hospitality and tourism sector takes responsibility for their work and its impact. Instead of blaming external factors when things go wrong, they focus inward, holding themselves accountable and seeking areas for improvement. Self-awareness allows them to recognise their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth. This mindset fosters continuous development and better performance in their sales role.
Ready to Build a Winning Sales Team?
Don’t just focus on resumes and skill descriptions when recruiting your next sales professional. Prioritise the key personality traits that drive success: motivation, confidence, enthusiasm, resilience, creativity, adaptability, and self-awareness. These characteristics will help your hospitality team excel and achieve outstanding results.
Contact us today to discover how our tailored training programs can help you identify and nurture these essential traits in your sales team.