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Rethinking the extraverted sales ideal: the ambivert advantage
1The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6370, USA. grantad@wharton.upenn.edu
Ambiverts, not extraverts, are the top salespeople. This study found an inverted-U relationship between extraversion and sales performance, showing ambiverts outperform both extraverts and introverts.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sales Management
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Traditional sales wisdom often associates extraversion with high performance.
- Empirical research shows weak and inconsistent links between extraversion and sales success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the curvilinear relationship between extraversion and sales performance.
- To determine if ambiverts outperform extraverts and introverts in sales.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative study was conducted with 340 outbound-call-center representatives.
- Sales revenue was analyzed against personality traits, specifically focusing on extraversion.
Main Results:
- A significant inverted-U-shaped relationship was found between extraversion and sales revenue.
- Ambiverts demonstrated higher sales productivity compared to extreme extraverts and introverts.
Conclusions:
- The optimal level of extraversion for sales performance is moderate (ambiversion).
- Findings challenge conventional beliefs and offer insights for hiring and training sales personnel.
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