It’s common knowledge that you have to be an extrovert to successfully sell real estate. Charismatic, charming, outgoing… a real people-person.

Right?

"Not so," says Jennifer Allan, a real estate agent, author, trainer and proud introvert. In fact, Allan claims, introverts can sell circles around their extroverted colleagues, as long as they stay true to their personalities.

How can that be? Isn’t a sales career best suited to those with naturally salesy dispositions, who enjoy, as some might say, belly-to-belly interaction with the public?

Yes and no, according to Allan. She explains. "A true sales career, where the salesperson is actually selling a product over and over again probably requires a bit more moxie or aggressiveness than is comfortable for the typical introvert. But a career in real estate sales is much more about managing a complicated process from start to finish and keeping everyone calm and committed during that process. As real estate agents, we don’t really sell anything; rather, we act as advisors or consultants to our clients. There is very little actual selling going on. "

"What we do," Allan continues, "requires skills that come much more naturally to an introvert. We research, we analyze, we listen, we advise. We organize. We identify and then solve deal-breaking problems. We interact one-on-one with clients, prospects, lenders, inspectors, appraisers and other agents."

So, why are introverts typically dissuaded from a career in real estate sales? Allan explains that while introverts can certainly be exceptional real estate agents, they often fall short in their prospecting efforts, thus dooming their careers. "We aren’t natural prospectors, in a traditional sense. We aren’t comfortable asking for business or taking the chance that we’ll annoy someone with our sales pitch. When we try to implement the prospecting methods we’re taught by our real estate trainers, we fail miserably because those methods simply don’t mesh with our personalities."

But Allan claims that introverts can generate plenty of business for themselves without venturing out of their comfort zones. "I’ve enjoyed a very successful career for twelve years by being exactly who I am; a reliable, organized, creative, respectful, empathetic introvert. I do very little prospecting; rather I have taught myself how to attract business to me without ever asking for it. It’s a beautiful way to make a living."

Allan’s students agree. "Jennifer has a sixth sense when it comes to introverts," says Kelly McDonald, a real estate agent in LaGrange, KY. "Her indirect approach to generating business has helped me feel more confident as a real estate agent. I can attract business without feeling like I’m harassing anyone for it."

Fiona Payne, an agent in Delano, MN adds, "It’s empowering to realize that you don’t have to attempt a total personality overhaul to succeed in this business."

Allan concurs. "It is possible for introverted agents to make gobs and gobs of money selling real estate. But not if they attempt to become someone they aren’t. Stay true to yourself, and you can succeed, perhaps beyond your wildest dreams."

For more information about Jennifer Allan’s philosophies or products, visit http://www.sellwithsoul.com or contact her at Jennifer@sellwithsoul.com.