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Are you buying your partner a Christmas present?

Of course you are! Then what about the dog in your life? After all your four-legger is part of the fur-family and if you don’t want those sad puppy-dog eyes sending you on a guilt trip, it’s time to get shopping.

When you buy your partner’s present, you spend time thinking about what they’d like or appreciate. Do the same with your dog, but don’t just stick to balls or a Frisbee (or if you do, get an indestructible one) – think outside the box with these gifts you might otherwise overlook.

#1: Safety First

You wouldn’t let your child travel unrestrained in the car, so why let your fur-baby? This Christmas give a gift that could save your dog’s life: a car safety harness. These should be comfortable yet strong, and secure onto the vehicle’s existing safety belt system. Look for models that are crash-test certified; to be sure they’ll do the job in the unfortunate event of a collision.

And if you have a large dog that travels in the trunk, consider investing in a crashed-test safety cage. These are sturdy enough not to crumple in a rear-end accident, and keep your dog safely confined so they don’t run off across a busy carriageway.

#2: Memory Foam Dog-Bed

Anyone with a bad back will appreciate the bliss of a memory foam mattress for a good night’s sleep. If you have an older dog, with sore arthritic elbows and hips, then imagine the comfort a memory foam bed could offer. Its supportive properties mean that the dog’s weight is spread evenly and heat retained around those stiff joints. So if you have an old-timer who deserves a little indulgence, this could a special gift that makes a real difference to him.

#3: Kong

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with toys, but give one that counts. A Kong is a wonderful way to keep your dog occupied for as long as it takes to lick out the tasty treat inside. They’re inexpensive, last forever, and are great for distracting dogs that are unhappy at being left behind when you go out.

#4: Dog Backpack

Here’s a present you can both enjoy: a doggy backpack. Think of this as a down payment on weekend walks in the country, where your canine companion carries his own supplies. He’s going to adore spending time in your company; it’s a great way for you both to get fit. So where a regular dog toy is forgotten in minutes, a backpack gives countless hours of fun.

#5: A Clicker

Last, but certainly not least, you’re barking up the right tree with a clicker. If you have yet to discover the positive power of clicker training, read up on the magic of how you can change your dogs behaviour.. This could be the start of a better-behaved dog that looks forward to his training sessions – Now if that isn’t a paw-some gift from Santa Paws; it’s hard to know what is!

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could send your best salesperson to meet with all your top prospects? Because most sales territories are divided up geographically, or by industry, this isn’t usually an option available to most sales managers. With that in mind, let me put the question another way: how many more “top customers” would you have if all of your salespeople were better presenters?

What I’m getting at is that most sales managers, much less the front line producers who work for them, don’t view presenting as a sales skill. And that’s a shame, because working with groups is one of the best and easiest ways for your team to improve their bottom-line production.

For one thing, selling to groups is just more efficient. Why close one or two prospects, when you could make a bigger presentation and be working with ten, fifteen, or even fifty? The point of selling isn’t to spend as much time as possible with each individual prospect; it’s to generate signed order slips. Working with lots of buyers at once is a great way to do that.

Even more importantly, however, is the impression that a strong presenter makes. Often, a good speech given by an effective salesperson can help to close more orders than they would have individually. That’s because most people, by their very nature, are affected by the psychology of a group; they see other people excited to buy, and may become eager to buy themselves.

And finally, becoming a great presenter makes any salesperson more confident. Given that selling is largely – if not completely – a mental exercise, it makes sense to have your producers be as sharp as possible. Having the confidence to get up in front of a group and make their case helps them in other selling situations, too.

So how do you turn your sales team into a group of top notch presenters, bringing in tons of new business along the way? It won’t happen overnight, but here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Hire a sales trainer who specializes in presentations.

There’s never a substitute for specialized instruction, and just a few hours spent with the right person can get them moving a long way in the right direction.

2. Have them practice giving presentations in the office.

Why not end each weekly sales meeting with a presentation by one of your salespeople? They might be hesitant at first, but speaking to a group of peers that they’re familiar with is going to be easier than getting up in a room full of prospects, and allow them to practice their speeches on a friendly audience.

3. Emphasize the opportunities.

A lot of salespeople probably would give more group presentations, if only they realized how effective they could be. Show your team that working with multiple prospects is a great way to triple or quadruple their sales, and they’ll probably show a lot more enthusiasm for the effort.

4. Help them to overcome fears and weaknesses.

Public speaking remains a major fear for a lot of people – even normally outgoing sales professionals. Some of the men and women on your team are probably going to need more help and encouragement than others; bring each one along at their own pace, and the effort will eventually pay dividends for everyone.