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How to Handle Pushy Salespeople at Business Conferences (Without burning bridges)

Business conferences are usually a blur of name badges, rushed lunches, and those all important conversations that can change the course of your career. But in between the keynote speakers and networking events, you’re bound to find at least one persistent breed of attendee, the pushy salesperson.

You often haven’t even taken a sip of your lukewarm coffee when they swoop in with a pitch you didn’t ask for, full of enthusiasm and urgency. You want to be polite, but you also want to get out of the conversation as soon as possible.

So, how do you handle pushy salespeople without causing offence or burning future bridges? Read on for tips on how to save your time, keep your patience and reject pushy salespeople politely.

How To Deal With Pushy Salespeople

Let’s look at the best ways to deal with pushy salespeople without causing offence. You never know, you might actually need their services at a later date. So it pays to reject their advances with tact and diplomacy.

Be Polite, But Firm

Salespeople are just doing their job, and often under a great deal of pressure to perform. That said, your time is valuable too. You need to say something that gets the message across with grace, something along the lines of;

“Thanks for explaining that, it’s not something I’m exploring right now, but I appreciate the information.”

Whatever you say, keep it simple, direct, and yet still respectful.

Set Time Limits Early

If you sense a sales pitch coming, head it off by being clear about your availability. Say something like;

“I’m happy to chat for a few minutes, but I’ve got a session starting shortly.”

It gives the interaction a natural ending point which makes it perfect for avoiding a half hour sales pitch that you’re not even remotely interested in.

Redirect The Pitch With Polite Confidence

If you don’t want to seem rude, you can shift the conversation to a more appropriate place. A good redirection tactic is to say something like;

“Feel free to pop me an email with more details,  I’ll be reviewing things after the event.”

You stay in control while remaining professional and not alienating a potential contact.

Recognise The Difference Between Persistent & Pushy

Not everyone pitching is being pushy. Some are just passionate. You need to learn the difference between the two;

Signs Of A Pushy Salesperson

A pushy salesperson will;

• Ignore your verbal and non verbal cues
• Talk over you
• Use manipulative urgency (you really need to do this right now!)

Signs Of A Persistent But Professional Salesperson

A persistent professional salesperson will;

• Tailor their approach
• Ask relevant questions
• Show respect for your time

Set Yourself Clear Goals For The Event

Go into the event with clear conference goals, for instance, are you looking for tech solutions? Looking to hire new staff? If something doesn’t line up, don’t be afraid to say so you can use something like;

“That’s not what I’m focusing on at the moment, but I wish you the best of luck.”

It’s intentional, efficient and respectful.

Never Use The False Yes

Agreeing just to escape the pitch often leads to even more follow up emails and awkwardness.

Instead, try saying something like;

“To be honest, it’s not a priority subject for me, I don’t want to waste your time.”

It’s honest, professional, and doesn’t send any mixed signals.

Create A Polite Exit Plan

Here are a few ready made lines for when you need to exit a conversation gracefully, you can;

• Redirect
  “You might want to connect with our operations lead, that’s not really my place to agree to this.”
• Defer
  “We’re mid contract, but I’ll keep you in mind.”
• Make A Quick Exit
  “Lovely chatting, I just spotted someone I need to speak to.”

Use The Buddy System

If you’re at the event with a colleague you can agree on a simple but subtle rescue signal,  a quick “Hey, can I borrow you for a sec?” can save the day when you’re cornered mid pitch.

Don’t Feel That You Have To Hand Over Details

If you’re really not interested, it’s OK to not hand over your contact details. You can politely say something along the lines of;

“I’m keeping things pretty focused right now, but feel free to connect with our company on LinkedIn.”

This way, you stay open without giving away the way into your inbox.

Work The Event Strategically

The exhibition floor is the perfect territory for cold pitches. Keep these steps in mind;

• Walk With Purpose
  Don’t linger near booths you’re not interested in
• Use Your Badge/Lanyard Strategically
  Some events offer colour codes to show buyer intent
• Research Vendors BeforeThe Event To Save Time
  This allows you to vet which vendors you spend your time with

Understand Why Pushy Salespeople Are Pushy

Pushy behaviour often stems from pressure. Many sales reps are under strict targets and might be judged solely on how many leads they collect.

Knowing this information helps you respond with empathy, without sacrificing your own boundaries.

Think About The Long Term

Today’s irrelevant pitch might come from someone who ends up at a company you do want to work with in six months. Keep things friendly, you’re not just managing the moment, you’re building a reputation.

Follow Up (Or Don’t) With Clear Intentions

If they email you after the event and you’re not interested, a short, polite response works wonders, something like;

“Thanks for following up, after reviewing, I don’t think this is something we’re looking for. All the best with your outreach.”

No ghosting, no false hope, just a professional reply.

Do’s & Don’ts For Politely Rejecting Pushy Salespeople

Let’s round this off with a few quick pointers on the best ways to and not to deal with pushy salespeople at networking events.

Do’s

When dealing with pushy or overly persistent sales people, you should;

• Be polite and professional
• Set boundaries early
• Use redirect & exit lines
• Think about long term connections

Don’ts

You should never do the following when dealing with pushy salespeople;

• Ghost or lie to avoid them
• Say yes just to end the conversation
• Let them dominate your time
• Burn bridges unnecessarily

We All Need To Deal With Pushy Salespeople At Some Point

Pushy salespeople are all part and parcel of the conference experience. But with a bit of preparation, self awareness, and a few well placed phrases, you can manage these moments without causing any offence.

Protect your time, maintain your professionalism, and who knows, that persistent salesperson might just be someone worth reconnecting with at a later date.

And if all else fails, head for the coffee station and pretend to take an urgent call. But don’t let the thought of a pushy salesperson put you off of attending networking events.

SEE ALSO: How to Find Business Conferences Near You

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