You are a sales representative for a major corporation. In meetings with an official during an international sales trip for a large industrial purchase, the official cheerfully mentions that he will be applying for his child to attend an expensive private school. You get the distinct impression that this was an implied request for your company to "assist" in this.

What should you do?

Question

Arabella Ingram

Business

27 June, 15:42

You are a sales representative for a major corporation. In meetings with an official during an international sales trip for a large industrial purchase, the official cheerfully mentions that he will be applying for his child to attend an expensive private school. You get the distinct impression that this was an implied request for your company to "assist" in this.

What should you do?

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Answers (1)

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Esteban Le · Answer 1

Answer: Be as non - committal as possible and just nod sympathetically. And if necessary, seek guidance from senior management.

Explanation: As a sales representative you are there to represent the business first. You cannot put yourself in a position that will jeopardise your ethics as well as the ethics and values of the business you are representing. You need to be as non - committal as possible. This means you should not express any commitment to a specific opinion at all, and be clear about that. Especially if it puts the business in any legal or ethical troubles. Even if you did lead the official on, rather clarify with the official that that was not your intention, and if the issue still persists consider seeking guidance from a senior manager on how to resolve the issue.