A career in sales can be mentally exhausting. From cold-calling to following up, you’re inevitably going to interact with people from all walks of life. In order to be successful, a sales rep must possess a multitude of customer service skills. Regardless of how much effort you put into perfecting your pitch, it’s nearly impossible to close a deal if you get flustered as soon as a lead has a sudden change in demeanor.

Below is a compilation of the top five skills that will help you successfully handle every type of situation that’s thrown your way.

1. Emotional intelligence.
   In short, you won’t get anything accomplished if you allow your emotions to cloud your judgment. You need to not only be able to understand your own emotions, but also your customers’ emotions. Grasping the five main elements of emotional intelligence—self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills—can help you become more in-tune with customers.
2. Product knowledge.
   If you don’t understand how your product can change people’s lives, don’t expect them to buy from you. There’s more to it than just knowing a product’s description and cost. Be able to leverage and back up your product with hard stats, current customer testimonials, and case studies. This will prove that you are not only knowledgeable about what you do, but also passionate.
3. Clarity in communication.
   Avoid blurry lines! It’s advantageous to be concise during your pitch, especially if you’re not selling face-to-face. If sending an e-mail, the subject line should include descriptive language. While on the phone, thoroughly answer each question, and be clear about pricing. Providing vague information can make closing more challenging than it should be.
4. Positive outlook.
   You’ve had it happen to you: you’re on the phone with a sales rep who has zero enthusiasm. In turn, you become disengaged and uninterested. For this reason, it’s imperative that you embody 100% enthusiasm during every conversation. You know that your product will work for them, and you’re going to make sure that they know it, too. You’d be surprised at how much of a difference an upbeat attitude can make.
5. Unwavering patience.
   Your patience will often be tested. But the worst thing you can do is lose your cool. A study done by the University of Toronto found that being impatient can make us worse at doing things that we consider challenging (like closing a deal). Take notice of when your patience becomes thin, and find the cues that cause you to tick. This will help you avoid a potential risky conversation.

Although there is a plethora of other customer service skills that are needed, make sure that you are perfecting these five.