Selling Power Blog

How to Integrate Lifetime Learning into Your Schedule

Today’s post is by Troy Korsgaden, president of Korsgaden International in Visalia, CA. He is an international insurance carrier consultant, industry main-platform speaker, representative trainer, and agency consultant, as well as the author of six books. He can be reached at troy@korsgaden.com.

 

To be successful in the future, you must be willing to adapt quickly. The way companies are doing business is rapidly changing. It’s no longer “business as usual.” We not only need to navigate the tsunami of change for our own businesses; we also must lead our clients through the same tsunami.

This means staying informed and up to date on changes within the companies we do business with and those companies that directly affect your industry. If lifetime learning wasn’t one of your core values before, it needs to be now.

Current and potential customers are barraged with an overwhelming amount of information with just a click of their search buttons. Becoming an expert in your field will allow you to help them disseminate the information overload and gain their confidence as a trusted advisor.

Lifelong learning has never been more important than it is today. Shooting from the hip or “winging it” is no longer an option. You will be hard pressed to find any client who hasn’t done some preliminary research on our industry offerings. Your job is to remove the clutter and explain your value in a language they will understand. This will alleviate frustrations or concerns and enable your clients to make informed decisions for their families’ and/or businesses’ personalized needs.

Intentional and purposeful learning must become a permanent component of your business plan. It should become as habitual as unlocking the front door of your office and flipping on the computer. Customers are demanding more astute and informed advisors in all professional industries.

Our authority based on industry knowledge must convey the value of personalized service over the perceived faster and cheaper online options. Daily lifelong learning is necessary to keep us relevant as advisors so we can offer our customers the powerful combination of our own knowledge and that of our expertise partners.

Below are my five simple ways to integrate lifetime learning into any busy schedule.

1. Make an appointment with yourself. Block out one hour each day to devote to learning. This can be any time of the day – before, during, or after work. Keep the mindset that this appointment is set in stone. Do not allow yourself or your staff to schedule anything on top of it, reschedule it, or remove it. This appointment is just as important as meeting with a client.
2. Take advantage of company- and industry-sponsored webinars and video calls. There is no shortage of these in our industry, and they are great ways to get quick information on relevant subjects, as well as input from peers. One caveat: Not all information is good information. If you find that the subject matter doesn’t apply or appeal to you, simply disconnect and move on.
3. Multitask. I like to download audio books or YouTube videos and listen to them while I exercise. Take the time to load your device with impactful videos, audio files, or digital books. Next time you find yourself eating at your desk, waiting in line at the bank, or sitting in traffic, turn on one of the choices from your library. These quick injections of learning add up over the week and month.
4. Go outside your comfort zone. Although it is very important to stay informed and educated within the boundaries of your industry, it is equally important to expand those boundaries. Explore ideas from other industries. How can you manipulate and apply them to your own business? Read or listen to philosophy, satire, biographies, history, or anthropology. The human “struggle” has not changed over the past 2,000 years. You will find that, no matter how old (or new) the content is, some part of it will resonate with you.
5. Embrace digital minimalism. Be open to disconnecting. Part of lifelong learning is also learning about ourselves on a higher plane. Shut out the noise for a set time frame each day. Reflect and rebalance yourself. What could you have said or done differently during today’s sales meeting? How can you improve your communication skills or leadership skills? How can you apply current industry changes to your business? Find solace in the quiet and stillness of time with yourself.

Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed. There is no need to order the past 12 months of every insurance and financial services periodical published or go into debt filling up your Amazon cart.

Today is day one. Start small. Ease into it. Pick one or two subjects that interest you the most that you want to learn more about. Focus on that until you feel you know all there is to know.

There is a reason the term “building blocks of learning” exists. Think of learning as a giant brick wall that has not yet begun to be constructed. One brick does not a wall make. But, over time, those bricks start to add up – and the wall becomes tall and impenetrable.

A small change in your schedule, along with purposeful dedication, will have a huge impact on your business and on your relationships with your clients.

Is Your First Impression Advancing the Sale?

Today’s post is by Justin Zappulla, managing partner at Janek Performance Group.

 

As the old chestnut says, you have only one chance to make a first impression. And, in today’s time-crunched business world, your first opportunity might be the only one you have to get further in the sales process – so you need to know how to impress right from the jump. 

These are the things you need to keep in mind.

1. Research prospects and customers, and prepare well in advance of the meeting.
   
   Most of your time should be spent researching the client and the people you’ll meet. Yes, there will be a discovery process as part of an initial contact. But you want to be able to use discovery to really drill deep into a client’s needs, objectives, and situation – not just rehash the basics that are surface-level and easily available.
   
   Also, think about this: The more you come in knowing about a buyer, the more likely they are to be impressed, because you’ve demonstrated that you’ve done the hard work to get to know them as much as you can before the meeting.
   
   
2. Ascertain buyers’ communication style as quickly as you can and adapt to it.
   
   There are four fundamental communication styles – expressive, business-oriented, visionary, and cautious/skeptical. One of the keys to making a great first impression is to determine which one is predominant for the buyer and adjust accordingly.
   
   For example, an expressive communicator will enjoy small talk and chit-chat before getting down to the purpose of the meeting, whereas the business-oriented communicator will want to get straight to the point and the relevant information.
   
   The communication style speaks not only to the flow of the discussion, but the content and evidence. A visionary communicator will want to hear how your solution fits in the grand scheme and vision of the future, so imagery of what their life or work will be like after the purchase resonates powerfully with them. Conversely, the cautious/skeptical buyer will be much more likely to raise objections or challenges, and will need space to reflect on what you’re communicating to them.
   
   
3. Be authentic.
   
   Most people are able to detect when someone is being insincere or inauthentic. So it’s important to speak and act as you would in a normal situation. If you put on a pose or try to be someone you’re not, the buyer can pick up on that – and this can plant seeds of doubt as to your honesty and whether you’re hiding some critical information they need to know.
   
   
4. Rehearse the conversation beforehand.
   
   You know how comedians, public speakers, and professional athletes make their work look effortless and easy? It’s because they’ve practiced – sometimes with hundreds or thousands of repetitions beforehand – until it’s become second nature to them. While you likely won’t have the time to do that yourself for every single meeting (or even most of them), the takeaway is still the same: Run through your opening, your main points, your intended questions, and your next steps as frequently as you can.
   
   
5. Set a pre-meeting agenda and distribute it ahead of time.
   
   Even if it’s short, write an agenda and give it to the people you’re meeting in advance. Not only will it show that you’re on top of things, it will help the buyer know what to expect and allow them to perform their own preparations for the conversation (such as questions they want to ask, what they’re hoping to gain from your solution, etc).

A positive first impression sets the stage for building a fruitful, mutually beneficial relationship that progresses through the sales process and sales pipeline and continues even after the sale. Utilizing these strategies and tips will help you  achieve your objectives.

For more expert, actionable advice on how to advance your selling skills, visit Janek’s resource library and sign up for Janek’s free monthly newsletter. 

How to Close Business in a Complex World: Bring It in for a Landing

Today’s guest post is by Lance Tyson, president and CEO of Tyson Group. Lance is a recognized speaker and trainer who draws on more than two decades of sales experience training sales talent for some of the biggest names in professional sports and entertainment, including the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, New York Yankees, Miami Dolphins, Fenway Sports Management (Boston Red Sox), Tampa Bay Lightning, San Francisco 49ers, and the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Lance is the author of the best-selling book, Selling Is an Away Game: Close Business and Compete in a Complex World. 

 

For sales professionals, there is perhaps no single word more enshrouded in mystery than “closing.” If you check out the descriptions for sales jobs, you’ll find that companies are always looking to hire closers. There’s a kind of mythology built around closing that implies a rarefied skill possessed by only a few elite salespeople. 

But, in reality, closers are like pixies or leprechauns – they don’t exist. That’s because there’s no special skill required to close business.

To Close More Sales, Prepare to Lose Sales 

A few weeks ago, I was conducting sales training for a major NBA team. At the break, one of the sales reps approached me and asked for some advice on how to become a better closer. I asked him to clarify what he meant by that, and he said, “I want to close more sales.” 

My response back to him was: “Are you also ready to lose more sales?” He gave me a look of pure confusion. So, we walked over to the door of the training room, which was standing wide open. I said, “See this door?” He nodded. I slammed the door shut as hard as I could. “Now it’s closed.”

My point was not to act like a jerk or make the sales rep feel small – I was simply trying to illustrate that the act of closing business means bringing the deal to its final conclusion. As long as that door stands open, the deal is still a possibility. 

As human beings, we tend to accept extenuating maybes because they allow us to keep the door open indefinitely. But clinging to “maybe” actually prevents us from closing the deal.

The Toughest Question in Selling

If you want to close a deal, you have to be willing to ask the toughest question in sales – “Are you in or out?” And, before you do that, you have to accept the fact that you might not like the answer. Because sometimes this question serves as a catalyst to help us close business. In other cases, it means walking away so we can find another, more suitable prospect.

That’s why I believe there’s no specialized skill to closing. You simply have to decide whether you are ready and willing to shut the door. 

Is the timing right to close? To find out, ask yourself these four questions. 

1. Have you successfully established a rapport with the buyer? 
2. Have you done your homework in evaluating and diagnosing the problem? 
3. Have you offered a carefully considered prescription? 
4. Have you had a frank dialogue about objections? 

If your answers to these questions are “yes,” then the timing is probably right to close. 

Successful sales reps need to be confident – or at least act confident. Don’t be willing to live in a world of perpetual maybes. It’s okay to let the cake sit on the table and cool down a bit, but at least be ready and willing to ask buyers if they want a slice.

A Few Strategies for Closing

I travel about 50 times per year, and I still marvel at the fact that a 60-ton piece of steel tubing can thrust itself through the air at a speed of hundreds of miles per hour and manage to stay up. By contrast, landing makes sense to me. After all, we have gravity in our favor – inevitably, the plane will come down. 

Closing business is like landing a plane – at its core, it’s simply the act of bringing the deal to its natural conclusion.

That said, there are a few strategies for closing, and it helps (before you hit the runway) to choose which one you want to work with:

1. The Direct Close. I always prefer this approach, which can be summed up in the words of Nike: “Just do it.” In this variant, you just ask the question directly, “What are your thoughts on this – do you want to do it?” At the very worst, the answer may mean walking away from the deal. But, if you’ve taken the other previous steps in the sales process, chances are that it will move you more quickly toward a positive resolution and closure.
   
   
2. The Alternate Choice Close. In cases where the direct close seems too presumptuous or risky, you might opt for the Alternate Choice Close, where you offer a couple of options, e.g., “Do you want to go with the three-year contract or the seven-year contract?”
   
   
3. The Minor Point Close. If you encounter a situation where the buyer’s position is opaque and they claim to still be thinking about it, you could try the Minor Point Close. Ask how the buyer feels about a particular section of the contract (or some other minor point) to gauge interest and move the dialogue forward.
   
   
4. The Next Step Close. When we are setting up a sales training at a hotel, often the sales rep will actually show us a room and ask us, “What are your thoughts on this?” They are literally helping us see beyond the close to the next step, which can be quite effective.
   
   
5. The Opportunity Close. Often, organizations will pressure buyers by giving them a limited time frame – telling them that, if they act now, they will get a discount. Infomercials and timeshares are notorious for this type of close. Be careful with this one, however, because it’s the most manipulative kind of close, and it can backfire. But sometimes it works like a charm.
   
   
6. The Balancing Close. In this approach, the sales rep helps buyers weigh the pros and cons in order to make an informed decision. There’s something to be said for taking the higher ground and helping someone go back through their consideration process to make sure they will be happy with the outcome. It helps build trust and can produce great results.

Remember: Closing is based on the momentum you have already established during the course of the flight. How quickly and smoothly you bring the deal in for a landing is just a matter of how well you direct it toward the runway.

To learn more about how to gain a competitive edge through the six-step selling process, contact Tyson Group at https://tysongroup.com/contact/.

What Are Your Top Sales Priorities?

Today’s post is by Scott Collins, vice president and team manager in Gartner’s sales practice.

 

In the U.S., we’re working our way through a summer of barbeques, pool parties, trips to the beach, and visits with friends and family. That also means we’re halfway through 2019 – and CSOs and their leadership teams need to take a quick look at where they’ve been and where they are going the rest of the year. 

At the end of 2018, Gartner identified five critical priorities the majority of sales leaders wanted to address and invest in for 2019. Let’s revisit them and see how you’re stacking up so far. 

Priority #1: Sales Development Activities

Nearly a third of sales leaders indicated improving the effectiveness of sales development activities was a critical priority to address this year. To address this, most leaders wanted to appropriately structure and design sales development rep (SDR) roles and their inside sales function. Gartner research identified a few critical areas of focus to drive the effectiveness of sales development activities:

1. Have you clearly defined and NARROWLY focused the SDR role (e.g., separating lead qualification from outbound prospecting)? Two different sets of activities and, arguably, skill sets are needed here.
2. What external investments have you been able to make in data and predictive analytics to better arm your SDRs and inside sales individuals?
3. To what degree have you MOVED the SDR and inside sales capability in-house, if you were outsourcing? Gartner research shows that internal SDRs outperform outsourced teams.

Priority #2: Improving Sales Analytics

This was the top priority for sales leaders heading into 2019. Sales leaders clearly see the opportunity and value a strong sales analytics capability can provide. With that comes the opportunity to drive sales analytics maturity, not just the collection of data and the investment in tools. To what degree have you been able to do what progressive, leading sales organizations have done to drive maturity and extract value from sales analytics? 

Gartner research reveals leading sales organizations are working toward the four following activities:

1. Focus sales operations on ensuring data quality versus solely on data capture.
2. Use sales analytics as a strategic problem-solving capability.
3. Align specific business goals and KPIs to sales analytics. 
4. Establish a center of excellence and a cross-functional steering committee to systemize and govern data workflows.

Priority #3: Quality and Impact of Sales Enablement

As every sales leader knows, the complexity of sales (and customer buying) today continues to grow. In response, organizations continue to invest heavily in driving improved sales enablement. The challenge, however, is that many organizations approached enablement strategy with a “more is better” mindset, which has led to unfocused, poorly-designed tools that create unnecessary complexity for sellers and even customers. If your 2019 goal was to improve the quality and impact of sales enablement, have you been able to adjust and make progress across these leading approaches?

1. Focus enablement on high-impact sales activities – those most likely to drive deal outcomes.
2. Build “buyer enablement,” which are tools and content designed specifically to aid customers in completing their buying tasks more easily (for example, a calculator or a diagnostic).

Priority #4: Frontline Sales Talent Management

Talent came in fourth and fifth on sales leaders’ priorities for 2019, starting with frontline sales talent. While the previous priority was about enabling the sales team, this priority focuses on hiring, developing, retaining, and coaching the talent needed to succeed in today’s environment. While the skills required to succeed in such a complex environment continue to change, Gartner research has identified a number of critical areas in which leaders need to make progress right now:

1. Adjust and update hiring practices, such as job descriptions and interview questions, that attract and find the sales behaviors and approaches that define sales success today.
2. Update competency models and development programs to address the critical skills and approaches to information.
3. Ensure sales managers are coaching and developing talent effectively.
4. Develop a compelling employee value proposition for sales talent today.

Priority #5: Sales Manager Effectiveness

Lastly, sales leaders have targeted their frontline sales manager talent as a critical area for 2019. Leaders often cite improving coaching effectiveness as one of these critical areas. But there are additional areas progressive sales organizations address when looking at their sales manager population, including:

1. Build a sales manager bench through a systematic approach and program to deliver ready-made sales managers into the field when needed.
2. Develop critical sales manager competencies that differentiate top performers. Gartner research has identified those differentiated competencies as coaching, sales innovation, and creating a climate of judgment.
3. Build a sustained, long-term coaching culture across the entire sales organization.
4. Build and deliver a compelling “case for change” to sales managers to ensure they drive long-term adoption of sales strategies, tools, and approaches to talent management.

As you can see, sales leaders are addressing many priorities this year. And each organization is going to have a slightly different priority list. What are your top three? To what degree have you been able to make your sales organization a progressive, leading sales organization that delivers above market results? As you look across each of these, this should give you a good litmus test of where your team stands today and the opportunities you have for the rest of 2019.

What to Expect from the Peak Performance Mindset Retreat

A few weeks ago, I designed and delivered the inaugural Peak Performance Mindset VIP Retreat for a small group of B2B sales leaders. I had the privilege of working with five world-class mindset coaches. 

Leadership, Race cars, and Tandem Skydiving Jumps

We purposely mixed up presentations with live-action events. On the second day, the group of leaders piled into a bus and drove to a professional racetrack, which had Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches, and other high-performance cars. 

The retreat also offered a tandem skydiving jump from an airplane. The jumps were facilitated by the amazing Jon DeVore, a multiple world record holder of skydiving competitions. One of the retreat participants, Hillary Pryor, said she felt like she was “ready to take on the world” after racing around the track in an Audi R8. After her skydiving experience, she said, “I can do anything now!” 

Embracing these experiences made us realize we can handle a lot more than we assume. I think John Guydon described it best in this video. 

Remember: Your inner magic is capable of generating an insane amount of power; meanwhile, we typically use only a small fraction of that power in our daily lives. 

What Is a Peak Performance Mindset?

Why did I design this retreat experience? For several years now, I’ve been studying the power of mindset. I’m convinced sales leaders can change the world (for ourselves and others) by getting (and keeping) ourselves and others in a state of peak performance. 

The principles of Peak Performance Mindset are rooted in neuroscience. 

Each one of us has an “inner CEO” we can tap for amazing and powerful results. This potential lives in the capacities of the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is where neural connections form based on our experiences, emotions, and ideas. 

The problem is, most of us never examine our own preconceived notions and feelings, despite the fact that they shape our perspective on life. In fact, only five percent of our mind’s content ever actually reaches the conscious level. That means 95 percent of who you are, what you feel, and what you think is not happening on a conscious level. 

That means our unconscious drives and desires have a significant impact on our productivity and success. For example, it’s a commonly held (and unexamined) belief that we get worse as we get older. Most of us assume our bodies will break down and become weak or ill. Yet recent research shows that believing negative ideas about the process of aging can actually decrease your life expectancy by 7.6 years. That means people with a positive mindset actually live longer!

What We Learned about Mindset and Sales Leadership

I was impressed how everyone in our group at the VIP Peak Performance Mindset Retreat committed to highly ambitious goals. Here’s just some of what we learned. 

Mindfulness

In her presentation, “How to Become a Mindful Leader,” Alexis Pokorny taught us the power of mindful leadership. Specifically, she illustrated how ineffective we are when we take on multiple tasks at once instead of working on one task at a time. She also led us through a 10-minute meditation exercise aimed at developing our brain’s ability to focus and concentrate.

“Inner Magic” 

I spoke about the concept of “inner magic.” To me, this is the reason we all exist. By practicing observation and appreciation, leaders can inspire others to live more courageously, intelligently, and joyfully. 

Passion and Purpose

In his presentation, “Mindset in Action,” Jim Cathcart reminded us that, when we understand our passion and purpose, we can live them more fully. He urged us to “know our ‘why,’” explaining that, when we find meaning in what we do, we bring more value to what we do.

Physical Fitness

In his presentation, “Age-defying Health Habits,” David Bush explained the link between our health and our mental clarity and optimism. He laid out a 28-day health challenge plan that included improving nutrition, prioritizing an active lifestyle, and decreasing stress.

One of the last activities we offered was a hole-in-one golf challenge. Listen to Russ Walker describe how working on his mindset transformed his ability to get the closest he’s ever been to a hole in one on the course. 

One participant told me the weekend was more like an awakening than a retreat. Another posted, “I learned from many others. I only see dreams and possibilities and nothing else. The weekend changed me forever.” Still another said, “I discovered that I was operating at a much lower level of energy and focus. I realized that I have a lot more gas in the tank.”

So many participants used the retreat as an opportunity to open up and talk about the toughest battles in their personal lives. We learned that what had brought us through adversity was refusing to give up. 

The weekend reminded me there is no obstacle that can’t be overcome. Any sales leader who participates in the VIP Peak Performance Mindset Retreat will walk away with a greater awareness of his or her true capacities, a clear vision, and a definitive sense of purpose. You’ll also get mutual support and regular accountability checks. As Hillary said, you’ll feel “ready to take on the world.” 

I’m excited to host the next Peak Performance Mindset VIP Retreat in Orlando March 13-15th 2020 at the Four Seasons Hotel. To get your invitation contact me at gerhard@sellingpower.com for details. 

How to Align Your Organization with a Sales Focus

Today’s post is by Anita Greenland, vice president of sales at The Brooks Group, where she brings 25+ years of customer service, sales, sales management, and sales training experience. In her role, Anita is responsible for leading and executing The Brooks Group’s sales growth strategy.

 

Organizations with a strong sales focus consistently outperform those that leave selling up to chance. Establishing a strong sales focus doesn’t happen overnight, however. It takes intentional planning and support from the top levels of your organization.

Here’s how leading companies align their organization with a sales focus to achieve exceptional revenue growth.

1. They Schedule Regular Sales and Marketing Alignment Meetings

Research from Marketo reveals that businesses are 67 percent better at closing deals when sales and marketing work together.

Sales-focused organizations bring the sales and marketing teams together to establish clear goals for both parties – and strategies for achieving them. They align criteria for lead generation and qualification, and keep lines of communication open. 

Most importantly, they operate around a consistent sales process and stay aligned on what collateral, education, and touch points prospects and customers need through every stage of the buyer’s journey. 

Set aside a time for regular alignment meetings – and stick to them. Whether it’s once a week or once a month, a collaborative meeting between sales and marketing offers the chance for leaders from both teams to determine the strategies and processes that best position your organization and sales team in the eyes of your prospects.

2. They Align Sales and Customer Service

Happy customers become repeat customers, and loyal customers become sources of valuable referrals. Consistently solving problems at every stage of the customer relationship not only leads to a positive client experience, it also can reveal untapped revenue opportunities.

Forward-thinking sales organizations align their sales and customer service teams to improve customer experience, and to increase cross-selling and upselling opportunities.

Create open lines of communication and hold both service reps and salespeople accountable for sharing problems and challenges with each other, as well as knowledge and insights. Encourage team problem solving and reward collaborative behavior among departments.

You should also consider training your service reps to be more effective in providing an excellent customer experience and identifying additional solutions. IMPACT for Customer Service is a training program that teaches your team how to serve and delight customers – and translate their efforts into additional revenue for your organization.

3. They Extend CRM Software beyond the Sales Team

Sales-focused organizations make sure everyone on the team understands and stays connected with the sales process, and has access to a common database of knowledge.

Extend your CRM to provide access to marketing, customer service, finance, and any other departments that could benefit from the information it contains. Most CRMs now offer limited licenses for non-sales roles, making this an affordable and effective way to provide everyone with access to customer information in a centralized location.

4. They Establish a Strong Company-wide Sales Culture

Sales-focused organizations know the sales team is not the only department needed to make a sale. Successful selling is like a relay race: Regardless of who crosses the finish line with a win, there was a team behind them working together to move the baton forward.

A strong sales culture is one that encourages every member of the team to support the sales function, and to think about how they can provide value to customers during every interaction.

Consider including non-sales team members in sales methodology and sales process training. When all your people speak the same sales language, your sales process can become your operating system.

Conclusion

To strengthen your sales focus and improve your organization’s performance, you must lay the foundation with a well-planned sales enablement strategy.

Maximum IMPACT Sales Enablement (MISE) will help you establish a sales process as your operating system, and align your organization to achieve both your short- and long-term goals.

Learn more about MISE here, and how it can help meet your team where it is today, while giving you a roadmap to get you where you need to be in the future.

Make Your Sales Training a Big Success

Today’s post is by Haley Katsman, vice president of account development & growth at Highspot, the highest user-rated sales enablement solution. Connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

Today, most sales organizations are still enabling salespeople with classroom onboarding, certifications, and assessments. These methods are outdated and don’t reflect the dynamic, responsive way modern sellers engage with buyers. And they’re hurting your bottom line.

Salespeople are hungry for an immersive, interactive learning experience – one that delivers the right content and guidance at the right time through the channels where they live.

And reps have every reason to have this appetite. Technology has transformed the way we sell – so it’s time technology changed the way we approach sales training, too. 

Most Organizations Get Sales Training Wrong

Sales training is typically treated like a box that needs to be ticked: Certify reps and they have been “trained.” But the one-directional, static learning formats dominating our industry don’t support the breadth of scenarios reps encounter in the field.

Quizzes, certifications, and classroom sessions can’t cover every unique selling situation, nor can they prove long-term knowledge retention.

A global survey by McKinsey & Company found that effective training:

1. provides content that meets the learner’s needs,
2. happens on a continuous basis, and
3. adopts modern delivery channels and techniques, such as digital content libraries and gamification.

If these elements sound familiar, it’s because they mirror the methods used by leading consumer education platforms. Gamification has led to Duolingo’s success, while self-guided, just-in-time video courses and microcontent from Khan Academy, Coursera, Udacity, and Codeacademy have yielded numerous success stories. A close look at how these platforms drive comprehension and retention reveals a pattern: Interactive methods that meet learners where they are, with content in context, yield optimal results.

Effective Sales Training is Dynamic

Sellers are people, too – and the way they want to learn is no different.

But there is an additional layer to consider: Contemporary selling is more dynamic than ever, and sellers need ongoing training that helps them navigate their ever-changing sales environments. Effective training requires elements that mimic the different ways sellers and buyers interact. Harvard Business Review explains, “Most of the problems we encounter during our everyday working lives are ill defined rather than well structured, so they do not have an objectively correct solution, requiring adaptive rather than technical learning.” 

Training must, therefore, extend beyond the textbook – teaching reps to apply techniques and methodologies to real-world scenarios.

For instance, my team stages workshops where we critique buyer calls and then role-play, which reinforces knowledge by allowing reps to act out what they’ve learned. But training can’t stop there. Because no single workshop, session, or quiz can cover everything reps need to know, self-guided learning becomes essential. This is where technology plays a critical part.

Great Training Requires Great Technology

The right approach paired with the right technology is the key to unlocking sales training success.

Advanced platforms have the ability to provide insight and guidance next to content, enabling the self-guided experience reps need to be flexible. On top of that, solutions that have invested in AI and machine learning can learn alongside reps – continuously curating and recommending content that allows sellers to stay relevant to their buyers.

Consider the following example: A rep is engaging a prospect in the healthcare industry. To prepare for her upcoming call, she must understand the way healthcare sales operates and what her contact’s pain points are – and the certification she completed six months ago is inapplicable. She turns to her sales enablement platform to find relevant content paired with expert sales methodology, giving her the just-in-time training she needs to have an effective conversation.

Sales Training for Today’s Sales Reps

Immersive learning experiences unburden reps of monotonous and static approaches and empower them with actionable knowledge. The result? Businesses that invest in continuous training see an increase in quota attainment as well as increased retainment and higher win rates.

Salespeople can’t sell effectively unless they learn effectively. It’s time we set them up for success with the perfect combination of sales training and technology.

Boost Your Situational Awareness to Win More Sales

Today’s post is contributed by Dr. Leff Bonney, vice president, research and product innovation at VantagePoint Performance, a leading global agile sales training company for sellers and frontline managers. Leff is also head of Florida State University Sales Institute.

 

We heard about a study where pilots went into a programmed simulation and were stopped halfway through without warning. After stopping, they were first asked things about their virtual flight, like altitude, speed, and enemy location. Then, they were asked about what they thought was going to happen next based on their experience to that point.

There were correct answers to these questions, because the simulation had been fully programmed, and the pilots had the training and knowledge necessary for appropriate anticipation and reaction. This research was testing the pilots’ ability to be situationally aware – because that skill is literally a matter of life and death. And, it got us thinking.

Many Factors Contribute to Salesperson Awareness

While deal viability and probability are not on par with national security or military safety, they do have enormous impact on organizational health. So, we wondered:

• What about salespeople and their situational awareness in client meetings – and what does that ultimately mean for deal outcomes?
• How would consistent performance affect this awareness?
• What impact would, or could, sales managers have on meeting awareness?
• Finally, is there anything else that contributes positively and/or negatively to reps’ consciousness in meetings?

Research from Florida State University found that high-performing salespeople are typically more alert in customer interactions, but that level of situational awareness often diminishes in reps who have recently been top performers – because they tend to become overly confident. It’s as if continued, consistent success numbs reps’ senses. That means ongoing management check-ins and coaching are critical for the situational awareness of all your reps – and not just those who are average or underperforming.

Speaking of coaching, we also found that management coaching styles influence all levels of salespeople. If your managers are very prescriptive in discussions prior to client meetings, our research shows that your salespeople will have lower situational awareness. This is because they will essentially be going through a mental checklist about what to do and when – and focusing less on what’s unfolding in the room. As a result, they will have lower awareness about what is actually happening in their meeting, which will impact their perception of how it is going.

But, if your managers take a collaborative approach with your reps, that helps the salespeople think through contingencies and possible alternatives – and increases situational awareness in the meeting itself.

Finally, interactive presentations (such as whiteboarding) increase situational awareness, while more scripted approaches (such as standard, “canned” decks) decrease situational awareness. Your managers need to develop and choose wisely because the types of content and presentation tools you provide, and the expectations you set for prep, will affect salesperson awareness in customer meetings.

Salespeople Need Strong Situational Awareness to Win

Just like fighter pilots, salespeople need to develop their situational awareness. Without it, they might fall victim to their own success, become overly dependent on pre-call coaching, or fumble their presentations. Therefore, it’s important to monitor your reps’ ongoing meeting outcomes, your managers’ involvement in prep and planning, and the resources your teams are using to execute.

How to Turn Sales Objections into Opportunities

Today’s post is by Lance Tyson, president and CEO of Tyson Group. Lance is a seasoned entrepreneur known for training sales talent for some of the biggest names in professional sports and entertainment, including Topgolf, the Dallas Cowboys, the Miami Dolphins, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Lance is author of the best-selling book, Selling Is an Away Game: Close Business and Compete in a Complex World.   

 

We’ve all had experiences where we feel a sale is going pretty well, and we feel the momentum gaining. Then, out of the blue, brake lights. Everything comes to a screeching halt. A prospect will suddenly tell you that your price is too high, or that they don’t have the budget, or that they aren’t sure your product or solution really has value.

The job of the sales professional is to take those sales objections and turn them into opportunities. Sometimes, the best outcomes stem from situations where you have to overcome the greatest obstacles. 

The Value of Proactive Dialogue

The other day I was driving down the highway when, all of a sudden, another car swerved in front of me and cut me off. My initial reaction was fear, because I had narrowly avoided a serious accident. Then, on the heels of a rush of adrenaline, I became angry at the other driver’s carelessness. 

There were three levels to my reaction, with varying degrees of control:

• React. I immediately hit the brakes and honked. This reaction was pure reflex, and I had very little control over it.
• Respond. I considered whether I should find a safe place to pull over and regroup, or catch up to the other driver and flip him off. Ultimately, I chose not to do either, but considering these options required me to evaluate the situation and make some sort of decision, which offered me a bit more control.
• Anticipate. I realized I had just experienced a near miss, and recognized I was still upset. Instead of responding to the other driver directly, I turned my thoughts toward figuring out how to avoid having this kind of experience again.  I then took some proactive, corrective action by lowering my speed and leaving over 30 feet between me and the vehicle in front of me. This option enabled me to exercise some influence over my experience, and afforded the greatest amount of control.

Salespeople are faced with the same levels of reaction and control every day. They can either choose to react reflexively when an objection comes up, or they can choose to take proactive control of the situation by having a dialogue that addresses the objection before the prospect raises it. 

If, for example, the objection is about price, salespeople can either get blindsided and lose the sale, or they can start talking about value well before it turns into a problem. 

How to Resolve Sales Objections 

Salespeople often get caught in a trap of reactivity around objections. When this happens, they start throwing better deals at the buyer without truly understanding what the objection is about. This puts the salesperson into a reactionary stance, and turns the negotiating process into a game of Whack-a-Mole.

Cost. Value. Budget. Price. Those words mean very different things to different people. In every single sale, be it complex or simple, there comes a time when you’re going to have to get the prospect to define, explain, and defend how they are defining these terms.

Rather than being reactive, it’s better to have a candid, proactive dialogue about objections. This enables us to get a clear understanding of what the buyer is actually saying, rather than making incorrect assumptions.

To establish a dialogue, follow these four steps:

1. Extract the sales objections. Rather than hiding from potential obstacles, good salespeople lean directly into them. Ask the prospect, “What is your biggest concern about this deal?” or, “Is there anything that could derail this?” It’s important to have this dialogue early in the process so you can identify potential problems before they arise.
2. Clarify concerns/issues. Make sure you understand what the prospect is really saying. Don’t assume you know – instead, have the courage to ask the tough questions.
3. Find points of agreement. Identify common ground, and keep the end objective of the deal at top of mind.
4. Resolve the sales objections. You won’t be able to negotiate unless the objections get resolved, so find ways to either remove the obstacles or navigate around them, in order to move forward.

To learn more about how to gain a competitive edge in your selling process, contact Tyson Group at https://tysongroup.com/contact/.

What Is the One Driver of Sales Performance?

Today's blog post is by Tom Stanfill, CEO and co-founder of ASLAN Training and Development, a global sales training company with seven consecutive years in the Selling Power Top 20. Since 1996, ASLAN has worked with many of the largest sales organizations in the world, training more than 50,000 sellers and leaders in more than 33 countries. Through numerous speaking engagements and published articles, Tom is widely recognized as a thought leader in selling and sales leadership. His passion: helping organizations and individuals embrace the idea that we are more successful and fulfilled when we serve.

 

In the past few months, I’ve attended two conferences for sales and sales enablement leaders. At both, the main focus was this: The economy is up, but sales performance is on a continued decline.

Everyone seems to be scrambling to find the big fix. And this is probably why the latest sales productivity tools are so hot right now.

According to Gerhard Gschwandtner, founder and CEO of Selling Power magazine, there are now more than 3,000 sales productivity tools on the market (with AI tools at the top of the list). Everyone, it appears, is looking for something to make selling easier.

Can You Make Selling Easier?

More power to them! Selling is hard, and any edge you can get is worth pursuing. But here’s the truth about selling: There is no secret sauce, silver bullet, or magic fairy dust (pick your favorite metaphor) to mastering the profession.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m a big fan of the tools, pro-tips, insights, or anything that will make it easier to sell. Our company has invested heavily in such tools.

But, just like learning to play golf or the violin, sellers need a defined set of capabilities and skills to succeed. There are no shortcuts. If you’re struggling to hit the ball in the fairway, you could invest in the latest driver – but rigorous practice is required to fix your swing.

As long as sellers are talking to customers, there are no shortcuts to mastering the art of influence.

So this begs the question: What is the most effective strategy for developing a seller’s capabilities? Is it sales training? Nope. Is it delivering real-time microlearning to your sales team? Nope.

Frontline Sales Leaders Are the Key to Better Sales Performance

Here’s what we have learned from 20 years of research, conducting control group studies, and analyzing the highest performing sales organizations: If you want to change your sellers’ performance, there is nothing more effective than focusing on your frontline sales leaders.

Training, microlearning, and productivity tools are all critical to improving sales performance, but nothing has more impact than the leader/coach. The leader drives the culture and engagement, and is the key to developing the seller’s competency. Change happens one-on-one, not in a workshop.

I know this idea, on face value, isn’t revolutionary. You’re probably a big believer in sales coaching. You love the whole sales coaching movement. I get it – almost every organization I’ve worked with supports this idea.

When I spend time in the field, I ask questions to assess how well teams are being coached, including these:

• “When was the last time your manager rode with you?”
• “After a ‘coaching session,’ what is the plan to build a new skill set?”
• “How are you measuring a seller’s competency level or engagement level?”
• “What are the seller’s personal development goals?”

And, in response, I often get blank stares.

Most sales coaching sessions are really management meetings or strategy sessions. They are discussions about what went wrong, what went right, what the plan is to win, and how the numbers are looking.

Even if it’s an incredibly collaborative exchange, where the seller successfully diagnoses opportunities for improvement, nothing changes without practice. And, honestly, even the best reps can’t accurately assess their abilities without another set of eyes.

My point? Effective sales coaching takes time – and most organizations are still looking for the quick fix.

The very best tool, in the hands of an incompetent rep, will yield very little. To learn to “play,” we all need a coach to help us see our blind spots, encourage us, challenge us, and continually support the skill development process.

No judgment; I get how tough it can be. Our organization struggles regularly with coaching; and, when we fail to make it a priority, performance suffers. If you want to change performance, ask yourself: Are the frontline leaders the number one priority?

What Is Your Sales Leadership Score?

If you suspect there is a need to refocus on the frontline sales leader – or you want to personally assess your approach to developing your team and improving sales performance – check out our leadership diagnostic. In about five minutes, you will see if there are quick wins you can implement.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what you will discover:

• How well are you igniting the desire to change?
• Is your current culture enhancing or diminishing engagement and performance?
• What are the real metrics that matter?
• How much time, realistically, should be allocated to coaching?
• Are you focused on the three elements of coaching that change performance?
• Are you coaching the right people?
• Are you assessing and measuring the eight competencies that determine ability?
• Have you created the most effective development strategy for the four types of sellers?

Want to assess your own sales leadership abilities? Take one or both of our five-minute quizzes: motivation assessment and coaching assessment.