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Guest post by: Veronika Noize Become an Author

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My older brother offered another perspective, which I dismissed at the time; he told me that it wasn't easy always doing the asking, especially when one wasn't sure if the answer would be yes. Fast forward a few years and now I (as well as my female colleagues) know the pressure of asking - not for a date or a dance, but for business. It is hard to ask a question when you want the answer to be yes, and there is a possibility that it may be no.

What my brother didn't tell me about asking is that there are ways to determine whether or not you have a good shot at getting to yes (or maybe I just didn't listen to him), which is by asking qualifying questions first.

Of course, I am sure my brother wouldn't have called them "qualifying questions," but he certainly understood the concept. He knew that he wouldn't get a date if he didn't ask, and to increase his chances of getting a positive response, he first needed to find out if she was single, and if she was even interested in going out with him.

This same principle works in sales, too. You won't get the business if you don't ask (which is why I say that asking for the business is one of marketing's "magic bullets"), but you will increase your chances of getting a positive response if you qualify first.

And frankly, asking for the sale without first determining need, interest, and inclination is rude, presumptive, and off-putting. Why? Because offering a solution without first assessing need is like a doctor writing a prescription before the diagnosis - not a good idea for anyone!

Here are some questions that might help you assess the need and get to yes:

1. What is the goal or outcome you want to achieve? Or as an alternate: If you could wave a magic wand and this issue would be settled to your satisfaction, what would that look like?

2. Who else needs to be involved in this decision?

3. What will happen/what are the consequences if you don't do this?

4. What are the obstacles in your way right now?

5. What are the resources you have to draw on?

6. What is your timeline for reaching this goal or completing this project?

7. How will you measure success? How will things be different?

8. Have you tried to solve this problem before, and if so, what happened?

9. Why is this important for you to solve right now?

10. How will you feel once this is complete?

Once these questions have been asked and answered, you can present your solution as an option, because then, ostensibly, you are in a position to make an informed recommendation.

Your prospect will feel more confident in your proposal because you spent the time to really understand the situation before you offered a solution, rather than throwing a one-size-fits-all solution at the problem.

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