Sales is an Obstacle Course
Sales is an Obstacle Course
The difference between great salespeople and everyone else is how you approach those obstacles - your mindset, and how you handle those obstacles - your strategy and tactics.
When it comes to mindset, it is crucial that you approach each obstacle as an opportunity. Opportunities to differentiate you from everyone else in your industry, every other salesperson who has called on this prospect and everyone else this prospect has ever worked with. It is an opportunity perform at close to 100%. Let's go to baseball. A pitcher might be throwing at 80-90% at the point in the game where he finds himself in a bases loaded jam with only one out. At that point, he might reach back for something extra and throw at close to 100% of his capacity to escape the jam. Does he seek to be removed from the game? Does he give in? Does he give up? Does he back off? Does he back down? No, no, no, no and no! He focuses, slows things down, gets himself in control and ratchets it up a couple of notches. Which approach is yours in selling?
When it comes to strategy, yours should be the element of surprise. The prospects expects you to resort to features and benefits - to begin explaining why he should talk to you, why he should meet with you or why he should buy from you. Simply don't do that. Do whatever he isn't expecting, which brings us to tactics.
Tactically, when you say what your prospect isn't expecting, it should result in the lowering of his resistance, the changing of his position and the opening of his mind. What are some of the things you can say or do at that moment to accomplish any and all of those things?
* I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called today.
* You must not have this problem.
* You're right.
* I shouldn't have assumed that you would want to cut expenses.
* I never should have thought that you would want to improve efficiency.
* So you don't want to fix the problem you shared with me.
You can add another 100 examples to this list but they should first lower resistance and second get them to change their position. Do not try to turn them around using logic, features or benefits.
You can read more about turning obstacles into opportunities, including use of The Cycle and the Hidden Ball Trick in Baseline Selling.
Sales is an Obstacle Course - To learn more about this author, visit Dave Kurlan's Website.
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If you sell, then you encounter obstacles every step of the way. There are the prospects you can't get through to, the same ones who don't return your calls, and those who offer so much resistance that the obstacle appears to be more like a road block than an obstacle. Then there are the obstacles of timing, competition, budget, and disinterest, along with using and happy with someone else, doing it themselves and bad experiences with your company or simply companies like yours. There is no selling without obstacles.
The difference between great salespeople and everyone else is how you approach those obstacles - your mindset, and how you handle those obstacles - your strategy and tactics.
When it comes to mindset, it is crucial that you approach each obstacle as an opportunity. Opportunities to differentiate you from everyone else in your industry, every other salesperson who has called on this prospect and everyone else this prospect has ever worked with. It is an opportunity perform at close to 100%. Let's go to baseball. A pitcher might be throwing at 80-90% at the point in the game where he finds himself in a bases loaded jam with only one out. At that point, he might reach back for something extra and throw at close to 100% of his capacity to escape the jam. Does he seek to be removed from the game? Does he give in? Does he give up? Does he back off? Does he back down? No, no, no, no and no! He focuses, slows things down, gets himself in control and ratchets it up a couple of notches. Which approach is yours in selling?
When it comes to strategy, yours should be the element of surprise. The prospects expects you to resort to features and benefits - to begin explaining why he should talk to you, why he should meet with you or why he should buy from you. Simply don't do that. Do whatever he isn't expecting, which brings us to tactics.
Tactically, when you say what your prospect isn't expecting, it should result in the lowering of his resistance, the changing of his position and the opening of his mind. What are some of the things you can say or do at that moment to accomplish any and all of those things?
* I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called today.
* You must not have this problem.
* You're right.
* I shouldn't have assumed that you would want to cut expenses.
* I never should have thought that you would want to improve efficiency.
* So you don't want to fix the problem you shared with me.
You can add another 100 examples to this list but they should first lower resistance and second get them to change their position. Do not try to turn them around using logic, features or benefits.
You can read more about turning obstacles into opportunities, including use of The Cycle and the Hidden Ball Trick in Baseline Selling.
Sales is an Obstacle Course - To learn more about this author, visit Dave Kurlan's Website.
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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Dave KurlanDave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Linda RichardsonLinda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website |
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John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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