Sales and business development often depend as much on confidence and consistency as on technical skills. One way to become more confident and consistent is to build on strengths when developing or refining our skills. Consider the following: Magic Ingredients?Confidence plays a major role when interacting with others. It can serve as a critical multiplier […]
Category: Selling Skills
Harder Questions?
Gretchen Gordon, founder of Braveheart Sales Performance once wrote, “The harder the questions, the easier the sale.” So true! Gordon also cited an Objective Management Group study indicating only 11% of salespeople ask the most important question when necessary. So disappointing! Gordon attributes a “loss of emotional discipline” or too much concern over being likable as root causes […]
Closing v. Trial Closing
Closing the sale is a skill we’re asked about frequently – and one surrounded by a great deal of mystery. One area of confusion that can, when demystified, result in a healthy increase in closing rates, is the difference between “closing” and “trial closing.” Closing is the act of seeking a decision, usually through the […]
The Truth About Habits & Sales Success
Habits play a significant role in shaping our lives. Whether it’s maintaining a healthy lifestyle, achieving professional or sales success, or nurturing positive relationships, the power of habits cannot be underestimated. In fact, Aristotle claimed that ninety-five percent of everything we do is a result of habit! But forming good habits is a challenging process […]
Why Football Teams Practice
Football season is in full swing, so we thought we’d align this post by taking some advice about getting back to basics from the National Football League. We all know that football teams practice a lot – according to the NFL, six days per week. Activities include reviewing game tapes, playbooks, and on-field six-plus hour […]
The Power of Storytelling
While we have shared content on this topic in the past, we recently came across a most compelling article published by Forbes in which author Candice Georgiadis reaffirms our findings very nicely. “At its core, storytelling refers to the art of crafting narratives that capture the essence of your brand and appeal to your audience. It also […]
If You Aim at Nothing
The late Zig Ziglar was often quoted as saying, “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” True words for sure! Mr. Ziglar’s wisdom can be applied to much in life and to sales calls as well. For example, consider the following perspective on setting our aim on key objectives for sales calls […]
How to Differentiate
Not long ago, a survey done by Boston’s Rain Group indicated that most buyers found it highly influential when a seller could differentiate themselves and their organization from others. Unfortunately, only about 1 out of 5 sellers polled in the same survey rated that skill as one at which they were highly proficient! Granted, it […]
The Science Behind Storytelling
Storytelling can be a highly effective tool for leaders and sales professionals! An article recently published on inc.com provided a concise but thorough explanation of why. “Storytelling is not something we do. Storytellers are who we are,” wrote author and Harvard Instructor Carmine Gallo. His article goes on to explain the evolution and neuroscience associated […]