Building Repeatable Revenue Engines at Outreach and Catalyst with Mark Kosoglow
Nov 20, 2024
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In this discussion, Mark Kosoglow, co-founder and CEO of Operator.ai, shares his journey from mall shoe sales to leading top-tier sales teams at Outreach and Catalyst. He delves into the importance of creating repeatable revenue engines and building effective sales processes through measurement and technology. Highlights include the significance of hiring for traits over skills, utilizing data analysis to optimize sales strategies, and fostering a culture of enablement for onboarding success. Mark emphasizes the balance between process and adaptability in achieving consistent growth.
Mark Kosoglow discusses how early experiences in sales shape the foundational skills needed for successful consultative selling and customer relationships.
The key to building repeatable revenue lies in establishing systematic processes and ensuring the organization isn’t reliant on key individuals for sales success.
Effective performance measurement requires analyzing both leading and lagging metrics across various dimensions to optimize sales strategies and identify improvement areas.
Deep dives
The Journey of a Sales Leader
Early experiences in sales, such as trading toys at a young age and selling shoes in a mall, laid the foundation for developing consultative selling skills. These formative experiences highlighted the importance of understanding customer needs and building relationships, leading to a loyal customer base. The speaker emphasizes that learning how to observe and analyze customer behavior is crucial for effective selling. Such hands-on lessons in retail reflect the real-world application of sales strategies that can later be translated into broader business contexts.
Understanding Repeatability in Sales
Repeatability in sales refers to establishing a system that can consistently yield predictable results, regardless of personnel changes. This concept includes having a solid process in place that ensures outputs can be anticipated based on specific inputs. The speaker illustrates that strong repeatability guarantees that the organization does not depend solely on key individuals. It emphasizes that a systematic approach involving people, processes, and technology is crucial to achieving reliable sales performance.
The Role of Metrics and Measurement in Sales
Effective sales measurement involves defining and utilizing both leading and lagging metrics to assess performance. Leading indicators can provide insights into future performance, while lagging metrics reflect past outcomes and results. The speaker stresses the need to break down metrics into different vector categories, such as inbound versus outbound performance and value versus volume. Such detailed analysis helps organizations identify areas for improvement and optimize their sales processes accordingly.
Identifying the Right People for Sales Success
Hiring the right people is critical for sales success, with a crucial focus on identifying traits rather than just skills. Traits such as coachability, curiosity, and a strong work ethic are essential for long-term performance, while specific skills can be developed over time. The speaker advocates for a thoughtful hiring approach that assesses character traits first, ensuring that selected candidates have the potential to thrive in the organization. This foundational aspect enables effective onboarding and ongoing development, ultimately driving team success.
Creating an Effective Onboarding Program
An effective onboarding program is essential to ensure new hires reach high performance quickly and consistently. The speaker highlights the importance of having an enablement expert who develops structured training and support systems catered to new employees' needs. This includes creating a curriculum that aligns with the skills and traits identified during the hiring process. A well-designed onboarding approach not only accelerates ramp-up times for new hires but also enhances overall team performance and cohesion.
In this episode of the Revenue Leadership Podcast, host Kyle Norton sits down with Mark Kosoglow, co-founder & CEO of Operator.ai, to unpack the art of building a repeatable sales motion. Mark takes us through his journey—from selling shoes in a mall to leading high-performing sales teams at Outreach and Catalyst. Along the way, he highlights the critical role of process, measurement, and building the right team. The conversation dives into the challenges of creating consistent sales strategies, why proper instrumentation matters, and how enablement can accelerate onboarding for new hires. If you like what you heard from Kyle today, make sure to follow The Revenue Leadership Podcast for new episodes every Wednesday. Want more content from the Topline media family? Listen to Topline Podcast with Sam Jacobs, AJ Bruno, and Asad Zaman. Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners. Subscribe to Topline Newsletter written by Asad Zaman.
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