37: The Fundamentals of Challenger Selling with Challenger Author, Brent Adamson
Dec 11, 2018
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Brent Adamson, a distinguished vice president at Gartner and co-author of influential sales books, shares his expertise on Challenger Selling. He delves into the importance of adapting sales strategies to complex purchasing behaviors and understanding customer mental models. Brent highlights the critical role of 'mobilizers' in driving consensus within organizations, emphasizing that effective selling requires engaging multiple stakeholders. He also offers insights on fostering change through meaningful conversations and establishing credibility in today's dynamic sales landscape.
The Challenger sales methodology transforms customer interactions by emphasizing the importance of teaching insights that reshape their business thinking.
Understanding the increasing complexity of B2B purchasing decisions necessitates adapting sales strategies to accommodate multiple stakeholders in the decision-making process.
Identifying and empowering 'mobilizers' within customer organizations is crucial for driving consensus and championing change effectively during sales.
Deep dives
The Challenger Sales Methodology Explained
The Challenger sales methodology emphasizes the importance of teaching customers insights that can reshape their thinking about their business. Research shows that the best sales professionals identify as 'challengers,' who succeed not by building relationships alone but by offering insights that drive the customer to reconsider their views. This involves understanding different sales profiles, with challengers outperforming traditional relationship builders, especially in complex sales environments. The key distinction lies in how challengers engage customers by challenging their assumptions and providing valuable information that fosters deeper understanding.
Understanding the Evolution of Buyer Behavior
Over the years, there has been a significant shift in how customers approach buying decisions, moving from a straightforward process to a more complex network of stakeholders. The podcast reveals that the average number of individuals involved in a B2B purchasing decision has risen sharply, necessitating a new selling strategy. This change is largely attributed to the intricate nature of solutions being sold, which now require consensus across various departments and functions within an organization. Sellers must adapt by addressing the needs of a broader audience rather than focusing on a single decision-maker.
Identifying the Mobilizer in Sales
In order to succeed in today's complex sales environment, identifying a 'mobilizer' within the customer organization is crucial. Mobilizers are individuals who can drive change and influence consensus among various stakeholders, making them key allies in the sales process. They differ from mere 'talkers,' who may engage but lack the power to affect decisions, or 'blockers,' who resist change altogether. Effective sales strategies involve empowering mobilizers with insights that can help them champion the proposed change throughout their organization.
Provide Insight, Not Just Solutions
The approach to selling has evolved to focus less on simply presenting products and more on providing valuable insights that highlight potential business changes. Sales professionals should strive to demonstrate how existing behaviors expose customers to risks or missed opportunities, thereby illustrating the necessity for change. The concept of 'commercial insight' becomes essential in establishing credibility with potential customers, allowing them to recognize the value of altering their business processes. Through this strategic positioning, salespeople can facilitate meaningful conversations about change rather than relying solely on product features.
Coaching Customers Through the Buying Process
To ensure successful transactions, salespeople should take an active role in coaching customers throughout the buying process, particularly under the new challenges presented by complex decision-making environments. This involves guiding mobilizers on navigating internal discussions, understanding who should be involved, and addressing potential objections early in the process. By becoming a 'buying Sherpa,' sales professionals can simplify the decision-making journey for their customers. This proactive approach not only builds stronger relationships but also enhances the likelihood of a successful sales outcome.
This week on the Sales Hacker podcast, we talk to Brent Adamson, who co-authored the foundational sales book, The Challenger Sale, and who has recently releasedThe Challenger Customer: Selling to the Hidden Influencer Who Can Multiply Your Results. Brent walks us through the key foundational elements of Challenger concepts and gives us the tools we need to get started with a new approach to sales.
The GTM Podcast The GTM Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Scott Barker, GTMfund Partner, featuring interviews with the top 1% GTM executives, VCs, and founders. Conversations reveal the unshared details behind how they have grown companies, and the go-to-market strategies responsible for shaping that growth.
Visit gtmnow.com for more episodes and other interesting content.
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