In this episode, Mike answers eight great questions from a sales team, including when to move on to the next opportunity and how to make training stick. He also discusses the benefits of using a business plan, developing a better sales culture, and going 'upmarket.' Additionally, he shares tips on handing off deals and reveals the number one sales sin.
Addressing underperformance within a sales team is crucial for maintaining a positive sales culture and achieving strong results.
Incorporating sales training into team meetings and coaching sessions, while sharing success stories, helps ensure the training sticks and is adopted by the sales team.
Deep dives
Identifying and Addressing Underperformance
One of the main ideas discussed in the podcast episode is the importance of identifying and addressing underperformance within a sales team. Mike emphasizes that failing to address underperformance is detrimental to both the sales culture and the overall results. He highlights the need for sales managers to have regular conversations with their team members, reviewing their performance against set goals and holding them accountable. By addressing underperformance early on, sales leaders can prevent negative effects on the team and create a culture of continuous improvement.
Getting Sales Training to Stick
Another key point discussed in the podcast is how to ensure sales training effectively sticks with salespeople. Mike suggests incorporating the training concepts into team meetings and coaching sessions to keep the material fresh and reinforce the key messages. He also advises giving team members the opportunity to present their takeaways from the training modules and lead group discussions. Additionally, sharing success stories of team members who have successfully implemented the training can inspire others and encourage adoption of the new sales strategies.
The Power of Business Plans
The podcast episode emphasizes the significance of using business plans in setting and achieving sales goals. Mike explains that business plans provide clarity and direction for salespeople, helping them identify what worked in the past, set goals for the future, and establish strategies to achieve those goals. He suggests reviewing and revisiting the business plan regularly, particularly in coaching sessions, to ensure salespeople are staying on track and taking the necessary actions to achieve their goals. This process of accountability and alignment between salespeople and managers helps foster a more structured and goal-oriented sales culture.
Developing a Better Sales Culture and Customer Experience
The podcast episode explores how implementing effective sales training can contribute to developing a better internal sales culture and delivering an improved customer experience. Mike highlights the importance of shifting the focus from product-centric messaging to customer-centric messaging. By understanding customer needs and focusing on outcomes, salespeople can position themselves as consultants and trusted advisors rather than mere vendors. This shift in mindset and approach ensures that customers receive more value from their interactions with salespeople and helps build stronger relationships based on solving their problems and delivering results.
During Week 1 of the 2024 Sales Kickoff Meeting Season, one of Mike’s clients included a live Q&A to conclude a virtual session. The questions from the salespeople and sales leaders were so good, and so different from what Mike is typically asked, he decided to share them (along with his answers) in this episode.
You’ll want to share this episode with your sales team!
Take a listen for Mike’s answers to these eight great questions:
At what point do you move on to the next opportunity? How many NO’s do you need to get before giving up, or how long do you continue to pursue a prospect who has stopped responding?
How do we get your training to stick? What would you tell salespeople and managers to ensure that what you’re teaching gets implemented…and makes an impact?
How does using the business plan help the salesperson and manager set short-term and long-term goals, and also help to achieve those goals?
How can your training (and approach) help our ecosystem develop both a better sales culture and also help us deliver a better customer experience?
What is necessary for us to be successful going “upmarket” (selling solutions instead of hardware) and getting into higher-level customer contacts?
After winning a deal and handing it off cleanly, how can we get salespeople back to selling instead of having them continuing to come back to make sure the project is moving and/or installed?
What do you think is the number one sales sin of the Ugly 8 Reasons Sellers Get Viewed as Amateurs, Relegated to “Vendor” Status and Commoditized?
Can you speak about the most resistant sales organization you have dealt with? Were you able to get them to change, and through that change, what was the outcome?