Sales Recruiting & Hiring: What’s at Stake?

It’s like a “Blind Date.” You “Hope” you won’t be disappointed and you “Hope” it might “Work Out.”

Let’s face facts; you’re frustrated because it’s difficult in this 4% unemployment economy-you’ve done some work. Like:

·        You (or HR) have a Sales position job description.

·        You’ve advertised your sales opening.

·        You’ve looked at countless resumes …who have “experience” in sales, but not quite the experience you need for your unique sales role or market.

·        You’re unhappy because you’ve interviewed people who you “liked” but…you’re not sure. You’re not even sure or confident in your interviewing skills (FYI- only 5 % of managers have had any interviewing training—you’re not alone.)

·        You are “subjective” and follow your “gut instinct” when interviewing—“After all, they were likable & they have a great personality… AND…I’d buy from them.”

·        Poor hires have cost you a good amount of money in the past, not to mention lost time and lost opportunities.

·        You’re tired of “being sold” by sales candidates…who, once hired, don’t produce like they said they could in the interview.

·        You’ve heard about Sales hiring assessments, maybe have even used a personality test in the past, without much success. It didn’t really focus sales capabilities like sales skills & competencies, Sales DNA, Sales development or questions to probe in an interview.

Let us share solid, data driven information about the #1 Sales Hiring Assessment from our Partner, Objective Management Group

Click here: To Explore the Data and Science of Salesforce Selection

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Navigating Today’s Sales Landscape

Today’s decision makers are busier than ever, many are doing “more” with less.

Fact:

Decision Makers face ever-escalating “unrealistic” expectations to do more, do better, be faster!!!

Many are: Too Busy to: Deal with problems that haven’t YET reached the “crisis stage”

The result?

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Overcoming Prospect “Delays, Misunderstandings, Misinterpretations and Closing Delays”

In a world of procrastinators, there always appear to be delays or excuses (often times in the summer, prospects tell salespeople that they’ll address something after they’re back from vacation). These delays are frequent as holidays (like Labor Day) approach, as it is convenient for the prospect to procrastinate, “with the holiday approaching…” 

Here’s a quick, effective way to help move deals forward and overcome prospect delays.

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Sales Management: Joint Sales Calls: Steps to Success

Background: many times, joint calls become a “circus show” of show and tell; or someone trying to dominate the conversation. Some reasons typical joint calls end in confusion are:

  • No pre-meeting plan
  • Uncertainty of each person’s role & responsibility (sales manager & salesperson)
  • Poor “post meeting” debriefing, inconsistent follow up and “uncertain” agreed to “next steps.”

The Steps to Success:

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Hour Blocking: The Secret to Effective Time Management for Salespeople

Time management is an essential skill, and hour blocking is a powerful way to master this skill.You can use it to block off hours in your schedule and get more things finished. It enables you to take control of sales priorities and tasks each day.

Follow this process to take advantage of this valuable technique:

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MANAGE AND QUALIFY QUOTES & PROPOSALS ….

BEFORE YOUR TEAM SPENDS TOO MUCH WASTED TIME…..Are they “real” and are they moving forward…..do you know….do your sales people know?  How do they know? Here are a few fail-safe tactics:

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Pricing Issues & How to Handle the “Too Expensive Objection”

It is Too expensive

1.      As compared to?

2.      How do you mean?

3.      In relation to?

4.      Tell me why do you say that?

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Accountability or Excuse Making?

What will you accept; when “Results are on the line?”

Excuse making is: A plea or explanation offered in defense of one’s conduct

 Excuse Making: A release from obligation, duty, etc.   ………A “pretended” reason for conduct

“Every excuse that is made & allowed—there are multiple negative forces at work behind the excuse.”

➢Given to keep from accepting RESPONSIBILITY

 ➢Made to project blame to someone else.

➢Used to procrastinate

 ➢Used to overcome inadequacy or incompetency

➢Used so as not to face FEAR of criticism for failure

 ➢Used to stay in “comfort zones” & from taking risks or “stretching”

Our job as Sales Leader or Sales Coach is to NOT accept excuses!

If you accept excuses (or “buy in to them”) you will give them the “green light” …to continue and give you more excuses. More excuses equal less accountably and less RESULTS!

Your Role is to be Excuse Eliminator: Eliminate ALL excuses! Let your sales people know that “mistakes” can & do happen. It’s okay. If they learn from them. However, EXCUSES for lack of responsibility or accountability are no longer acceptable.

Management Insight: “Changes Don’t Happen Until Excuse Making Stops”

You must be “pro-active” in your quest to stop excuses within your sales team!

What has been the impact of excuses in your team?

  • Determine the “Effect and or Outcomes”
  • Determine How much that has COST you?
  • Accept YOUR responsibility…for putting up with excuses!

We believe each sales department MUST BE “An Excuse Free Zone.”

TO STOP EXCUSE MAKING BEHAVIOR: YOU MUST ALWAYS ASK:

1. “If you couldn’t USE that Excuse…what would you do differently?”

 2. “If that wasn’t the case (or true) …what would……?”

You must do this, every day, every time you hear an excuse! Every day, every time!!! No OPTION Behavior.

Soon your sales people will learn to change their response & behavior…since you no longer accept/tolerate EXCUSES!

The outcome for this change is personal accountability & responsibility.

Management Insight: “Accountability and Responsibility are tandem cousins of personal reliability & control.”

The Result: You will create “An Excuse Free Sales environment.”

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Sales Manager’s Corner: Capturing Sales Growth

As Sales Managers, we sometimes get distracted. When we do, so do our sales people…and the performance & results suffer in the process. Our people are looking for direction and feedback that “help” them generate results.

Let’s give them that direction this month with our 4 by 10 CAPTURE PLANS.

Think of this as “4 buckets” each with a different objective for business generation.

A. Their TOP 10 Accounts who can spend more dollars in the next quarter.
Customer; Product/project; $ potential; Motive; Action step & date (list 1-10 accounts)

B. Their TOP 10 Dormant Accounts (not doing business with your company in over 12 months)
Customer; Product/project; $ potential; Motive; Action step & date (list 1-10 accounts)

C. Their TOP 10 NEW PROSPECTS (Targets to “hunt,” contact/meet/qualify/etc.) Customer; Product/project; $ potential; Motive; Action step & date (list 1-10 accounts)

D. Their TOP 10 “OPEN PROJECTS” to close in the next 30 days Customer; $Value; product/service; Decision Process; Status; Next Action & date (list 1-10 accounts)

Give each of your sales people direction, one on one with this assignment. Give them due dates to start this task and coach them minimally on a weekly basis to help manage progress and gain “clarity” for the objectives for the next call. (Tip: Role play the call with them). Practice & overcome any stalls, objections (and responses) and coach them to be prepared with more & better questions to move each opportunity forward in your sales process.

What happens when you give them this directions and coaching assistance? Their activity will increase; their pipeline will increase and ultimately their Sales results will increase!

Questions? Just give us a call at 630-560-3614. We’re glad to help & have a conversation.

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2018 4th Quarter: Time to Close Business!

As the Sales Leader, what has your team accomplished Year to Date in 2018 and what is required in Q4? It is critical to have a realistic, actionable, defined plan for the remainder of 2018 to ensure your sales people exceed their sales goals.  This is the time for action and total execution of your plans, process, and people’s efforts.

The first 3 quarters of 2018 are HISTORY! It’s time to Look & Move—Forward! But first as Sales Leader, it’s time for a “short” Accountability Review 2018 Year to Date Results by each sales person and a specific plan for Q4.

The individual sales review/plan should be conducted individually by each sales person. Your review should last no more than 60 minutes or so and should be presented to management & the entire sales team. The key is preparation and knowing THEIR business, accounts and action plans.

Have each sales person have a summary hand out prepared in advance for all attendees so your review can be followed and commented on.

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