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Member You - Train a Winning Sales Team: Rounding Third and Heading for Home
The history of the downfall in companies has consistently shown a common weakness: Not letting go of what they are not great at executing.Core competencies are the identified areas of expertise a company has leveraged in the marketplace. What these companies rarely are capable of is creating value in non-core functions like human resources, technology, sales & marketing and transportation.Third party outsource management companies are flourishing as more businesses come to grips with the reality of higher efficiencies and value that can be leveraged in their non-core competencies for a better focus on what they do best to create real profitable growth.The drivers of this clear trend are new scalable technologies otherwise not affordable by an individual business, increasing pressure to compete on price in a commoditized
Demonstrating suc
In any business endeavor, an owner may encounter multiple sweaty-palmed experiences. Customers may engage in multi-tiered assaults ranging from vehement criticism of a product or service, censure for (the lack of) customer assistance, objection to time lag for delivering said product or service and the airing of numerous other grievances. Of course, an owner realizes that this comes with the precipitous territory of conducting business. However, it remains a humbling experience when interacting with a vociferous client -- an individual who will let everyone know from friends and relatives to the Better Business Bureau about the perceived shortcomings of the business.Perhaps the most daunting situation affecting an "it's not all what it's cracked up to be" business owner is a payment that is late or never arrives. Consider the private s
DEMONSTRATE
A seven-time All-Star shortstop, Boudreau was only the second manager to take the Indians to a World Series Championship, and no one has done so since. Clearly, he was a man who demonstrated success. As field sales trainers we must similarly make success a habit. A field contact with a trainer may be the first “in situ” opportunity a new rep has to test their impressions of the company, and possibly selling in general. Is what we say consistent with the corporate sales direction? Is what we do consistent with what we say? Most importantly, are we successful at gaining customer commitment and moving the sales process forward?
Inexperienced reps may need guidance on effective territory management and specific techniques for gaining access to prospects. Experienced reps are more familiar with the demands of the position, so their concerns are usually more territory-specific. Their willingness to accept us as role models may depend on how well we demonstrate successful resolution of field challenges: “The key thought leader in my area is on the speaker’s bureau for Competitor X. How can I compete with that?” “Most of my key decision makers won’t see reps. What can I do to impact their decision making process?” Established reps need to know that we have successfully overcome similar challenges and can give them strategies to do the same.
Demonstrating succ
There are many business owners and staff that are unaware of how much they are damaging their business – by not doing the ‘little things’ that add value to their product or service.Seemingly simple or even trivial things can make the difference between an unhappy customer and a raving one.But there’s a warning here.Adding value, or going the extra mile doesn’t usually mean you have to walk over hot coals for your customers.And it doesn’t mean you have to give away profit either.In most situations it’s the opposite.All you have to do is the little things – the ‘little things’ that make a big difference to the CUSTOMER.So don’t worry about giving away a lot of product, or a lot of times to ‘add value’ just use plain old good manners.Let me give you an example.I worked with a busines
DEMONSTRATE
A seven-time All-Star shortstop, Boudreau was only the second manager to take the Indians to a World Series Championship, and no one has done so since. Clearly, he was a man who demonstrated success. As field sales trainers we must similarly make success a habit. A field contact with a trainer may be the first “in situ” opportunity a new rep has to test their impressions of the company, and possibly selling in general. Is what we say consistent with the corporate sales direction? Is what we do consistent with what we say? Most importantly, are we successful at gaining customer commitment and moving the sales process forward?
Inexperienced reps may need guidance on effective territory management and specific techniques for gaining access to prospects. Experienced reps are more familiar with the demands of the position, so their concerns are usually more territory-specific. Their willingness to accept us as role models may depend on how well we demonstrate successful resolution of field challenges: “The key thought leader in my area is on the speaker’s bureau for Competitor X. How can I compete with that?” “Most of my key decision makers won’t see reps. What can I do to impact their decision making process?” Established reps need to know that we have successfully overcome similar challenges and can give them strategies to do the same.
Demonstrating suc
Business owners contact me because they want to grow their business, they want to attract new customers and they want to separate their business from the competition. They aren't as successful as they want to be, and as marketing/design specialist I need to find out why.During a sit down meeting I'll eventually ask her/him, "What is your current marketing strategy, and what are you doing to outreach and attract new customers?" But in my mind I am asking, "Are you an ant or a grasshopper?"More often than not, business owners that are as sharp as tacks get this curious, glazed-over expression on their face. After a about 5-10 seconds of uncomfortable silence they say with a sheepish look on their face, "We'll right now we're just relying on word of mouth advertising and referrals to sustain our business".ontact with a trainer may be the first “in situ” opportunity a new rep has to test their impressions of the company, and possibly selling in general. Is what we say consistent with the corporate sales direction? Is what we do consistent with what we say? Most importantly, are we successful at gaining customer commitment and moving the sales process forward?
Inexperienced reps may need guidance on effective territory management and specific techniques for gaining access to prospects. Experienced reps are more familiar with the demands of the position, so their concerns are usually more territory-specific. Their willingness to accept us as role models may depend on how well we demonstrate successful resolution of field challenges: “The key thought leader in my area is on the speaker’s bureau for Competitor X. How can I compete with that?” “Most of my key decision makers won’t see reps. What can I do to impact their decision making process?” Established reps need to know that we have successfully overcome similar challenges and can give them strategies to do the same.
Demonstrating suc
Over the past 25 years I have had the unique opportunity to talk directly with many of the professionals and instructors who use Overhead Projectors as an integral part of their profession. Through these interactions I have accumulated notes and information that has inspired me to write these articles that pertain to some of the most common problems experienced by owners of today's and yesterday's Overhead Projectors. This is the eighth article in a series of articles that will be written from a professional Electronics Technicians point of view in regards to some of today’s most common Overhead Projector problems and questionsThere is a lot of confusion with end users of Overhead Projectors in regards to what type of focus head their Overhead Projector has, whether or not this was properly explained to them when they made their purcha
Demonstrating suc
Small business owners are amazing. They have the courage to do what so many others only dream about. Small business owners also are challenged. They often are specialists. This makes them great at one or two aspects of their business but often lack the knowledge and skill in other areas. One area many business owners have little to no knowledge is how to effectively market their enterprise. For those businesses that rely on the customer coming into the store or rely on the customer calling to request a service, radio should be their weapon of choice.When you want to have others know something about you, do you write it down and hope they stop by the location it's written, your desk, you table, the bulletin board, and hope they read it or would it be more effective to go to each and every one of them and with passion and enthusiasm, tel
Demonstrating success is also vital because as field sales trainers we hold a uniquely dual role in the sales organization. In addition to the time we spend training and coaching sales reps, most of us are responsible for increasing sales and growing market share in our assigned territories. Our ability to manage our time and territory productively is vital in order to reach our own performance goals.
INSPIRE
Selling is fun when sales are good, but experienced reps know that’s not always the case. Without any warning you run smack into a competitor’s newly expanded sales force. Your blockbuster technology launches with software challenges. You spent your weekend studying a new clinical reprint, but every doctor you see wants to talk about last night’s expos? on the cost of prescription drugs.
Inspiration is our second wind. It keeps us focused on the big picture when our progress temporarily stalls. It’s a safe bet that all sales reps want to succeed… a good trainer will inspire them to succeed. The wanting gives us aim, but it is the inspiration that makes us reach. Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller understood the power of inspiration to drive performance: “I remember in 1948... I was having a rough season, and instead of replacing me Lou (Boudreau) said ‘We’re going to sink or swim with Feller’. After he said that I won 10 of my last 12 games. He instilled a confidence in his players they never forgot.”
In the final analysis inspirati
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