follow-up – Page 2

From Chaos to Order: Improve Your Sales Productivity with Effective Pipeline Management

By Sean O'Shaughnessey

Sales is a complex and intricate world, a jigsaw puzzle where each piece must fit perfectly to create a successful picture. This is especially true when it comes to managing sales, whether you’re a salesperson, a sales manager hoping to enhance your leadership skills, or a CEO in the trenches of a small company. Understanding the challenges and nuances of the sales process is crucial to increasing revenue and productivity.

Imagine you’re in a room full of sports equipment scattered everywhere, from basketball shoes to cheerleading pom-poms. It’s a total mess, and you can barely see the floor. This is a perfect metaphor for what a disorganized sales pipeline can look like. It’s messy chaotic, and there’s always something that doesn’t quite smell right.

The sales pipeline is vital for tracking and managing sales prospects from the initial contact to the deal’s closing. It visually represents where potential customers are in the sales process. However, if not properly managed, the pipeline can become a mess.

A common issue is when a deal gets pushed from one month to the next. The sales rep simply changes the closing date, making it seem like procrastination has become a part of the process. This can be due to various reasons, such as a lack of commitment from the customer, the sales rep not understanding the customer’s needs, or simply a lack of follow-up. To avoid this, it’s essential to go back to basics. Understand where the customer is in their evaluation and buying process. Are they genuinely interested in buying or just exploring the idea? It’s perfectly fine for a customer to be in the exploratory stage, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to buy. These customers should be considered early-stage prospects and not be rushed into buying.

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Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – Beyond the Basics: Elevating Sales Training with Effective Coaching – E101

By Sean O'Shaughnessey

In this riveting episode of “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales,” hosts Kevin Lawson and Sean O’Shaughnessey explore the often overlooked nuances of effective sales training and coaching. Listen in as they share their seasoned insights on transforming routine sales training into a dynamic tool for substantial growth and success in sales.

Key Topics Discussed:

The Misconception of Sales Training Returns [00:00:20] Sean questions salespeople’s low expectations regarding training, sparking a discussion on the intrinsic value of continuous professional development.
The Role of Sales Leaders in Training [00:01:00] Kevin emphasizes the critical role of sales leaders in setting the right expectations and fostering an environment conducive to growth, drawing parallels with professional sports training regimes.
Training vs. Coaching [00:07:05] The conversation pivots to the essential distinction between sales training and coaching, highlighting how each plays a unique role in a salesperson’s career.
Integration of Training into Routine [00:06:22] Kevin discusses the challenges of integrating training into the normal workflow of sales teams and the importance of practice and repetition.
The Power of Reinforcement [00:04:05] Sean underscores the necessity of reinforcing training through regular coaching, using the analogy of professional athletes to illustrate his point.

Key Quotes:

Kevin: “We practice every day for the championship game. We don’t play the championship game every day. It’s about getting that 1 percent edge.” [00:01:14]
Sean: “You forget 80 percent of what you heard after two weeks. It’s the coaching after the fact that reinforces the entire attitude and the daily behavior of what you learned in the class.” [00:03:40]

Additional Resources:

MEDDPICCC Sales Methodology – Mentioned multiple times throughout the podcast, this methodology is crucial for understanding customer dynamics and improving sales strategies. You can learn more about MEDDPICCC at https://youtu.be/RBcGmyeBp1I?si=No_0Ob1V4Wch6erI

Summary:

Join Kevin and Sean as they dissect the common pitfalls of sales training and explore effective strategies to make learning stick. They share invaluable advice on how sales leaders can profoundly influence their teams’ performance through intentional coaching and robust training frameworks. This episode is a must-listen for sales professionals eager to elevate their game and harness the full potential of their training experiences.

A Significant Actionable Item from this Podcast:

Reflect on your current approach to sales training and coaching. Are you actively ensuring that your team learns new concepts and applies them consistently? Consider adopting a more structured follow-up coaching plan to reinforce new skills and knowledge, enhancing the overall effectiveness of training sessions.

To understand if your company is doing a great job in sales, take this quick and easy 10-question assessment:
https://salesxceleration.com/sales-agility-assessment/?locationid=26671639

Designing Sales Compensation Plans That Drive Performance

By Sean O'Shaughnessey

The success of any sales-driven organization in the business-to-business (B2B) space hinges on the sales team’s compensation plan. Over my four decades in B2B sales, I’ve observed that nothing influences the performance of sales personnel more directly than the design and implementation of their compensation plans. Compensation is not merely about rewarding sales achievements but crafting a strategy aligning individual salespeople’s goals with the company’s broader objectives.

A well-structured compensation plan acts as both a motivator and a guide. It compels sales teams not only to meet but exceed their targets, fostering an environment where continuous improvement is not just encouraged but becomes a natural byproduct of the system. For small business CEOs, understanding this dynamic is critical for sustaining and driving growth. Sales compensation is more than just a cost; it’s an investment in the company’s future.

In any sales environment, whether the market is brimming with potential or tightly contested, the compensation plan must be a living document that evolves in response to market conditions, company goals, and team performance. With this adaptability, companies can avoid stagnation or regression in their market positions. As businesses strive to scale and adapt, constructing a compensation plan that genuinely drives the right behaviors becomes all the more pertinent.

To delve deeper into this vital subject, CEOs should consider the immediate impacts of their compensation strategies and their long-term implications on sales culture and employee retention. For those ready to explore the intricacies of effective sales compensation and ensure their strategies are well-suited to their specific business contexts, I am here to lend my expertise. With extensive experience tailoring compensation plans to enhance sales productivity and company profitability, I invite you to reach out for further guidance on crafting a plan that meets and exceeds your strategic goals. You can set a time to talk to me using my link above Book Appointment With Sean.

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Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – From Missed Quotas to Major Wins: Turning Sales Pitfalls into Triumphs – E84

By Sean O'Shaughnessey

In this insightful episode, hosts Kevin Lawson and Sean O’Shaughnessey discuss common pitfalls in sales management and strategies for maintaining customer relationships through effective tools like CRM systems. If you’ve ever missed a deal due to a forgotten follow-up or struggled with customer engagement, this episode is packed with practical advice to enhance your sales processes and hit your targets consistently.

Key Topics Discussed

The Importance of Follow-up: How missing follow-ups can impact sales and solutions to prevent these issues.
Effective Use of CRM Systems: Exploring how CRM systems can streamline operations and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Project Management and Deadline Adherence: Discussing the critical role of timely project delivery in sales success.
Real-world Sales Challenges: Analyzing scenarios from retail and construction to understand complex sales dynamics.
Building Lasting Customer Relationships: Strategies for staying top of mind without being overtly sales-driven.
Tools vs. Human Effort in Sales: Balancing technology and personal effort in managing customer relationships.

Key Quotes

Kevin Lawson: “There’s nobody else accountable for that but me and my brain. I’ve missed a quarterly quota because I wasn’t diligent and thoughtful enough about my follow-up.”

Sean O’Shaughnessey: “We need to just take care of our customers. Embracing the value of a CRM system is crucial because today, most of us don’t have someone taking care of all the details for us.”

Kevin Lawson: “If you’re not asking your clients, ‘When do you need this by?’ or ‘How much do you need at what time?’ then you’re not really managing your sales effectively.”

Summary

Whether you’re a seasoned sales professional or just starting out, this episode of “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales” is a treasure trove of knowledge. Kevin and Sean tackle the realities of sales management, from the undeniable benefits of using CRM systems to ensuring punctuality in project deadlines. They share personal anecdotes and real-world examples that highlight common mistakes and pitfalls and offer actionable solutions to enhance your sales strategy. Tune in to learn how to leverage technology to boost your sales performance and build stronger, lasting customer relationships. Don’t miss out on transforming your sales approach—listen to this episode today!

The Follow-Up Formula: Driving Sales Success in the New Year – Video 7 of the New Year Motivation Series

By Sean O'Shaughnessey

As we venture into the New Year, the key to propelling your sales, whether you’re a seasoned sales manager, a striving CEO of a small company, or an enthusiastic salesperson, lies in one critical skill: effective follow-up. My video series aims to arm you with best practices to ensure this year is your most successful yet.

A common pitfall in sales is failing to follow up swiftly and effectively. Every interaction with a client or prospect should be promptly followed by a thank you note or email. This small act signals your dedication and interest in the client’s needs. If you’re leading a team, make it a non-negotiable standard – a follow-up within 24 hours is a must.

A well-implemented CRM system is a game-changer for managing follow-ups. It should facilitate sending personalized emails with just a few clicks. If your CRM process is cumbersome, it’s time to reassess and streamline your approach. Remember, if following up feels like a chore, you’re not using your CRM effectively.

One of the golden rules in sales is to schedule the next one before ending a meeting. This practice helps maintain momentum and keeps you at the forefront of your client’s mind. It eliminates the hassle of tracking someone down later and significantly reduces the chances of being ‘ghosted.’

Consistency in follow-up is vital, but so is adapting your strategy to fit your industry’s unique rhythm. Whether it’s a few days or a month later, re-engage with clients who haven’t responded. This persistence shows your commitment to providing solutions. However, constantly tailor your follow-up timing to suit the client’s needs and industry norms.

Make following up a habit, not an afterthought. Whether you’re a VP of Sales ensuring your team adheres to this practice or a CEO looking to make a significant impact this year, diligent follow-up can be the difference between a good year and a fantastic one. Set reminders, use calendar alerts, and let your CRM be your guide in this journey.

This year, let’s resolve to excel in our follow-up game. It’s not just a sales tactic; it’s a fundamental aspect of building lasting relationships and driving success. Check out my other videos for more insights and strategies to kick-start your sales year with a bang. With the right approach, 2024 can be a year of remarkable achievements in your sales career.

Happy selling, and here’s to making this year not just great but phenomenal!