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sales skills

What An MBA Didn’t Teach You About Sales

The sales profession is challenging. You need to work hard at it to succeed. You need to learn from the best. You need to improve your skills continuously. If you think you can sell since you are a hit at parties and have a lot of friends, you may soon find that you are a failure as a salesperson. Blunt truth:

because the sales profession is so hard, you have to focus on doing everything in sales very well, or you will be considered a failure.

I call this blog, Skinned Knees because I try to relate all of the learning that I have done over the past 4+ decades (while skinning my knees in the learning process).

I hope that you learn from my mistakes so that your business will grow!


Unlocking Growth: How TriState Fabricators Transformed Their Sales Approach

Have you ever wondered how a well-established manufacturing company can revolutionize its sales strategy? The journey of TriState Fabricators, a premier metal fabrication shop in the Midwest, offers compelling insights into this process. In a recent interview, I sat down with Joe Vogt, President and Owner, and Jonathon Padial, VP of Sales, to discuss their transformative experience. With his 20-year tenure at TriState, Joe Vogt recognized the need for change to scale the business. The… Unlocking Growth: How TriState Fabricators Transformed Their Sales Approach

Building a Successful Sales Team: A Guide for CEOs and Managers

You can overcome obstacles and significantly improve your sales performance with the right mindset, strategies, and tools. For salespeople, sales managers, and CEOs of small companies, the journey to sales excellence is paved with lessons and insights that can be invaluable in improving management capabilities and driving revenue growth.

The sales process is a critical aspect of any business. It’s the engine that drives revenue and growth and the platform on which customer relationships are built. However, businesses often encounter a unique problem in their sales process. The problem isn’t necessarily about the product or service being sold, the market, or the competition. Rather, it’s about the people involved in the process—the salespeople.

Being a salesperson is a challenging profession. It requires a unique set of skills, a deep understanding of the product or service being sold, and a certain level of resilience to face the inevitable rejections that come with the job. But more than that, it requires a mindset that embraces growth, learning, and continuous improvement.

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From Education to Improvement: The Essential Elements of Effective Sales Meetings

The importance of effective internal sales meetings with your sales team cannot be overstated. These meetings are not just about discussing individual deals or pipelines but serve a much larger purpose. They are opportunities for education, alignment, and improvement. They are a platform where the entire sales ecosystem comes together to discuss what’s happening in the industry, target market, or the company and how to move in the same direction.

A key reason for having larger quarterly meetings is education. As a sales leader or a CEO, the goal should be to make the sales team more effective and knowledgeable about ongoing developments. This can be achieved by inviting guest speakers, working on sales messaging, or understanding what’s happening in a particular vertical. However, these meetings should not be held just because the quarter came up. They should have a purpose and should add value to the team. If the same information can be shared through a well-written email or a quick update on Zoom, then there is no need for a meeting.

One effective practice for these meetings is role plays. This is a great way to practice and improve skills. However, it’s important to conduct these role plays correctly. There should be three roles: a customer, a seller, and an observer. The customer should be competent, the seller should sell something, and the observer should observe. After each role-play, feedback should be provided on what was done well and what could be improved.

However, while conducting these meetings, it is important to avoid a few pitfalls. One such pitfall is not having enough variation in the meeting for different learning types. If the meeting only consists of slides or videos, it might not cater to everyone’s learning style. Therefore, mixing up the media and providing breaks is important to keep the team engaged.

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Two Tall Guys Talking Sales – Navigating the Sales Process: Insights from Jeff Clair of ClairVoyant Consulting – E74

This episode of “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales” is a treasure trove for anyone looking to sharpen their sales skills. With Jeff Clair’s expertise, the discussion sheds light on critical aspects of the sales process, from the initial lead generation to the final close. By addressing salespeople’s common pitfalls and offering strategies to overcome them, Jeff, Kevin, and Sean provide listeners with actionable advice to elevate their sales game. Whether you’re a seasoned VP of Sales or a sales professional looking to improve your approach, this episode is packed with insights that can transform your sales strategy and lead to greater success. Tune in to learn how to navigate the sales process confidently, leverage your CRM effectively, and harness the power of storytelling to connect with your prospects on a deeper level.

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales – Breaking the Sales Rollercoaster: Strategies for Steady Success – E60

In this episode of “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales,” Kevin and Sean provide a treasure trove of insights for sales professionals. They emphasize the importance of a multi-faceted outreach strategy, consistent engagement, and personalization in the sales process. Their practical tips and real-world examples make this episode a valuable listen for anyone in sales, from newbies to seasoned pros. Tune in to learn how to transform your sales approach, build a robust pipeline, and achieve consistent success in your sales career.

Nine of Spades: Addressing Salesperson Underperformance: Setting Performance Benchmarks: Define standards for success to measure against.

Understanding the Nature of Sales Benchmarks Let’s start by grounding ourselves in the foundational premise: Sales benchmarks are not merely numerical goals but the defining coordinates of success. If you will, consider them as your organization’s North Star, guiding your sales team through the complexities of quotas, customer relationships, and revenue targets. Benchmarks transcend the limitations of raw numbers and extend into the realm of qualitative assessment—whether it’s the ability to understand customer needs or… Nine of Spades: Addressing Salesperson Underperformance: Setting Performance Benchmarks: Define standards for success to measure against.

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – Creating True Value in Sales: Redefining Problems and Delivering Unique Solutions – Episode 41

In the age of readily available online information, a salesperson’s job is no longer just about conveying product details. It’s about building trust, understanding the root of the customer’s problem, and providing them with unique solutions. Join Kevin and Sean in this enlightening episode as they redefine the role of the modern salesperson and provide actionable insights to excel in the evolving sales landscape. If you’re ready to take your sales skills to the next level, this episode is a must-listen. Remember, sales success is not just about selling a product but also about being the value a buyer seeks.

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – A Roadmap for Successful Sales: Strategy, Tactics and More – Episode 36

In this dynamic episode of the “Two Tall Guys Talking Sales” podcast, hosts Kevin Lawson and Sean O’Shaughnessey, delve into the importance of strategy in successful sales performance. Using a navigational analogy, the hosts discuss how just like using an app like Waze, successful sales also requires anticipation and understanding of the challenges on the way. Drawing parallels between navigation and sales, Kevin and Sean underscore the value of proactive strategic planning. From the importance… Two Tall Guys Talking Sales Podcast – A Roadmap for Successful Sales: Strategy, Tactics and More – Episode 36

Two Tall Guys Talking Sales – Communicate Your Value Proposition to Win More Deals with Kelly Crandall of Sales Xceleration and Next Level Strategies – E24

Kevin and Sean have a special guest for this episode! Kelly Crandall of Sales Xceleration and Next Level Strategies.  Kelly is a sales expert who works as an advisor to help mid to small-size businesses build a path to more sales. The topic of the conversation is “The Sales Skills Required to Communicate Your Value Proposition to Win More Deals.” Kelly discusses the importance of value proposition and its broader concept, focusing on why buyers… Two Tall Guys Talking Sales – Communicate Your Value Proposition to Win More Deals with Kelly Crandall of Sales Xceleration and Next Level Strategies – E24

Sales Coaching: A Key Tool for Achieving Business Growth in B2B Sales

Sales coaching has become integral to the modern business environment, particularly in business-to-business (B2B) sales. The sales coaching process enhances salespeople’s skills, knowledge, and capabilities to achieve their goals, deliver value to customers, and improve organizational performance. In this article, we will examine the importance of sales coaching in B2B sales organizations, explore the best practices for effective coaching, and discuss the key benefits that result from a well-executed sales coaching program. Sales coaching has… Sales Coaching: A Key Tool for Achieving Business Growth in B2B Sales