Layout Image

Archive for Sales Training

Sales Training

Jim Wong asked:




Maintain good sales performance

# Easily manage every lead and sale

# View sales pipeline at a glance

# Quickly review sales team activities

Get the most from Sales Training

Having a top functioning sales team is vital to any business that relies upon sales based revenue. If your sales professionals do not perform well, then your bottom line suffers. As simple as it sounds, one of the best ways to maintain good sales performance is through Sales Training. By training your sales team, you can not only improve performance but also create some consistency of technique across your team.

Pros and Cons of Sales Training

There are both positives and negatives to training a sales team. In most cases the pluses outweigh the minuses, but all issues should be considered.

Pros for Sales Training:

* Educate new salespeople in useful and effective sales techniques.

* Refresh the knowledge and techniques for existing salespeople.

* Introduce new methods to a sales team.

* Keeps proper methods and procedures fresh.

* Can help build consistency in your sales process.

Cons for Sales Training:

* May take time away from selling activities.

* Some new techniques may contradict current knowledge.

* Resistance of some salespeople to be taught something they already know.

* Takes time to implement new techniques and methods.

Sales Training Cont.

Maintain good sales performance

A program of ongoing Sales Training is one of the best ways to improve your sales process and sales effectiveness. By performing Sales Training on a regularly scheduled basis you can ensure the knowledge of your team is always improving. This program for training allows for the continual introduction of new sales methods and lets you shift focus periodically to specific areas that need improvement. An integral component of this training program is the ability to monitor your progress and how it is affecting your sales. Sales software for managing and reporting on your sales pipeline can be major benefit.

Monitoring the Sales Training Process

Sales software like Prophet can give you the power to monitor your sales efforts and keep track of how changes in your sales techniques and methods have helped or hindered. By tracking the stages in your sales process you can evaluate how specific techniques introduced during Sales Training have improved your methods. Sales software programs also help to identify potential weaknesses in your sales process and give you areas to focus on in your Sales Training.

Keys to Sales Training

A program of ongoing and organized Sales Training can be a major benefit to any sales organization. If you are planning, reviewing, or developing a program for Sales Training for your organization always consider the following issues:

* What are the pros and cons of doing the training?

* What areas in your sales process need to be addressed or improved?

* How will you monitor your sales and the affect of the Sales Training?

* Who will attend the training?

As with anything you do related to your sales and sales process, training can have a major affect. If done in a well organized and planned fashion, ongoing Sales Training can be one of the most effective investments for your company.

Sales Training – The Importance of Goal Development

Henry Okwo asked:




As the economy continues to regain strength, sales managers are still struggling to get the most out of their current sales staff especially after the many cutbacks of resources during the recession. After research of over 1000 sales reps over a 2 year period, only slightly more than half of the group admitted to having their own specific goal development plans. This is astounding as sales people more than anybody should know the importance and value of setting goals; after all, they usually have to meet them on a monthly basis.

Companies of all size and multiple industries have failed to buy the sales reps into the overall good of the company. Sometimes sales reps are operating as separate individual units and not as part of one big cohesive unit on a joint vision. Organizations need to see the importance of aligning their reps individual goals including their quota responsibility along with that of the entire organization. Sales teams are like sports teams, the manager just as a sports coach must get everybody bought in and ready to give their all for the team. The average sales force has multiple personalities just as sports teams do, you will find that the best sports coaches learn to deal with each player in a different way. All people have different motivating factors, organizations should look for other opportunities to increase the scope besides monetary rewards as the only incentive.

Managers would be best served to understand each of their rep’s individual goals. They can then tailor different incentive programs that can bring out the passion. There’s something definitely lacking if a sales rep is not setting his own specific goals. It suggests a lack of focus on themselves internally, they may be making their quota consistently, but imagine the even more incredible results if they had some kind of plan. Most organizations could boost the results of their sales teams significantly by focusing on goal development.

Even with solution selling and all the technological improvements in customer relationship management, we still have the top 10% of most sales staffs doing the bulk of sales production. If organizations would focus on improving the lower performers with a slightly different rewards system, then they could see their sales numbers take off. Obviously the current system is working for the top reps who are already producing month after month, so there’s no need to rock the boat there. However uncovering creative opportunities to jolt the lower performers based on their individual specific needs, outside of money would be an important step to improved results.

Sales Training – Measuring Performance Development

Henry Okwo asked:




Most organizations employ some kind of sales coaching program; however many don’t yield measurable results. The top performers continue to make up most of the revenue pie. How can organizations motivate the under-performers? Should they use more contests and more bonus money? The top performers are usually the most motivated anyway, they will win everything. The worst case scenario would be that the under-performers don’t even bother trying.

They accept defeat thinking there’s no way they can win the contests. This might send their already plummeting self-confidence down a few more notches. As soon as fear and anxiety sets in, the sales reps become inept and just dread coming into the office to face the manager every day. Sales performance development is the most effective way to fire up average or non-performing reps. Sending them out in the field short on confidence is a real money loser.

Sales managers should use performance development management tools to monitor the under-performing reps. When sales reps fall into a slump, just as with athletes, you have to find a way to manage their emotions. If they care about their job at all, which most do, you have to find a way to reduce their tension which is affecting their performance. Like athletes, you have to take measurable steps to rebuild their confidence. You already know they can do the job, I’m assuming they have hit their quota at some point in the past.

Depending on the sales rep’s internal fortitude, putting them on written warning could be the death nail. If you’ve invested considerable time and money into their prior development, it won’t make sense to simply let them go. As long as you are sure they work hard and are trying their best, then developing a performance development plan based on measurable actions and meeting designated milestones on sales activities is the best course of action.

Developing a customized plan with the non-performing sales reps will get them bought in. The collaboration will strengthen the bond between manager and rep. You can openly discuss the reason for the slump, it could be a variety of factors, both internal or external. A customized road-map geared at their strengths would be best as they will have inherent confidence. The key is to encourage them to build up some confidence internally whereby reducing stress and tension.

Sales reps are humans just like anyone else, they suffer from emotional highs and lows just like athletes. Using standard written warning policies exacerbates their problem. The best course of action is implementing a customized performance plan. Written warnings are negative by definition and might cause increased anxiety, even worse they kill any hope for creativity. Use performance development tools to turn a negative situation into a positive, it presents the best solution for all parties.

Sales Training – Determine the Best Account Activity

Henry Okwo asked:




Do some organizations still apply the usual sales formula that it takes 10 to 20 cold calls for each sale? If that was the case, a lot of reps who were low performing could just double the amount of calls the next month and success, right? Not so fast, if only if it were that easy. Yes, increased activity is important when considering low performing sales reps, however what if that activity only served to increase anxiety, stress and lack of performance. It’s evident that most sales reps hate the prospect of cold-calling, yet many start their day with cold-calling. Their mind is already perceiving it as something they don’t want to do, they are in a sales slump already and guess what, they are starting their entire day off with their least favorite activity. So let’s examine, a sales rep short on confidence in general, starts his day off with what he doesn’t like and of course more often than not continues to underperform, costing himself and the company even more money.

In the sports world, an athlete needs to have a short memory, in the football sense, a cornerback after been beaten for a touchdown will be noticeably disappointed. Even deflated he must quickly eliminate it from his memory and get his confidence back for the next opportunity. Some may go on to have a great comeback game and make several key plays, others may just lose confidence and find themselves subbed out of the game completely. A sales rep constantly takes rejection on a daily basis, if he’s doing his job right anyhow so they must develop a thick skin as well as a short memory. However that is easier said than done, in the job interviews, of course the sales reps assured you about all their experience yet when they encounter a slump, some seem to just wilt under the pressure.

It’s essential to evaluate the underperformer’s strengths especially at a time of slowdown. The solution in some cases is not as easy as just doing more prospecting calls. You could train them to make better prospecting calls, but it’s assumed that would have been one of the first areas you focused on. You could switch the area of focus, perhaps find out if they have some kind of passion or affinity for a certain industry. Could they pursue a different target market perhaps? Find a specific area they can use their already existing energy and enthusiasm. The sales manager must also identify if the reps understand the monetary value of each activity as it relates to their performance revenue. The reps need to be bought in on performing the correct activities that yield them the best financial rewards and of course benefits the organization.

Sales Training – Value From the Customer’s Perspective

Henry Okwo asked:




The meaning of sales value can vary from one organization to the next and indeed differ from one sales rep to another. However the key is how the customer perceives the value. Organizations like coaches can call plays, but it doesn’t mean it will work out. Is the customer truly getting the value the way the organization promised? Sales managers need to encourage their reps to follow through upon implementation.

They need to ask the right questions and build solid relationships with their clients. Far too many organizations focus too much on customer acquisition before ensuring they are taking care of the clients they already have. Getting feedback from existing clients can lead to new and innovative solutions that can propel your organization to greater heights. There can be no better target market than providing more solutions and offerings to existing clients.

In interviewing over 1000 reps over a two-year period, only 44% could effectively articulate the value proposition that won their last sale beyond price. Also only 46% could state at least one competitive feature they were positive their competitors didn’t have. Sales reps are walking away from countless opportunities to maximize revenue within their own account base; it’s no surprise if they find it difficult to acquire new accounts as well. Establishing value up front precisely and concisely speeds up the sales cycle significantly. Sales reps need to know what their solution can do versus the competitors. They must know what pains can be solved. They need to present themselves as experts in their field. They should research the client’s industry and provide insight on developing market trends. The best way to build trust and develop strong lasting relationships with clients is value.

Nowadays a value proposition has to go beyond the company’s marketing materials of features and competitive advantages. It should also include customer focused measurable statements of outcome. The sales rep needs to stay engaged in the process after the sale. Sales reps need to act like foot soldiers in the field of battle and report back pertinent information to the generals. Sales managers should encourage valuable feedback. The best sales reps do whatever it takes to satisfy their existing clients.

They serve as a valuable resource to the client not only on a professional level, but perhaps personal too. The best reps become someone they can trust to engage with their senior level staff. The clients are also likely to rave about them to their network. Referrals pour in and before you know it, their phone is ringing off the hook while the other reps stare in amazement. For this to happen, an important step would be to discover what value truly means to the client and tailor a measurable solution to deliver above expectations.

Sales Training – Measure the Internal Drive

Henry Okwo asked:




We have all watched a sports game and noticed an athlete that may not be as naturally gifted as others, but he had a burning desire and drive to succeed. You noticed that they never gave up on any plays and contested at every possible opportunity. The internal drive to succeed is crucial is sales. In the event obstacles appear from nowhere which they often do in a sales cycle especially during these times, the drive within could make the difference. In an ideal world all sales reps would always give it their best effort, unfortunately that’s not the case.

A sales manager would be wise to assess the internal drive of each sales rep. In a changing marketplace where certain things are no longer taken for granted, they must explore the fire in the belly of the rep. If the sales reps have a strong internal desire, they discover ways to adapt to the changing environment. The best sales reps learn to overcome adversity. They don’t give up easily, they use the challenge to fuel them to go on. Many sports coaches have alluded to how talent is fairly common, the important factor is the size of the motor. It’s no good having a fancy Ferrari if the engine refuses to fire at full capacity.

Most sales reps hate certain aspects of their jobs, especially cold-calling, however the manner in which the most driven reps work is different. The driven reps adopt a more positive attitude. They see cold-calling as an opportunity. Reps with incredible internal drive perform their work functions with more vigor. They are passionate and enthusiastic about what needs to be done. The will to succeed allows them to go the proverbial extra mile. Sales managers should keep their reps burning with desire so even after they reach their monthly quota early, they keep pushing.

The sales reps may have met their monthly quota, but what about the manager’s team quota. It makes no sense to take your foot off the pedal if the entire organization loses as a result. Some sales reps take the rest of the month off when they hit their goals, however that’s the wrong time. When you are performing at a high level, that is the time to take full advantage of your confidence to pursue even loftier goals, perhaps attack the big picture accounts. It’s similar to when athletes hits the zone, they don’t want the game to end. Everything seems to come so easy when they are in the zone. The same applies to sales reps on a roll, momentum is hard to stop. Why some reps hit the golf course early is beyond me. Sales managers need to learn to harness the rep’s drive within to benefit the organization as a whole.

Tips to Ensure a Smooth and Effective Training Program for Your Sales Team

Cynthia Reynolds asked:




Well, let us put it this way: Sales and the survival of a company are both sides of the same coin. From products to high-value solutions, generating sales is the key to growth and success in any industry. The sales team plays an important role in the company by selling the product or the service effectively. Sales professionals need super selling skills and strategies to excel in the competitive marketplace. As the market is volatile and consumers’ choice keeps changing, they need to improve sales process and performance accordingly. Entrepreneurs organize sales training programs and workshops on goal setting and achieving, stress and time management, communication and soft skills and more to help the salespersons with required skills and competence.

Challenges in Training Programs

As a training manager or training coordinator, you need to ensure that the whole process runs smoothly toward its desired result. Because sales training programs often have recurring schedules in multiple locations and in different time zones, planning course materials and offering certificates on completion can be demanding in terms of employee management, marketing, logistics, and administration and finding the right instructor.

Enterprise Training Management Software: How it Can Help?

After the introduction of internet, accessing training programs have become very easy. Mainly cloud-based training management solutions have changed the way training programs were planned and executed. This type of training Management solutions can take care of all your back-office workload with powerful administrative tools for managing your training programs while you focus on arranging quality course material, attendance and revenues.

Tools for your Success

Customize the Web Registration form colors and branding to match your corporate website and make training registration available immediately on the net Automatically generate Course Catalog or individual registration forms that can be easily linked to your corporate website Configure each registration form with the Information and Questionnaire needed for that training Easily create training programs from the course template – up to 25 individual programs at once Display a dynamic calendar on your website showing the programs that are available Allow registration directly from the training calendar by a “Register Now” button Easily view all published training programs from the Catalog Dashboard Create your own unlimited Print output templates for Name tags, Certificates, Address Labels, etc. Get report dashboard and downloadable standard as well customized reports Create your own Certificate templates and automatically email the certificates to your employees when they complete the class Name tags can include graphics or be created for a pre-printed name tag Create as many Name Tag and/or Certificate Templates

The list for training management solution benefits is actually unending. Be it a standalone workshop or ongoing certification courses, the robust tools can manage the smallest to the most complex training programs. Moreover, the training programs can be easily added to corporate events like large conferences, meetings, webinars etc.