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The Center for Sales Strategy Blog

Manage the Big Rocks: How to Become a Time Management Pro

become a time management proIs it just me or does there not seem to be enough time in the day to get things done? I knew it wasn't just me! My life has been going 1,000 miles an hour lately, and I've been asked how I get it all done.

Manage the Big Rocks

I have a method that I follow religiously to get things done, and it doesn't really have anything to do with time management.

Topics: Sales

Ways to Engage in the Conversation About Price

sales price conversationTalking about price with a new business prospect can be tricky. If you do it too soon, you might scare away a prospect. If you wait too long, the sticker shock might blow your proposal out of the water because it exceeds reality. 

Here’s a list of recommendations and things to consider about the topic of price along with three effective ways to prompt the conversation (including some easy to use ROI formulas).

Topics: discussing price sales process prospecting

Looking for Talent in all the "Wrong" Places

looking for superstar sales talentA recruiter walks into a bar, a church, and a mall…

No, that's not the opening line of a mildly inappropriate joke, it's where you need to go to find superstar talent. No, I'm not kidding. 

Let me guess, you've been recruiting from your competition for years, right? How is that working out for you? Wait, don't tell me. You don't need to. I hear the complaints from sales managers every day from every part of the country. It doesn't matter if you are in one of the largest markets or one of the smallest, finding great, talented salespeople is TOUGH! 

Topics: hiring salespeople

Weekly Roundup: Lessons in Sales Leadership from John C. Maxwell + More

sales leadership

- MOTIVATION -

"SETTING THE GOALS IS THE FIRST STEP IN TURNING THE INVISIBLE INTO THE VISIBLE"

-TONY ROBBINS

 

- AROUND THE WEB -

<< If you only read one thing >>

Lessons in Sales Leadership from John C. Maxwell — LinkedIn

We all know that strong sales leadership is important, and that it can dramatically improve a team’s results. But what makes a great sales leader? Which attributes can we hone to improve our positive impact? How do we go about prioritizing these efforts? A new book from John C. Maxwell may offer helpful guidance. This book, Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace, calls out three chapters (and corresponding “shifts”) that are especially pertinent for today’s sales leaders and managers. >>> READ MORE

Topics: Wrap-up

5 Songs to Boost Sales Performance

songs to boost sales performanceMusic can help you push through a difficult workout, it can calm your nerves, and it can even get you pumped up and geared towards success. Music can have a powerful impact on your mindset, and using music and the right rhythm to support positive thoughts could definitely get your sales performance headed in the right direction.

Abba — Money, Money, Money

Listen to it here.

“Money, money, money. Must be funny. In the rich man’s world.” What do we all work for? Money, right? To some extent, for sure! The key to this song is honing in on your motivation. “All the things I could do if I had a little money.” What are those things? What do you want to use and spend your money on? Home improvements? A new car? A family vacation? Define those things and create a visual target or vision board that you will see every day. Know exactly what you want to make, and sometimes more importantly WHY.

Where's your motivation? What lights your fire?

Pet Shop Boys — Opportunities

Listen to it here.

“I’ve got the brains, you’ve got the looks. Let’s make lots of money.” To me this song really speaks to using your resources. Who and what do you have around you to help make your ideas bigger and stronger? What could you tap into to make you feel more informed? What areas do you need to improve in or what areas do you find you are lacking skills or knowledge? How can you close that gap? Using your resources helps to ensure you are maximizing each opportunity to the fullest extent. “Oh there’s a lot of opportunities if you know when to take them.”

Are you using your resources?

Topics: sales performance company culture

Pay Attention to Your Superstars, but Don’t Forget Your Rock Stars

superstar and rock star sellersAs a department project, our group read the book Radical Candor by Kim Scott. Everyone had a different primary takeaway, but the one that stuck with me was the difference between Superstars and Rock Stars.

What's the Difference between a Superstar and a Rock Star?

Most managers know the definition of a Superstar. They are usually your one or two top performers, who are hardworking, ambitious, great at what they do, expect to be paid that way, and love the accolades.

But what about your Rock Stars? Rock Stars were defined as your steady performers. Not flashy, not necessarily your top performers, but the ones you can count on. Steady as a rock. Both groups are vital to a sales team. In fact, most companies would fall apart without Rock Stars, but usually, only the Superstars get the attention. Why? And why should you care?

Turn Goals into Reality with a Solid Prospecting Plan

successful sales prospecting planWe are now a few months into the new year. Often, at the end of the prior year, I spend time talking about the year ahead. I ask the sellers that I coach what they want to accomplish. Where do they want to be at the end of this year? We discuss their professional sales goals, and then we begin to make a plan together to help them achieve those goals.

I encourage them to make sure they understand the importance of high priority prospects or what we call target accounts. Ensuring sales teams understand how to identify, develop, and close (or walk away) is a critical part of sellers achieving their objectives throughout the year.

Topics: key account growth prospecting account list management

5 Tips to Take Your Sales Meetings from Good to Great

take sales meetings from good to greatIn 2016, I wrote a blog, "How to Get a Standing Ovation After Your Next Sales Meeting," and I'm happy to say that I see way more productive sales meetings today than I did back then. So that made me think it might be an excellent time to share some tips on taking your next sales meeting from good to great!
Topics: successful sales meetings company culture

Weekly Roundup: Three New Selling Skills You Need to Win with Buyers + More

building-relationships-sales-manager-salesperson-040679-edited

- MOTIVATION -

"THE MOST UNPROFITABLE ITEM EVER MANUFACTURED IS AN EXCUSE"

-JOHN MASON

 

- AROUND THE WEB -

<< If you only read one thing >>

Three New Selling Skills You Need to Win with Buyers  Selling Power

Effective sales professionals are recognizing that the skills needed today look different from conventional selling capabilities. Uptiering, asserting, and aligning are all part of the new playbook. >>> READ MORE

Topics: Wrap-up

Better Business Acumen in Just a Few Minutes Per Day (VIDEO)

We always talk to our salespeople about having better business acumen, and we teach them to speak like a business owner. This gives sellers leverage and credibility when talking with prospects and customers.

Growing up, my dad always told me that if you just read the front page of The Wall Street Journal, you'd be more informed than 95% of the business people out there that you'd be talking to.

Topics: Sales

Is it Time to "Marie Kondo" Your Account List?

clean out your account listI can't get enough of Marie Kondo. Unless you are completely removed from social media or Netflix, you know her to be the spiritual guide to decluttering your living space on her Netlfix original series, "Tidying Up With Marie Kondo."  I am a believer and often ask myself, "Does this spark joy?" and after my recent one-on-one coaching calls with salespeople from all over the country, many seem to feel as if their Account Lists are cluttered and could use some of Marie's guidance!  

Luckily, The Center For Sales Strategy's Account List Management Strategy can help you declutter and tidy up your account list!  There are 4 categories of accounts that are likely to "spark joy" for any salesperson: key accounts, secondary accounts, target accounts, and leads.

Topics: key account growth account list analytics account list management

5 Ways to Heat Up a Cold Start to the New Year

heat up your sales revenueJanuary is history, and some sellers are already singing the blues because their year is off to a cold start. That’s the bad news… here’s the good news; it is not too late to make some changes to accelerate revenue and improve sales performance.

Here’s a list of five things to get 2019 back on track and heat up sales revenue!

Topics: key account growth account list management

Weekly Roundup: Why Business Acumen is Key to Sales Success + More

sales success

- MOTIVATION -

"THE MOST UNPROFITABLE ITEM EVER MANUFACTURED IS AN EXCUSE"

-JOHN MASON

 

- AROUND THE WEB -

<< If you only read one thing >>

Why Business Acumen is Key to Sales Success (And How to Get It)  Hubspot

What sets sales leaders apart from everyday reps? Why are some salespeople more effective at closing deals? And how do some reps skyrocket their career growth? The answer is simple: Business acumen. It's a term often thrown around boardrooms and blog posts, but today, I'm breaking down exactly what it is, why it's important, and how you can develop it. >>> READ MORE

Topics: Wrap-up

One Tip to Help Recruit Top Sales Talent (VIDEO)

 

Topics: hiring salespeople

Update Your LinkedIn Profile to Become Trusted and Valued by New Business Prospects

become a trusted and valued sales profesisionalThey don’t know you.
They don’t trust you.
They won’t respond to your emails.
They won’t engage in a conversation with you.
They won’t meet with you!

These are some of the challenges we face from new business prospects when it is early in the sales process. Each is a hurdle we have to overcome to connect and move the sales process to the next step. When you boil it down, the problem is linked to a lack of trust and value. Simply put, you are not valued or trusted in the eyes of new business prospects.

Ouch! How can this be when you have some much going for you?

Topics: Social Media sales process prospecting

Weekly Roundup: Content in the Sales Process, Social Selling + More

social-business-connection

- MOTIVATION -

"YOU WIN THE GAME ONE PLAY AT A TIME."

-FRANK TARKENTON

 

- AROUND THE WEB -

<< If you only read one thing >>

One Simple Way to Improve Your Sales Process with Content (VIDEO) LeadG2

Are you using content in the sales process? How do you use content in the sales process? Likely, your marketing team has created a large amount of great content that's not only beneficial for lead generation, but is also helpful for lead nurturing. This content could range from informational blog posts to ebooks, checklists, or industry guides. In this video, Dani Buckley, GM at LeadG2 shares one important way to utilize content in the sales process that many salespeople overlook. This one, simple tip can help improve a salesperson's sales performance. >>> READ MORE

Topics: Wrap-up