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The Center for Sales Strategy Blog

Weekly Roundup: How to be Authentic as an Executive, Sales Performance Reviews + More

How to be Authentic as an Executive, Sales Performance Reviews

- MOTIVATION -

"Be miserable or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice."

-Wayne Dyer

- AROUND THE WEB -

<< If you only read one thing >>

The Trap of Authenticity: For Executives, Keeping It Real Can Be Really Hard To Do–Forbes

Authenticity is having a moment, and that’s a good thing, right? Depending on how you define it, authenticity champions transparency, being genuine, keeping it real. It asks us to be vulnerable, to bring our whole selves to work. It also encourages us to speak up, to challenge authority for a purpose, and to behave and act in ways that support an inclusive, diverse environment.

The problem comes down to this. The gap between the concept of authenticity and practicing it is wide and confusing. It’s why so many C-level clients ask: How do you actually do this? As one leader put it: “It feels like a trap. Show too much authenticity, you’re unprofessional or oversharing. Not enough authenticity, you’re seen as hard to read or lacking transparency.” No wonder many leaders feel they are navigating a tricky high wire act when it comes to showing up authentically.

So, how do you actually practice authenticity? For senior leaders, here are a few tips. >>> READ MORE

Topics: Wrap-up

Curiosity Killed the Cat, but Saved the Sales Rep

Ask-Questions-in-Sales-Meetings

Have you ever noticed how many questions little kids ask? Every parent has a story to tell about the funny or embarrassing questions their kids have asked at the most inopportune times: “Why is Grandma so wrinkly?" or "Why do I have to eat those gross green things?”

If you don’t take control of the conversation, the third degree can go on indefinitely—because the curiosity in children is limitless!

Somewhere on the journey from childhood to adult professional, much of that unfettered curiosity gets left behind. We've become a society of head-nodders where people are often afraid they’ll look dense if they ask a question. You’ve seen it—people nodding in agreement, as if they completely understand, when you're certain they don’t. Their fear of losing the respect of others actually keeps them from learning.

Topics: Needs Analysis Sales

Expert Tips for Successful Sales Enablement Strategies

Expert Tips for Successful Sales Enablement Strategies

One of the largest inhibitors to sales enablement in organizations is taking a random approach to it.

According to Salesforce, 58% of pipelines stall because sales reps are unable to add value. Is your current sales enablement content addressing the issues your clients and prospects are facing? Research says for many companies the answer is no, and it’s due to the lack of a sales enablement strategy.

As you look to grow your sales enablement efforts, our experts want to offer their tips on successful sales enablement strategies that they know are proven to work.

Topics: sales enablement IMPACT

Critical Sales Trends That Should Get Your Attention

Critical Sales Trends That Should Get Your Attention

The “old days” when we just showed up on someone’s doorstep or dropped into their inbox or voicemail weren’t really all that long ago, were they? 

The reality is these time-tested cold calling methods were already losing their effectiveness before the pandemic shutdown sent everyone home from the office. Still, changes in prospect behavior have accelerated, given the trials of the last six months.  And, those trends are likely to result in permanent changes in how B2B sales are conducted.

Topics: valid business reason sales process sales trends

Weekly Roundup: Leveraging Social Media, Continuing Human Connection + More

Leveraging Social Media, Continuing Human Connection

- MOTIVATION -

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."

-Vince Lombardi

- AROUND THE WEB -

<< If you only read one thing >>

5 Ways B2B Brands Can Leverage Social Media to Connect With Customers–PandaDoc

Most B2B brands have a presence on at least one social network. But far too many B2B companies don’t tap into the full power of social media. The reason? They may assume social media caters to B2C companies and are less of a priority for B2B.

According to recent statistics, an estimated 3.6 billion people use social media, with that number likely to grow to  4.4 billion by 2025. That means nearly half of the world’s population uses social media. By following five best practices, you can use social media to reach new audiences, tell their brand stories, and build relationships with prospects and customers. >>> READ MORE

Topics: Wrap-up

Four Engagement Elevators You Can Use to Improve Your Company Culture

Improve Your Company Culture

Culture is powerful, and like brand, you’re going to have one whether you like it or not. The best organizations to work for are the ones that recognize this and actively strive to push the right buttons every day to build a positive climate and a culture of engagement.

Topics: company culture employee engagement

3 Real Tips to Improve Virtual Role Plays

3 Real Tips to Improve Virtual Role Plays

What is mankind’s biggest phobia? Hint: It isn’t spiders, heights, or even dying. It’s glossophobia, the fear of public speaking.

Also, on the list of soft skills that people fear most are acting and the public test of career competence. In sales, there’s one awkward activity that happens to combine all three role playing.

As a sales manager, we often use sales role play exercises as a form of punishment. When salespeople fail to make the progress we expect, we summon a team meeting where we role play. Now, as everyone is working from home, the idea of practicing our craft with role plays seems even more difficult.

How can you improve something that was dreaded even before the pandemic?

Topics: Needs Analysis sales coaching

How to Reduce Zoom Fatigue in the Sales Process

How to Reduce Zoom Fatigue in the Sales Process

In a very short time, the sales process and a large portion of our life went entirely online.

It’s not that every time we contacted a client or prospect it was always in person, but the reliance on shared screen meetings is now the standard and is unlikely to change any time soon. New activities create new buzz words, and the most recent is “Zoom Fatigue.”

Topics: Video sales process

Weekly Roundup: Sales Software, AI Revolution, Cheat Sheets + More

Sales Software, AI Revolution, Sales Manager Cheat Sheets

- MOTIVATION -

"The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example."

-John Wooden

- AROUND THE WEB -

<< If you only read one thing >>

The Software Standing Between You and a Winning Sales Team–HubSpot

Do me a favor, complete this sentence: my sales software is so _____.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing that phrases like 'helpful, 'fast,' and 'easy to use' didn't immediately come to mind. Most likely, your reaction was a little less positive than that.

After all, it only takes a quick look at Google's predictive search feature to get a sense of how sales people really feel about their software. And it isn't a pretty sight. >>> READ MORE

Topics: Wrap-up

5 Tips on How to Close a Sale Faster Than Ever Before

close sale faster
Everyone knows that sales is a numbers game. The more you have out there, the better off you are, which is why we all typically agree that sales is a numbers game,right?

What are the numbers everyone is talking about? As sales managers, are you looking at the wrong numbers?

How many times have you heard or said, "Don't worry! I've got a lot out there pending!”  That's great! But, does anyone actually get paid on pending? That’s the catch, and that's also why you need to be aware of the numbers you're actually looking at.

Topics: Proposal sales strategy