Archive for the Category ◊ Sales Presentations ◊

What To Do When The Prospect Wants To Engage In Sensitive Talk Like Politics or Religion

Often you get that prospect that wants to get you into a conversation about a sensitive issue such as political beliefs or theology. Also, there are those prospects that wish to use you as their personal sounding board for personal views on everything from racial issues to the sexual relations.

It does not matter if your personal views on such issues are the exact opposite of the prospect’s, or if they align perfectly. Views on unrelated personal beliefs are always a bumpy and dangerous road to travel in a sales situation.

Of course, you don’t want to be rude, and closing the sale is on the top of your mind. So how do you get the prospect back on track, without throwing away your chances to close the sale? Here are a few thoughts on that subject. In every case, you want to “side-step” the issue with a quick comment and then change the subject with a question.

#1 – That’s Interesting, but Deserves More Time
Let the prospect know that the subject matter is interesting but requires far too much time and in-depth discussion to engage in now. Then change the subject with a question.

“You know Steve, that is a very interesting point of view, and it certainly deserves a lot of time to discuss. Maybe we can get into that someday, but for right now, let me ask you… Do you know exactly how many of your web hits are being converted into solid leads for your sales team?”

#2 – Too Excited About the Product
Let the prospect know that you are so engrossed in what you sell, that you cannot even think about such other topics right now.

“Sarah, I can appreciate how you feel about that. However, I am so excited about our XJ2000 software that I can hardly think about politics right now…How many servers are you running at this location, anyway?”

#3 – Your Issues, Problems Are Too Important
Inform the prospect that his or her problems and issues are your paramount concern right now and you can only focus on that.

“Susan, I understand how you feel about that issue, but right now my main concern is that you are losing a ton of money in your warehouse. My job is to help you put some of that money back into your pocket. Do you have last month’s shipping report available?”

From the warm up to the close, keep the sales process on track.

Happy Selling!

Sean

Sean McPheat
MTD Sales Training

Stop scratching around for sales and learn how to sell the modern way with my FREE 40 minute online training session. Click on the image below to find out why you’ve got to be changing the way that you prospect and sell…


3 Ways To Make Small Talk Pay Big Dividends

Some call it “small talk.” Others refer to it as the “warm up.” You know; it’s that idle, incidental banter between you and the prospect as you get things into place before the sales interaction. This warm up talk is more important than many realise and can steer the sales process in a positive or negative direction. In addition, this time for many sales people and prospective customers, is a waste of time. So, read on as I share a few tips on making sure this SMALL talk pays BIG dividends.

Part of the Sales Interaction
First, you need to pay as much attention to the structure and planning of the warm up as you do to the rest of the sales interaction. The warm up IS part of the sales interaction and an integral part of the entire sales process. Do not take for granted this period, and keep in mind the following three ideas.

#1 – Prevent the Conversation From Going Off Target.
You want to make sure the direction of the talk does not veer too far off on a tangent such as becoming too personal for the product or service at issue. It is fine to touch briefly on topics like the family and children and sports, etc., especially if the product warrants such information. However, be careful not to let this become liken to two ol’ buddy’s having a pint at the local pub. This is business.

Far too often sales people fall into the trap of trying to become best friends with the prospect first. While it is important to develop a good rapport with the prospect, today’s modern and educated buyer is not going to buy from you just because you are a nice and likable person.

You also want to direct the conversation so it does not delve into sensitive areas such as politics or religion. Even if you may happen to agree with the buyer’s views on those kinds of topics, they are always dangerous during a sales call.

#2 – Gather More Information
Use this time to get more information that will help close the sale. Ask questions that are of a warm up nature, yet have a business foundation. As an example, you may make a comment on how nice the prospect’s office looks when you walk in. Take that comment to another level and get some information that may aid in the sales process.

As an example, let’s say this sales person sells computer hardware and services. Instead of:

Sales Person
“Wow, Sarah! This is a great office! Beautiful, and you have such a lovely view of the water.”

Prospect
“Thank you. I like it.”

Try…

Sales Person
“Wow, Sarah! This is a great office! Beautiful, and you have such a lovely view of the water. Do you own the whole floor?”

Prospect
“Yes. Our office goes all the way around the building and we have two other floors as well.”

Sales Person
“That’s great. So, about how many employees in this building?”

Prospect
“Oh, a little over 300 at this location.”

Sales Person
“So, that’s at least 300 PCs…How many servers operating here?”

You get the idea. Use the warm up to get information.

#3 – Position the Buyer as a Client
Use the warm up to help paint the picture of the prospect as a customer. In other words, make comments that show the prospect that many of your clients are his or her peers and share many of the same problems and issues; issues that you have solved for them.

Prospect
“Yeah well, we used to be over on Coventry Lane and I had over 500,000 square feet. But with the economy downturn, I had to relocate to this smaller facility.”

Sales Person
“Oh, I understand that, Steve. In fact, I was able to assist several of my clients, right after they made that type of transition…”

Plan the warm up. It is part of the sales presentation.

Happy Selling!

Sean

Sean McPheat
MTD Sales Training

Stop scratching around for sales and learn how to sell the modern way with my FREE 40 minute online training session. Click on the image below to find out why you’ve got to be changing the way that you prospect and sell…

 (Image by Renjith Krishnan)


Should You “Wing It” or Have A Structured Sales Interaction?

Whenever the idea of a planned presentation comes up, usually the first thing sales people think about is a “canned script.” In a canned script, I am referring to the old-fashioned, smile-and-dial era, word-for-word, rehearsed, “Pitch.” Such was a primary tool of sales people, in particular telemarketers, years ago. Alternatively, we had the opposite of the canned spiel with the show up and throw up method, where sales people just walked in and did whatever they thought came natural.

While most sales professionals have rose above the smile and dial pitch, the question arises of the validity of using a planned sales presentation today. While not exactly a throw-up tactic, many still believe it is best to know all you can know about your product and prospect, and then just go in and let the sales interaction flow impromptu, directed by the prospect’s interests. So, dealing with today’s modern and educated buyer, should you play-it-by-ear and wing it, or use a planned and structured sales interaction?

Defining a Planned Sales Interaction
I believe that for the majority of selling situations, you should use a well-planned and structured sales presentation; but allow me to define exactly what I mean.

Although with a planned presentation, you may have a few words or phrases that you might use verbatim, I am not talking about a canned script. By a planned presentation, I am referring to “a thoroughly interactive, yet totally controlled methodical process that systemically moves the sale through incremental, yet critical stages, accomplishing interim goals at each step, while maximizing the odds of closing the sale.”

You can keep your sales interaction feeling impromptu, but you must have a way to control the direction and outcomes. You should have a step-by-step process that leads to a successful conclusion. In such, you can maintain the flexibility to adapt to responses, yet keep the process on track towards a narrow objective.

A Strategy
A Planned sales interaction is a strategy. With a planned interaction, you want to know what you need to accomplish at each stage of the presentation. For instance, in your first step, you may want to design proper seating arrangements as soon as you arrive. Or you may want to find out more about the prospect’s delivery systems during your warm-up talk. Perhaps you need to uncover more about the current contract the prospect has with a competitor.

In your second stage, perhaps you need to uncover exactly how much the prospect is spending on the outdated system, how much time their people are wasting due to lack of training. It is a plan on what you need to accomplish and when.

Planned VS Canned
So what is the difference between a planned sales interaction and a canned pitch?

A Canned Script – PUSHES: Pushes benefits, forces ideas, and minimises interaction.
A Planned Structure – Pulls: Pulls out problems, uncovers pain and maximises interaction.

A Canned Script – SUPPRESSES: Suppresses responses and objections and stifles emotion.
A Planned Structure – EXTRACTS: Extracts responses and objections early or avoids them and stimulates emotion.

A Canned Script – TELLS: Tells the prospect things.
A Planned Structure – ASKS: Asks the prospect questions.

In dealing with today’s sophisticated and educated buyer, now more than ever, you need to have a well-thought-out plan. You must have a strategy to accomplish every sales goal, including just setting an appointment.

Happy Selling!

Sean

Sean McPheat
MTD Sales Training

Stop scratching around for sales and learn how to sell the modern way with my FREE 40 minute online training session. Click on the image below to find out why you’ve got to be changing the way that you prospect and sell…

 


How To Practice Your Sales Presentation

Practice, practice, practice because practice makes perfect! While that age-old sentiment is nice, it is not true. Practice does not make perfect. Only Perfect practice makes perfect. I ask sales people if they routinely practice their presentation and often I get the response, “Oh, I have been doing this for years. I got it.” Or, “I’ve done this presentation so many times, I can do it in my sleep.”

Well, I have been “practicing” my golf swing for over 20 years, and it’s still not perfect. While you need to invest a significant amount of time in practicing your craft, you must make certain you are practicing the right stuff! Furthermore, you must routinely “check in” on yourself to ensure that you have not deviated in the wrong direction or got into bad habits.

Below are a few tips on practicing your sales presentation to get it perfect and to keep it that way! Depending on how long you have been selling some tips may not apply.

The Mirror
One of the best places to practice your sales presentation is alone, in front of the mirror. It is imperative that you first become very comfortable and natural with your sales presentation. No matter what you say, if you are uncomfortable saying it, you will have problems in the field. Practice adapting the presentation to fit your personality and style. Of course, assume the prospect responds as your presentation predicts.

Better still would be to video your presentation and then play it back.

Friend, Loved One
Now practice in front of a friendly, non-threatening, non-judgemental audience. Once again, this will help you to become comfortable in front of people.

Management or Trainer
Now get in front of your sales management or someone in your firm who is a confirmed expert in delivering the same sales presentation. It is important that this person or group are “qualified” to offer criticism and to help you correct your mistakes. Understand that this may not include your fellow sales associates.

A major mistake is to practice in front of and look for advice from an associate. Unless this person is qualified as a sales trainer who is authorised by your company to teach the sales presentation, do not choose such an audience.

Because a sales person has a higher closing average than you have, or is even a top sales person, it does not make him an expert to teach the sales presentation. That sales rep may do or say things that are grossly incorrect, but due to his personality, experience or any of a dozen other reasons, he is able to close successfully. However, it is possible that those same mistakes that cause one sales person no harm, can destroy another.

Practice with a qualified trainer, making adjustments until you know that you are practicing perfectly and then record your perfect presentation. If possible make a full video recording of your presentation.

On-the-Job
Now get out there and practice in front of people who can write a purchase order!

Review
Periodically, record yourself again, and compare it to the last recording of your sales presentation. While there may be some deliberate changes and enhancements, you will see when you begin to deviate too much. Keep practicing with the perfect presentation as the guide.

Tip For Sales Managers
Here is a way to help ensure that sales people practice perfectly and that the more experienced sales people do not get too far off track:

Have the more senior, experienced sales people perform the sales presentation in front of the sales team. You can do this as a sales training session or at a sales meeting. Give the sales person a few days advance notice that he or she is to perform the sales presentation for the team to help train the newer members. Inform him or her that your goal is for the new sales people to see the presentation done exactly the way it is supposed to be done, by a pro!

Happy Selling!

Sean

Sean McPheat
MTD Sales Training

(Image by J S Creationzs)

Stop scratching around for sales and learn how to sell the modern way with my FREE 40 minute online training session. Click on the image below to find out why you’ve got to be changing the way that you prospect and sell…


How To Create Urgency In The Sale

The sales interaction went well.  The prospect seems very interested, and you cannot see any objections.  However, you also cannot see any urgency, as the prospect feels they can wait.  You offer a price discount as an inducement, but still the prospect sees no reason to buy TODAY.  Below is a powerful and effective way to create a sense of urgency in your sales interactions. 

The Value of the Problem x Time = Urgency
One of the most effective ways to create a sense of urgency in the mind of the prospect is to help the prospect understand that the value and cost of their problem increases exponentially with time. 

First, you should be using a professional sales interaction that uncovers problems and exposes pain.  Then, as you uncover the prospect’s problems and pain, you need link them to the negative effects of time.

As an example, let’s imagine one of the benefits your product offers is that it helps clients save money on their heating costs.  As an educated professional, you know not to just push the benefits in a “show up and throw up” way; and instead, you turn it around to uncover the problems and pain first and then move on to solve the problems and pain with your solution.

If they will save money with your product, then they are losing money without it.  Due to the size of the plant and other factors, you calculate their losses to be approximately £40,000 a year.  During the sales interaction, you need to help the prospect visualise and relate the loss in terms of real money and daily costs. 

To tell the prospect that they can save £40,000 a year is one thing.  However, to help the prospect understand that they are spending; throwing away, right now, £166 every single day that they are open…is quite another. 

If your product costs £1,500, the prospect is going to spend more than the cost of your solution in less than ten days!

Link the cost and value of the problem to time, and help the prospect see that time truly is money.

Happy Selling

Sean

Sean McPheat
Bestselling Author, Sales Authority & Speaker On Modern Day Selling Methods 

MTD Sales Training

Have you downloaded my latest report “The Sales Person’s Crisis”? Over 10,000 sales pros have.

Click on the image below to find out why you’re very existence as a sales person is in doubt…


3 Ways To Handle The Prospect Who Is Shocked By Your Price

You felt that it was a good presentation and that the entire sales interaction was on track. Then you present the price, and suddenly the prospect acts as if they just had a heart attack! What happened? A better question is, what do you do? Below are three important steps you should take when this situation occurs.

The Three DOs

#1. Do Start Over
The fact is that if the prospect is truly surprised by your pricing after you have had a complete sales interaction, then you really missed some fundamental and essential points in your presentation. When this happens, you have failed in one or all of the following areas:

Understand that at this point, there is no such thing as answering objections. There are no valid objections to overcome because there is no valid offer. There is no legitimate offer because you never carried out a convincing presentation. All you can do now is try to go back and cover the things you missed. Just be honest…

“Whoa! Ms Prospect. If this offer seems out of line to you then I must have really missed something. Can I ask you a few questions?”

Then go over the problem-exposing questions, and value building points.

“Ms Prospect, was I able to show you that right now your drivers are spending at least 35% more in loading time?”

“Can you see how you are currently losing £722 ever day in the factory?”

Do not try to fix the problem. Go back and erase it.

#2. Ignore It
It is possible that the prospect is faking this apparent shock. A skilled business person will use such a tactic as a negotiating tool. If you are absolutely positive that the prospect is being less than honest with you, then continue on and close with confidence. Maintain the look and disposition that you are an experienced professional and aware of such tactics.

If however, you are not certain if the prospect is acting or not, then follow tip #1 first, followed by #2.

#3. Do Ask for Referrals and Leave
You may not have the time or permission to start over and ask questions, and ignoring the situation also may not work. Either you messed this up badly or the prospect just doesn’t get it. In either case, it is too late. There comes a time to learn from your mistakes and accept them.

A “shock” situation at the very end of the interaction is likely a failure of the entire sales process or indeed the way that you qualified this prospect in the first place. Instead of trying to put out the fire, it may be best to get out of the building!

Posting Oct 19, 2011: The Three DON’Ts
3 Ways NOT to Handle The Prospect Who Is Shocked By Your Price

Happy Selling

Sean

Sean McPheat
The UK’s #1 Authority On Modern Day Selling
MTD Sales Training

Have you downloaded my latest report “The Sales Person’s Crisis”? Over 10,000 sales pros have.

Click on the image below to find out why you’re very existence as a sales person is in doubt…


What To Do When The Prospect Is Very Late For the Appointment: Part III

The prospect shows up 30 or 45 minutes late for the meeting.  You do not have enough time to do a proper sales interaction and you feel the prospect has complete disrespect for your time.  What do you do?

In Part I and Part II of this article, we began to focus on the following solutions to use the prospect’s tardy incident to your advantage.   You can use one or all of these ideas that are applicable to your selling situation.

1. Use the incident to enlighten the prospect of the issue without making it an attack

2. Use the incident to insure a proper meeting as planned

3. Use the incident to set the next meeting

4. Use the incident to raise the value of you, your time and your products or services

Now continuing:

#3. Use the incident to set the next meeting
Now that you have confirmed that the allotted time for the meeting is still valid, use the opportunity to build the value of your time, your schedule and set the next appointment (if applicable) as well.  Remember, the prospect knows that he or she is the cause of any problem that may arise from the late meeting.  Use this to your advantage.  Here is an example:

“James, again, I appreciate your time here today and you will appreciate what I have to show you too.  Please give me just  a few seconds to double check my schedule on my next appointment.” (Pull out Pad, mobile phone or schedule)

“Yes. Even with travel time, it looks like I’ll make my next meeting in time.  By the way, seeing firsthand how tight your schedule is, while we are on the subject, why don’t we go ahead and take care of our follow-up meeting right now.  Let’s see…are you available next Friday, at this same time?”

Take advantage of the situation and go for it.

#4. Use the incident to raise the value of you, your time and your products or services
Once you have confirmed the allotted time for the meeting is still valid, inform the prospect as to why this is so important and build value at the same time.  Here is an example:

“That’s great that we still have a full 30 minutes.  You see, the information I have for you is important and will prove extremely valuable to you whether we do business or not.  As we do with everything and with all of our clients; we believe it is best to take our time, and do everything right the first time…don’t you agree?”

(Like with all of the “role plays” it’s not the words that are important it’s the message. You will want to adapt it to your own style)

You get the idea.

Executive Summary
In short, to handle the situation where the prospect is late and begins the relationship with a feeling of disrespect for you and your profession; don’t get upset, but don’t take it lying down either.

First, let the prospect know that you are a professional and your time is valuable, but do not make it an attack or a scolding.  Then, make sure you will have the time you need to do a proper job.  If necessary, use the moment to set up the next meeting. Continue to use the situation to raise the value and importance of what you do.

The final word – don’t forget that the people that you are likely to meet are very senior people. They have meetings that over-run and “crap” happens that may mean that they are running late for a genuine reason. Just remember to re-evaluate the objectives of the meeting and to make sure that you can get done what you need to get done in the remaining time you have available.

Happy Selling

Sean

Sean McPheat
The UK’s #1 Authority On Modern Day Selling
MTD Sales Training

Have you downloaded my latest report “The Sales Person’s Crisis”? Over 10,000 sales pros have.

Click on the image below to find out why you’re very existence as a sales person is in doubt…


What To Do When The Prospect Is Very Late For the Appointment: Part II

If you have been in the world of professional B2B selling for any length of time, then you have probably had that prospect who kept you waiting for 15, 20, 30 minutes or more.  It presents a very delicate and volatile situation.  You don’t want to kill the sale yet you have to maintain your dignity and self worth, in addition to your professional value.

In Part I of this article, we began to focus on the following solutions to use the prospect’s tardy incident to your advantage. You can use one or all of these ideas that are applicable to your selling situation.

1. Use the incident to enlighten the prospect of the issue without making it an attack

2. Use the incident to insure a proper meeting is planned

3. Use the incident to set the next meeting

4. Use the incident to raise the value of you, your time and your products or services

Now continuing:

#1. Use the incident to enlighten the prospect of the issue without making it an attack
#2. Use the incident to insure a proper meeting as planned
The first thing you need to do is immediately let the prospect know of the incident; yet remain on the same side.   Simultaneously, you want ensure you have the allotted time for the meeting.

Here is an example:
“James, I can see you’re really busy.  Since we’re behind schedule, will we still be able to have the full 30 minutes today as we agreed?”

Note two things in the example:

First, instead of, “Since YOU were late…”
It is, “Since WE are behind schedule…”

Remember to stay on the same side as the prospect. It is not so much that he was late, as it is that you BOTH now are behind schedule.

Second, note that instead of, “Do I still have time for MY 30 minute presentation?”
It is, “…will WE still have the full 30 minutes today as WE agreed?

Also, you need to stand firm even with a negative answer.  If your normal sales interaction requires an hour, you should not truncate it and try to rush through in 25 minutes.  Do not skip sales stages.  Do not look for a lay down sale.  Do not beg. Be  a professional.

If you impress and remain professional, even if you have a limited time, then you will normally find that they will be sincere in their apologies and will even offer to set up another meeting……sometimes even at your place!

What To Do When The Prospect Is Very Late For the Appointment: Part III
Posting October 7, 2011

Happy Selling!

Sean

Sean McPheat
The UK’s #1 Authority On Modern Day Selling
MTD Sales Training

Have you downloaded my latest report “The Sales Person’s Crisis”? Over 10,000 sales pros have.

Click on the image below to find out why you’re very existence as a sales person is in doubt…

 


What To Do When The Prospect Is Very Late For the Appointment: Part I

You have set a solid appointment, and immediately sent an email verifying the meeting information.  You then followed up by confirming the appointment by telephone the day before. Finally, you arrive at the 10:00 a.m. appointment a proper 15 minutes early.  The receptionist informs you that she will notify the decision maker (DM) that you are there.

However, 10:00 comes and goes and you find yourself still waiting in the reception area.  By 10:15 you check with the receptionist who tells you that the DM knows you are waiting and must be running just a bit late.  10:20. 10:25. 10:30 and still nothing.  The DM finally appears over 40 minutes late.  What should you do?

Acknowledgment Equals Respect
For the prospect that comes out with sincere apologies like, “I am so sorry to keep you waiting.  We had an emergency…” you may just let it go as you both work together.  However, what of that prospect that shows obvious and total disrespect for your time?   What of that prospect who just says, “Ok, I’ll see you now…” Or the one who greets you without the slightest regard for what happened?

A Delicate and Volatile Situation
This is a very touchy predicament.  On one hand, you obviously do not want to anger the prospect or chance killing the sale.  On the other hand, you can not overlook what, at best may be evidence of a slip-shod, inconsiderate businessperson; but at worst, can demonstrate an improper, inappropriate and possibly deliberate disregard for you and your value as a person and a professional.

Do Nothing?
Again, in cases where the prospect shows some acknowledgement of the mishap, forgetting it may be the thing to do as you both work out a solution together.  However, understand that if a prospect views you in such low esteem to not offer some explanation, then it is unlikely that anything good will result from this relationship.  If the prospect sees no value in you or your time, how can he or she possibly see any value in what you do or sell?

If you allow a prospect to treat you like a low-level peddler, then that is exactly what you will be.  Should you close the sale, you can bet this prospect will haggle with you on price, demanding more for less, and will never be satisfied with your service.   Chances are this would be a nightmare client who constantly demands your time, complains about everything, pays little or nothing and will jump to your competitor the moment a slightly better offer comes along.

Be A Professional
You must take control of situations like this, letting the prospect know that you are a professional and that your time is valuable. It is imperative that the buyer view your time as important and expensive as it is.

What to Do
What you need to do in these situations is to use the incident to raise the value of your time and achieve your objective to move the sale forward.  You want to use the situation as a positive.  Below and continuing in the next two posts, I will give you an effective method to take control of the above situation and use it to your advantage!

Use the prospect’s tardy incident to your advantage.  Here are four ways to do this and you can use one or all of the ideas that fit your selling situation.

1. Use the incident to enlighten the prospect of the issue without making it an attack

2. Use the incident to insure a proper meeting as planned

3. Use the incident to set the next meeting

4. Use the incident to raise the value of you, your time and your products or services

What to Do When the Prospect Is Very Late For the Appointment: Part II
Posting October 6, 2011

Happy Selling!

Sean

Sean McPheat
The UK’s #1 Authority On Modern Day Selling
MTD Sales Training

Have you downloaded my latest report “The Sales Person’s Crisis”? Over 10,000 sales pros have.

Click on the image below to find out why you’re very existence as a sales person is in doubt…

 


Three Times When You Should NOT Look the Prospect in the Eyes

You know the critical importance of Eye Contact.  Yes, eye contact plays a vital role in selling as in almost every other area of business and consumer life.  However, in professional sales, there are a few times when you do not want to have that direct eye-to-eye contact with the prospect. 

#1 – Demonstrating or Showing a Tangible Product

Whether it is a television, a piece of furniture, a car, a computer screen, a yacht or a jet plane, when you are showing or demonstrating a tangible product, your eyes should be focused on the product, not the prospect.  You should savour the item with your eyes.  As you show the prospect your product, your eyes should relish at the sight of the greatest thing the world has ever seen.  Gaze with loving amazement at your product and the prospect will do the same. 

When you concentrate on looking the prospect in the eyes while showing your product, it forces the prospect to look back at you, instead of the merchandise.  Of course, you often glance toward the prospect for confirmation and feedback.  However, concentrate your focus on the item and gaze upon it as if it is the greatest gift to humankind.  

#2 – Using a Presentation Book or Multi-Media

The reason you use a presentation book, pictures, or multi-media in a sales interaction is that the combination of stimuli delivers a more effective message.  It is the combination of the prospect hearing your voice in addition to seeing the words in black and white and seeing the pictures that give the presentation power.  During such sales interactions, of course you look the prospect in the eye on and off, but you want to look at the screen or the page to emphasize the main and most important points.  It is good to know your presentation so that you do not have to look at the screen or the pages.  However, when you look at the words, you also direct the prospect to look and digest those words. 

#3 – More Than One Sales Person in the Interaction

Whenever there is more than one sales person present during a sales interaction, it is crucial that only the sales person handling the interaction or actually speaking and dealing with the customer be the one who looks the customer in the eyes. 

This is a serious mistake many sales management teams make especially when training new sales representatives.  As an example, you have two sales people: one senior who is training the novice.  During the sale, the trainee should focus his or her eyes on the senior sales person and NOT the customer. 

When the trainee continually looks toward the prospect, it forces the prospect to look back at the trainee, consequently taking the focus away from the senior sales rep and the presentation.  In addition, the prospect is often looking for some reaction from the rookie who does not yet know exactly how to react. 

The trainee or other sales person in the interaction should gaze at the sales rep that is in control or speaking.  This will direct the prospect’s attention and eliminate unwarranted problems. 

In your sales interactions, use more than just eye contact—use eye control!

Happy Selling!

Sean

Sean McPheat
MTD Sales Training

Have you downloaded my latest report “The Sales Person’s Crisis”? Over 10,000 sales pros have.

Click on the image below to find out why you’re very existence as a sales person is in doubt…