Colleen’s Blog

“Follow every step of this bulletproof routine every day and you’re sure to become a high performer in sales.” That, my friend, is terrible advice. And yet that kind of guidance keeps getting spread around as though it’s the plain truth—when, in fact, it’s just…well…bull-sourced fertilizer!

When salespeople are stuck or in a slump, many of them tend to...wait. That’s right. Far too many sellers just wait for things to get better.

A lack of speed kills sales. We live in an "on-demand" world. Your favourite show or movie is available on Netflix at the click of a button. Your closest family and friends are all "in your pocket" and a quick text away. This "on-demand" culture isn't limited to entertainment. It translates to the business world as well.

I recently watched a presentation that underscored the best practices of top performers. In particular, one topic they highlighted was morning routines and how top performers had a strict morning routine. For example, they wake up at 4am, work out, have their coffee, make their calls, and check their emails. 

Have you ever put together a sales strategy which you believed to be near flawless, only to see it fail in the long run? In my years of consulting, I have rarely (and I mean rarely!) come across a seriously flawed sales strategy. However, I have come across many (and I mean many!) sales strategies which ultimately fail. So, what’s the missing link? If most sales strategies are sound and concrete, why do so few of them make a lasting impact?

No one in sales has an unobstructed 360-degree view of their relationship with their customers. Nobody. Not even top performers.

Too many salespeople fail to follow up, and often, it's because they don't have a follow up schedule that works.

I've been emphasizing to a number of clients the importance of creating an “early warning system.” It’s a system that helps you identify and prevent client departures. And one of the biggest warning signs or triggers we have discovered is engagement. Specifically, a reduction in engagement or a dramatic change in engagement style.

The days of the "ideal buyer" have gone the way of the dinosaurs. So has the routine sales pitch.

You can't be afraid of your own pricing.