How to Sell by Not Selling #505 In the timeless dance of commerce I'd like to reflect a bit on the business aspects of selling, the topic this podcast babbles about weekly. When you consider the profession of sales, what comes to mind? Is it a realm where one must assume the guise of a rapid-talking predator? Do you still hear at times the notion that selling requires you to be the elusive shark in the marketplace? It's a pervasive belief, and indeed, a hurtful one. So let's consider this: that the art of selling isn't a slam dance to the rhythm of forceful persuasion. In fact, the most profou ..read more

How to Own Your  Mistakes #504 So, you like being right? But what about when you’re wrong? Nobody likes being called out for making a mistake or screwing up. And let me tell you, it’s even worse when you have to apologize for your mistake or, worse yet, your company’s mistake. It’s like going to the dentist for a root canal. Unfortunately, once in a while, this situation pops up and it’s extremely uncomfortable for the sales professional. It’s not the end of the world. You just have to own up to it and move on. That’s what separates the men from the boys. Or the women from the girls. Or t ..read more

How To Advance the Sale - Step by Step #503 Ever notice how after a sales call, it feels like the deal is moving at the speed of a glacier melt? I mean, who knew closing deals was like waiting for paint to dry? In today's episode, we're diving into the thrilling world of why deals move slower than a tortoise with a GPS glitch. Let's crack the code on the sales process, the buying process, and the intricate dance of advancing the sale, all with the ultimate goal of closing – well, maybe not today but someday Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is un ..read more

How to Give Control to Take Control When Selling #502 My wife says I worry too much. I think I don't worry enough.  I'm always on the lookout for trouble and control what I can to avoid drama. Control is my secret power, and it's also my greatest weakness. Bringing a control attitude into the sales profession was a turn-off to many prospects. By trying to control the sales process and wrangling the prospect's actions it had the opposite effect and killed deals. It was by studying the Tao I got the idea of taking control the sale by giving control to the prospects. It was a brilliant albei ..read more

Why Sellers Need to Recognize the Elephant in the Room #501 Have you ever skirted the truth when talking to a prospect? Have you ever redirected the conversation to put your offering in the best light? Have you ever wondered why a prospect stops taking your calls when at first you thought everything was going well? Maybe the prospects saw through your avoidance. Maybe they sensed there was something wrong with your product or service. Maybe you lost their trust. In this week's episode, we talk about the elephant in the room, those big issues that salespeople are afraid to bring up with ho ..read more

How to Discover the Buyer Using Compassionate Listening #499 I have a point of view on selling that may catch you off guard. Just like social work, nursing, or counseling, I see selling as a helping profession.  The way I see it, as sellers, it's our responsibility to relieve the suffering of our customers and clients. Each prospect you meet has some unfulfilled need or desire that greatly pains both them and their organizations. The way master sellers can assuage this suffering is to listen and to listen with compassion. Instead of guessing what's troubling them, ask and they will tell y ..read more

How To Stay Innovative in an Emerging Market #498 There is an old saying in tech that there are only two kinds of technologies: the out-of-date and the "it's not yet available." Products loved and admired by customers will someday be considered antiques. Few products or services are considered modern forever. Instead, the marketplace is constantly birthing a rebirthing, innovation after innovation. Salespeople play a tremendous role in guiding their companies to stay competitive. They are the canaries in the coal mine and the first to discern what's the next big thing.  So what can seller ..read more

Don't Force the Sale, Allow the Sale #497 Sometimes sellers in their zeal to win push and prod buyers into uncomfortable buying decisions. It's always a good time for a seller to win a sale, but that's not the case for buyers. Sometimes a purchase is part of a broader project that requires planning.  Too often sellers forget that their timeline should be the buyer's timeline. In this episode of the Tao of Sales Babble, we discuss the hazards of forcing a deal and the benefits of giving buyers space to decide on their own.   Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.&nb ..read more

We Only Learn From Failure #496 I’m a goof and I screw up a lot. I’m known to talk to myself and say things like “What were thinking?” or “You’re an idiot Pat.” This behavior really bugs my wife. She’ll say “Why are you so hard on yourself?” to which I reply “I’m not hard enough!’ But she may have a point. You can read good advice, or in the case of a podcast, listen to good advice but it’s not going to be embraced nearly as much as when you screw up and learn a lesson from it.   According to the author George Bernard Shaw "A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but ..read more

How to Learn, Unlearn, and Relearn Sales #494 Do you know how some people just don't listen? They complain about their situation,  yet they're never open to alternatives. It's a case where confidence and cockiness become handcuffs. This is all too common in sales. It's a paradox but sometimes the best way to learn something is to first unlearn what you already know. To relearn is to keep growing and that's the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing ..read more