46 (Sell): Asking the right questions to break down your disco call (Charles Muhlbauer, Training @ CB Insights)

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Facial Expressions Control Tone: Your facial expressions influence your tone. For example, leaning in creates a concerned tone, while tilting your chin up can convey curiosity. Slow Down Your Questions: Asking questions too quickly leads to poor answers. Slow down the second half of your question to give prospects time to think and respond meaningfully. Master the Five Types of Tone: Use different tones—curious, confused, concerned, challenging, and playful—to guide conversations and elicit the right responses. Challenge Prospects with a Direct Tone: A challenging tone helps push prospects to take action, especially when addressing tough issues like low-quality leads. JEREMY'S PATH TO PRESIDENT'S CLUB: Founder @ 7th Level VP of Sales @ Pinnacle Security RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

27 Jan 41min

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Ban Product-Specific Language: Prohibit product-focused terms like "roles-based access" in deal reviews. Instead, prompt reps to explore the customer’s "why" behind their needs, driving better customer questioning and understanding. Tie Incentives to Certifications: Require reps to complete critical certifications (e.g., discovery certification) to access desirable benefits, such as inbound leads, ensuring alignment between AE and leadership goals. Consistency in Value Framework: Maintain your value selling framework across every sales stage—from discovery to demo to proposal—ensuring consistent messaging and alignment throughout the cycle. Embed Framework into Processes: Update all sales processes, stages, and deal reviews to reflect new frameworks. Regularly reinforce these changes in weekly reviews to ensure training sticks and drives lasting behavior changes. ELEANOR'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Head of Sales @ Retool Global Head of Commercial Retention & Regional Director of Commercial Sales @ Segment Global Head of Commercial Renewals and Retention @ Segment Head of Customer Success and Solutions engineering @ Clever Inc RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

23 Jan 39min

Nick and Armand break down the perfect 5 stage sales process to get your deals closed fast.  Stage 1 Problem Agreement: Ensure both parties align on the problem being solved before moving forward. Stage 2 Solution Agreement: Confirm the solution addresses the agreed problem effectively. Stage 3 Power Agreement: Secure buy-in from decision-makers and key stakeholders. Stage 4 Commercial Agreement: Reach consensus on pricing, terms, and conditions. Stage 5 Vendor Approval: Navigate internal processes to finalize and approve the deal. Map these stages to your sales cycle, define clear exit criteria for each, and identify opportunities to combine calls or stages to accelerate deal velocity. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

21 Jan 54min

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: In rip-and-replace deals, start by asking why the existing solution was chosen to understand the problems and motivations behind it. Late in the deal, confirm with your champion if you’re their top choice. Use their guidance to strengthen your position against competitors. When prospects compare you to competitors, suggest specific aspects to evaluate that highlight your strengths and expose competitors' weaknesses. In rip-and-replace deals, emphasize key product gaps that significantly impact the business, and ensure decision-makers are committed to addressing them. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB" Founder & CEO @ Outbound Squad Owner @ Jason Bay Consulting Director of Marketing @ Chamber DS, Inc. Marketing Director & Corporate Sales Trainer @ National Services Group, Inc. RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

20 Jan 40min

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Name Badge Optimization: Design name badges with legible names and role-based color coding. Bonus: add a fun fact to encourage interaction and make glancing at the badge feel natural. Post-SKO Follow-Up Plan: SKO momentum fades quickly. Implement a follow-up plan within days to sustain energy and carry it into the sales year. Session Energy Management: Use high-energy sessions earlier when attention is stronger. Save interactive or fun activities for post-lunch when engagement dips. Pre-Vet Presenters: Plan sessions a month in advance and require presenters to rehearse. Avoid costly, unpolished presentations that waste valuable sales time. JD'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Chief Revenue Officer @ Kantata Chief Revenue Officer @ Motus Managing Director @ Bravo Solution Vice President, Americas @ Workplace Systems RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

16 Jan 40min

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Get Permission to Reframe: Before turning a perceived weakness into a strength, ask for permission to tell the story. This keeps the approach authentic and avoids sounding overly salesy. Anchor High for Multithreading: When requesting additional stakeholders, ask for more than you need. If they say no to six but yes to two, you've still gained ground. Reframe Intentional Limitations: When faced with an objection or missing feature, consider if it’s intentional by design. Reframe it as a benefit aligned with the prospect’s goals. Prep for Large Meetings: Divide the room strategically. Prep with your champion, pre-call each stakeholder, then personalize questions in the meeting to tailor the conversation. DAVID'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Senior Account Executive MM @ LinkedIn Account Executive SMB @ LinkedIn Sales Development Representative @ LinkedIn Creator Manager @ LinkedIn RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Club Pass

14 Jan 40min

Join John's Newsletter FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Executive time crunch: If an exec only has five minutes instead of 30, ask, "What’s the one thing you need to hear to earn another meeting with your full attention?" Focus on that. Lead with a hypothesis: Instead of asking generic discovery questions, start with a hypothesis about their priorities based on research, showing you did your homework. Decision criteria: Prospects may focus on the wrong decision factors. Share a list of common criteria and ask them to rank their priorities to guide the discussion. Demo as you go: Don't save all product demos for the end. Show small pieces of the product during the conversation, interspersing discovery throughout. RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

13 Jan 39min

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: SPFs for Short-Term Change: Use SPFs to drive short-term behavior changes. Long-term shifts should align with consistent metrics in your "iron square" framework. Strict Holdover Rules: Allow one quarter for closing open opportunities after a territory change if they’re past stage two. No exceptions ensure fairness and consistency. The Iron Square: Track rep productivity with win rate, AE-sourced pipeline, total pipeline generation, and forecast accuracy, with quota attainment as the central North Star. Customer-First Processes: Avoid letting internal rules disrupt customer experience. Build buffer zones in ROEs and territories to minimize deal handoffs. ELEANOR'S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Head of Sales @ Retool Global Head of Commercial Retention & Regional Director of Commercial Sales @ Segment Global Head of Commercial Renewals and Retention @ Segment Head of Customer Success and Solutions engineering @ Clever Inc RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

9 Jan 42min