Why Your Discovery Call Isn’t Finding Real Problems | Bite-Sized Tactics

Why Your Discovery Call Isn’t Finding Real Problems | Bite-Sized Tactics

Max Licht (Enterprise AE @ MaestroQA) breaks down his shadow-based discovery process. This technique goes beyond typical discovery calls, allowing you to witness firsthand where inefficiencies and bottlenecks are happening. 1. Identify the Painful Process - Research the customer's current workflow and tools (e.g., Excel, Salesforce) to understand the manual, time-consuming steps involved. - This reveals where inefficiencies exist, giving you a clear picture of the pain your solution can alleviate. It also helps you identify the "drag them through the glass" moments where the pain is most acute, which is critical for building urgency. 2. Set Up the Shadowing Session - Frame the shadow as a collaborative step to fully understand their process. Instead of just making claims, say something like, *“Before I make any promises, I want to fully understand your current reporting process to see where we can add the most value.”* - This approach shifts the focus from selling to problem-solving, making you a trusted partner rather than just a vendor. It also sets the stage for a more meaningful business case. 3. Conduct the Shadow - Watch the prospect use their current tools and processes. Take notes, capture screenshots, and pay attention to friction points, inefficiencies, and workarounds they rely on. - Seeing the workflow in action often reveals unspoken pain points and limitations that even the prospect might not articulate in a standard discovery call. This firsthand observation helps you tailor your pitch to the reality of their day-to-day work. 4. Use Shadows to Build a Business Case - Use the insights gathered to frame your solution as a direct response to the pain points you observed. For example, highlight how your tool eliminates specific inefficiencies, reduces manual steps, or streamlines complex reporting. - This concrete evidence makes your pitch more credible and aligns your solution directly with their business goals, increasing the likelihood of internal buy-in. 5. Follow Up Strategically - After the shadow, summarize your findings in a follow-up email or meeting, highlighting specific pain points you observed and how your solution can address them. Use this to drive urgency and move the deal forward. - This reinforces your credibility as a problem-solver and keeps the conversation anchored in real, observed issues, rather than hypothetical value propositions. 6. Use the Shadow as a Catalyst for Future Conversations - Reference specific pain points in later stages of the sales cycle, using them to frame your solution as a clear, tangible fix for their current frustrations. - This approach keeps the focus on solving their problems, reducing friction in the decision-making process and increasing the likelihood of a successful close. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: ⁠Join our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠Things you can steal⁠ ⁠Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST”

Episoder(514)

238 (Sell) Asking The Right Questions on Cold Calls (Josh Braun, Braun Training)

238 (Sell) Asking The Right Questions on Cold Calls (Josh Braun, Braun Training)

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Start by assuming the prospect has researched your solution if they say yes suggest a common objection why they didn't pursue it, if they say no then ask a question to highlight a knowledge gap When explaining your solution, emphasize the before state and the problems associated with it to create contrast with your solution's end-state Ask about specific situations to accurately identify the exact problems the prospect is facing Learn and practice delivering problem stories that are tailored to each potential situation your buyers may be in PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Founder, Braun Training Former Head of Sales @ Basecamp Former VP of Inside Sales @ Jellyvision RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Josh Braun's Tongue Tied flashcards Things you can steal

6 Aug 202440min

Hall of Fame: Sara Plowman Ep. 196

Hall of Fame: Sara Plowman Ep. 196

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Use “That’s exactly why I called.” When your prospect shares a problem or a priority that they have, make that your reason for booking a meeting and go right in for the close on the cold call. Call nine before nine, and five after five. Those early morning and evening dials can be some of the best ways to increase your connect rate with hard-to-reach prospects. After your opener, go through the parts of your pitch, but end with an open-ended question. You can either go into “That’s why we should meet” if they give you those three priorities or roll with the objection - “Let me tell you how we work alongside and supplement a recruiter.” PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Senior Business Development Manager @ Pareto Senior Account Executive @ Pareto Account Executive @ Pareto Business Development Representative @ Pareto RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

5 Aug 202439min

Sell Playbook: Cold Call Openers

Sell Playbook: Cold Call Openers

Get our book on cold calling "Cold Calling Sucks (and that's why it works)" Nick and Armand walk through four cold call openers and suggest which ones are best backed by Gong's data from over 300 million cold calls Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

2 Aug 20249min

237 (Lead) Founder-Led Sales: Taking Your Startup to Market (Peter Kazanjy, Atrium)

237 (Lead) Founder-Led Sales: Taking Your Startup to Market (Peter Kazanjy, Atrium)

FOUR ACTIONABLE FOUNDER TAKEAWAYS Your first customers should come from the founder Avoid steering the discovery conversation in a preferred direction, let the conversation flow naturally and meet the customer where they are. If the conversation is going well and the customer acknowledges the problem and believes in your solution, consider bringing them on as a pilot customer. If you're not ready to solve the big problem yet, launch a customer advisory board. Offer a small amount of equity to early advisors who can help develop your product to the point where it can address a significant issue. PETER'S PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Co-Founder @ Atrium Founder @ Modern Sales Pros VP of Product @ Monster Founder @ TalentBin (Acquired by Monster) RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

1 Aug 202427min

236 (Sell) Get Ahead of Deal Killers by Asking Buyers the Hard Questions Upfront (Steven Bryerton, ZoomInfo)

236 (Sell) Get Ahead of Deal Killers by Asking Buyers the Hard Questions Upfront (Steven Bryerton, ZoomInfo)

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Gauge your prospect’s enthusiasm by asking where they fall on a scale from one to ten, providing more insight than a simple yes/no question. Ask your prospect what they discuss in internal meetings to tailor your pitch to resonate with their executive team. Avoid showing too much software to prevent prospects from associating the product with unnecessary features and higher costs. Recap previous conversations and then ask the executive what you might have missed, ensuring you address their specific needs while demonstrating your product. STEVEN'S PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB SVP of Sales @ ZoomInfo VP of Sales @ ZoomInfo Director of Sales @ ZoomInfo Manager, Enterprise Sales @ ZoomInfo RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

30 Jul 202439min

Hall of Fame: Ryan Reisert Ep. 6

Hall of Fame: Ryan Reisert Ep. 6

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Eat the frog by committing to prospecting first thing in the morning. Handle objections differently with a ledge (ledge > disrupt statement > ask). Handle ‘existing solution’ objections by offering value to keep the other guys honest. Get past gatekeepers with respect, giving specific value, and providing social proof. PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB Head of Growth @ NeonPixel CEO @ Phone Ready Leads CEO @ Student of Sales VP of Sales @ Booshaka RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

29 Jul 202431min

235 (Lead) The Daily Habits That Set Top Sales Leaders Apart (Jordan Chavez, Navan)

235 (Lead) The Daily Habits That Set Top Sales Leaders Apart (Jordan Chavez, Navan)

FOUR ACTIONABLE LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Use calendar color coding to audit your time and ensure you're focusing on important tasks consistently Always be recruiting (ABR) - Regularly connect with potential talent on LinkedIn to build relationships before you need to hire. Designate specific days for different tasks - Monday for one-on-ones, Tuesday for outbound, Wednesday and Thursday for deal reviews, and Friday for forecasts. Run outbound days, have reps target top C-level prospects and maintain a 45-day forecast with outreach tasks. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Regional Director Mid-Market Sales @ Navan Manager Commercial Sales @ Navan Manager Growth Sales @ Navan Enterprise Account Executive @ Navan RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

25 Jul 202438min

234 (Sell) Unlocking Buyer Pain Points While Engaging Key Stakeholders (Maddy Jackson, Webflow)

234 (Sell) Unlocking Buyer Pain Points While Engaging Key Stakeholders (Maddy Jackson, Webflow)

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Explore two types of impact with your prospect: hard metrics (e.g., hours spent, money lost) and soft impact. Address pain points in other departments to accelerate deals and improve win rates. Turn situations into problems by asking questions that highlight known pain points with competitors. If ghosted late in the deal cycle, offer to email the next key contact directly to prompt a response. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Account Executive @ Webflow Account Executive @ SafeGraph Account Executive @ Procore Technologies RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

23 Jul 202439min

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