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(516)

201 (Lead) How to Build an Early Stage Sales Team Beyond the First Five Reps (Miles Kane, Tenderly)

201 (Lead) How to Build an Early Stage Sales Team Beyond the First Five Reps (Miles Kane, Tenderly)

FOUR ACTIONABLE LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS When you are trying to clone that first rep, make sure that you don’t confuse personality with skill set. Your customers have the answers. Talk to your customers. Do not do the things that you're horrible at. Hire for the things that are not your strengths. Invest your time in enablement. You and your reps should track how you win each deal for ongoing development. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB VP, Sales @ Tenderly Founding Member, First Hires Program @ First Round Capital Director, Enterprise Sales @ Drift VP, Sales @ AltoCloud RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

7 Mar 202433min

200 (Sell) Handling Unreasonable Prospect Asks With Undeniable Truths (Charles Muhlbauer, DiscoveryCoach.io)

200 (Sell) Handling Unreasonable Prospect Asks With Undeniable Truths (Charles Muhlbauer, DiscoveryCoach.io)

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS If you say yes to doing something for a prospect and then realize you shouldn’t have offered that, call them to apologize. If you are giving reasons to a prospect for why something they asked for is not the best idea, make those reasons about them and in their best interest. Don't chase tennis balls. Create equal footing by getting something before we just jump to giving. Be a guide, not a servant. Buyers are not looking for us to say yes to everything. Evaluate every ask through “is this actually the best way for the buyer to get what they're looking for?” PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Founder @ DiscoveryCoach.io Sales Enablement Manager @ AlphaSense Lead Revenue Enablement Manager @ CB Insights Senior Sales Training Manager @ CB Insights RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

5 Mar 202429min

Hall of Fame: Jeb Blount Ep. 83

Hall of Fame: Jeb Blount Ep. 83

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 PRESIDENT’S CLUB CEO @ Sales Gravy Author or 13 books including Fanatical Prospecting, Virtual Selling, and Inked. VP of Sales @ kgb VP Sales @ Sales Gravy RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

4 Mar 202429min

Video Playbook: Book 1 In 3 Cold Calls With This Opener

Video Playbook: Book 1 In 3 Cold Calls With This Opener

The "Heard The Name Tossed Around Opener" - The first ever viral sales tactic I released is the opener that helped me book 1 in 3 cold calls. It's yours to steal now. RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (01:34) Traditional Openers (02:21) Intro Heard The Name Tossed Around Opener (02:38) Lead With Common Thread (03:05) Introduce Yourself (03:18) Have You Heard Our Name Tossed Around? (03:20) Talk Track (03:38) Breakdown (08:20) Recap

1 Mar 202411min

199 (Lead) Why You Should Practice Breathwork Before Starting Team Meetings (Alex Kremer, Alluviance)

199 (Lead) Why You Should Practice Breathwork Before Starting Team Meetings (Alex Kremer, Alluviance)

FOUR ACTIONABLE LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Have two one-on-ones in a week. One that talks deals and one focused on your rep as a person. Investing in a person always pays off with better deals. Practice breathwork at the beginning of your team meetings. It will help your team feel relaxed and engaged. Have one rep teach one mini skill builder for 5-10 minutes at the end of your team meetings. If one of those mini skill builders hits well, have a longer session around it. Use the mini skill builders training to test for things your team wants to be trained on. That’s how you build a powerful training program. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Founder & CEO @ Alluviance Director of Sales @ Catalyst Software Director of Sales, Commercial @ Outreach Sales Director, Corporate @ Outreach RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

29 Feb 202432min

198 (Sell) Why You Should Never Mention AI in Your Sales Calls (Nick Casale, Handoffs)

198 (Sell) Why You Should Never Mention AI in Your Sales Calls (Nick Casale, Handoffs)

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Do not neglect internal research when you're preparing for a sales call. Find out if your company has spoken to them before and dig internally. Prep for your sales calls by understanding lookalike conversations your team has had in the past. Use the lighthouse email to engage someone at the top, mid-deal cycle. Don’t just pull them into the boat. Let them know that the boat is there and you have an awesome champion so they can affirm you’re in the right place. Don’t say “AI” in your sales call. Instead, focus on the problem they want to solve and what they want to do. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Co-Founder @ Handoffs Director, Sales @ Sendoso Manager, MM & ENT Sales @ Sendoso Founding Account Executive @ Sendoso RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

27 Feb 202433min

Hall of Fame: Josh Braun Ep. 63

Hall of Fame: Josh Braun Ep. 63

Four Actionable Takeaways:  Figure out the cost of inaction when a prospect says “this isn’t a priority right now”. Sell from the buyer’s perspective w/ Poke the Bear to gain interest before you talk about your product. Mirror the “not interested” to figure out the real objection (relevance, comiss. breath, bad time). A/B test cold call opens (Poke the Bear/New Content) to figure out what works best for you. Josh’s Path to President’s Club: Founder @ Josh Braun Sales Training Former Head of Sales @ Basecamp Former VP of Inside Sales @ Jellyvision RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

26 Feb 202430min

Steal the new model for the anti-bloated, recession-proof sales team

Steal the new model for the anti-bloated, recession-proof sales team

RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

23 Feb 202458min

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