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(513)

137 (Sell): Structuring the steps of your discovery call (Krysten Conner, Enterprise Account Executive @ UserGems)

137 (Sell): Structuring the steps of your discovery call (Krysten Conner, Enterprise Account Executive @ UserGems)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 UserGems’ Job Change Sequence FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Start with a menu of pain: the 3 biggest problems that any given persona can face. Once you align on the problem, ask, “What’s prompting that need?”. You can start talking about solutions once you have an executive-level problem (e.g. down round, churn problem). Use individual contributors, like AEs, for inside intel on the organization. Then use their quotes on 1-2 slides when meeting with VP or CXO. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Enterprise Account Executive @ UserGems Enterprise+ Account Executive @ Outreach Enterprise Accounts, Financial Services @ Tableau Software Strategic Accounts @ PowerSchool RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

8 Mar 202330min

136 (Sell): Adding discipline into your sales process (Anthony Natoli, Enterprise Account Executive @ Lattice)

136 (Sell): Adding discipline into your sales process (Anthony Natoli, Enterprise Account Executive @ Lattice)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Download Anthony's 3-Step Email Framework FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS On a cold call: Get permission, lead with a problem statement and its negative consequences, then ask how they’re addressing it today. Once you have validation, book the meeting. On a normal discovery call: Ask why they took the call, why change at all, and lastly why change now. On a competitive discovery call: Start with why they bought their original solution and move to how their experience / goals have changed since then. Figure out where you stack on their priority list by asking: “When you’re on an all-hands, is this something people are talking about?”. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Enterprise Account Executive @ Lattice Commercial Account Executive @ Outreach Growth Account Direct, Mid-Market @ Demandbase Sr. Account Executive @ Ethos Lending LLC RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

1 Mar 202334min

135 (Sell): Part 2: Pacing your conversation with a champion vs. executive (Kevin “KD” Dorsey, Sales Leadership Coach)

135 (Sell): Part 2: Pacing your conversation with a champion vs. executive (Kevin “KD” Dorsey, Sales Leadership Coach)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Download KD's "Did I" Checklist Manifesto FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS After the demo, get a sense of what they liked and use it to justify your ask to power. Avoid getting stuck below the line with “yes-and” - loop in the suggestion but also confirm the email you want instead of asking for permission. When you get to power, recap the key problems you found first, then open it up and ask what’s important to them. Start with the worst-case scenario of the results you can drive and get agreement on that being a good outcome first, then over-deliver. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Practice Lead, Revenue Leadership @ Winning by Design VP of Inside Sales @ PatientPop Inc. Head of Sales Enablement & Development @ ServiceTitan VP of Sales @ SnackNation RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

22 Feb 202328min

Hall of Fame: Joe Caprio Ep. 35

Hall of Fame: Joe Caprio Ep. 35

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Stop withholding the demo from your prospects, ask how they want to run it. 5 min harbor demo in the call #1, 30 minute deep-dive in #2, multi-thread, repeat. Don’t force yourself to power. Enable your champion to have the conversations. If you need power, ask your champion questions they need power to answer. RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

20 Feb 202333min

134 (Sell): Part 1: Connecting the dots in your discovery call (Kevin “KD” Dorsey, Sales Leadership Coach)

134 (Sell): Part 1: Connecting the dots in your discovery call (Kevin “KD” Dorsey, Sales Leadership Coach)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Download KD's "Did I" Checklist Manifesto FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS PPI (Problem, Pain, Impact): Get agreement on a problem, understand the pain the problem causes, and identify what that means for the buyer and the business. Use bucket questions to get problem agreement. Weave the top 3 problems into your opening questions.  When someone tells you what they want, restate it as a pain point. Turn solutions into problems.  The transition between discovery and demo is the perfect time for “might make sense”. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Practice Lead, Revenue Leadership @ Winning by Design VP of Inside Sales @ PatientPop Inc. Head of Sales Enablement & Development @ ServiceTitan VP of Sales @ SnackNation RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

15 Feb 202327min

133 (Sell): Identifying the difference between pain and problem (Becc Holland, Founder & CEO @ Flip the Script)

133 (Sell): Identifying the difference between pain and problem (Becc Holland, Founder & CEO @ Flip the Script)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS If you don’t dig into their self-diagnosis, you lose credibility. When you hear their diagnosis, ask why they came to that conclusion and then begin to unpack it. Unpack the diagnosis by starting with the questions that will most likely get you to the answer quickly. Once you know the key metrics that drive their business (e.g., open rates, reply rates), you can deposit and add value by sharing industry benchmarks of what those could be. Prospect by identifying the top 2-3 problems that most people don’t know that they have, then try to find out where the prospect realistically lands currently.  PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Founder & CEO @ Flip the Script Head of Sales Development @ Chorus.ai Regional VP of Business Development @ G2 Sr. Manager, Inside Sales @ Gong.io  RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

8 Feb 202330min

132 (Sell): Controlling the sales process in the buyer’s best interest (Devin Reed, Director, Content & Thought Leadership @ Clari)

132 (Sell): Controlling the sales process in the buyer’s best interest (Devin Reed, Director, Content & Thought Leadership @ Clari)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Wingman’s In-App Objection Handling Battlecards FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Use typically language to help guide your buyer into the next steps. When the buyer wants to multithread to someone you’re not familiar with, ask how that person has contributed to purchases in the past. When your champion is proposing to finance, offer to be a “fly on the wall” to help support them. If you aren’t on the call, ask questions about what the call will look like and what issues could come up in it. Keep your buyer’s best interest in mind when driving the timeline. Don’t drive it using your quota or discount. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Director, Content & Thought Leadership @ Clari Head of Content Strategy @ Gong Account Executive - Large Accounts @ Eventbrite Sr. Account Executive @ OneMob RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

1 Feb 202329min

131 (Sell): Plan your attack, then attack your plan (Liam Mulcahy, Go-to-Market @ Kleiner Perkins)

131 (Sell): Plan your attack, then attack your plan (Liam Mulcahy, Go-to-Market @ Kleiner Perkins)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Download Liam’s Account Planning Sheet FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Start discovery by asking why they were hired in the first place. It’ll help build rapport and understand the organizational vision. If you suspect someone is going to be a blocker in the deal, bring it up with your champion before it even happens. Don’t stay single-threaded in accounts. Just because you booked a meeting doesn't mean you shouldn’t keep prospecting. If you’re introduced to power: share your hypothesis, then introduce a few things only they can answer to further expand on your discovery. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Go-to-Market @ Kleiner Perkins Director, GTM @ Unusual Ventures Regional Director, East @ MongoDB Director, Sales & Product GTM @ New Directions Behavioral Health RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

25 Jan 202339min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
dine-penger-pengeradet
e24-podden
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
pengepodden-2
finansredaksjonen
utbytte
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
rss-sunn-okonomi
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
aksjesladder
stormkast-med-valebrokk-stordalen
stinn-av-gryn
lederpodden
pengesnakk
rss-impressions-2
aksjepodden
rss-investering-gjort-enkelt