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(509)

83 (Sell): Paying for success with prospecting (Jeb Blount, CEO @ Sales Gravy)

83 (Sell): Paying for success with prospecting (Jeb Blount, CEO @ Sales Gravy)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 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. RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

19 Jan 202229min

82 (Sell): Telling crispy customer stories and using unexpected honesty (Nick Casale, Director of Sales @ Sendoso)

82 (Sell): Telling crispy customer stories and using unexpected honesty (Nick Casale, Director of Sales @ Sendoso)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Set the ground rules for your prospect’s competitive evaluation (sell the model) Lean on your winning zones & the prospect’s priorities, then identify where competitors fall short. Gain traction against incumbents by explaining why market leaders are playing the game wrong. Tell relatable, crispy customer stories by painting the specific people and their journeys. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB Director of Sales @ Sendoso First Sendoso Sales hire and employee #3 Former SDR & AE @ Talkdesk RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

12 Jan 202233min

81 (Sell): Mastering conversational discovery to drive your sales process (Michelle Pietsch, VP of Revenue @ Dooly)

81 (Sell): Mastering conversational discovery to drive your sales process (Michelle Pietsch, VP of Revenue @ Dooly)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Use humbling disclaimers to level with the prospect to establish next steps. Ask about the buying process AFTER you get to the “aha” moment in discovery. Figure out the “why” when a signing deadline is missed - then determine next steps. Avoid leading questions which do the opposite of building rapport. PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB VP of Revenue @ Dooly RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

5 Jan 202226min

Playbook: Running a Killer Demo

Playbook: Running a Killer Demo

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Every 10th episode, we tear down one topic. This is how to run a killer demo. FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Show the 20% of your features that solve 80% of the problems. Always prep for who is in the room, what they want to see, and the objective of the call. Show as few screens as possible in the demo, go right into the “Aha” moments, and ask questions. Control the room by setting expectations upfront and directing excessive questions to future calls. RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

29 Des 202137min

80 (Sell): How to keep your demos interactive to navigate directly into your winning zones (Cory Bray, Managing Director @ ClozeLoop)

80 (Sell): How to keep your demos interactive to navigate directly into your winning zones (Cory Bray, Managing Director @ ClozeLoop)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  * Establish next steps at the end of your meeting to prepare yourself for new stakeholders / questions. * Avoid open-ended q’s, instead use “typically” or “usually” language to demonstrate credibility. * Keep your demo’s interactive by asking the prospect what jumps out to them right away. * Start your demo’s with the exciting outcomes and work backwards to reality (integrations, permissions) ====================== Cory’s Path to President’s Club: * Managing Director @ ClozeLoop * Co-Author of The Sales Enablement Playbook, Sales Development, and Sales Playbooks: The Builder's Toolkit RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

22 Des 202129min

The Xmas Special (click for gifts)

The Xmas Special (click for gifts)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

21 Des 202126min

79 (Sell): Embracing competitors and asking the right questions at the right time (Ryan Staley, Founder & CEO @ Whale Boss)

79 (Sell): Embracing competitors and asking the right questions at the right time (Ryan Staley, Founder & CEO @ Whale Boss)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  * Learn from the 5 biggest deals you have lost and replace them with the 5 fastest deals you have won. * Ask questions to determine where you stand in the process before wasting months on a sale cycle. * Don’t shy away from the buyer’s conversations with competitors - use it to your advantage. * Fully understand every outstanding step to get a deal done to avoid surprises. RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

15 Des 202130min

78 (Sell): Death of the helpful seller: Use proven psychology to stop losing deals (Belal Batrawy, DeathtoFluff)

78 (Sell): Death of the helpful seller: Use proven psychology to stop losing deals (Belal Batrawy, DeathtoFluff)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  * Disclose “often withheld” information around pricing, competition, weakness, and implementation. * Social bid often to get your prospects to share valuable insights that you wouldn’t get otherwise. * Pressure test how your champion’s willingness to change, which will help them sell to the committee. * Utilize emotionally charged messaging to attach with a deeper need than just product features. ====================== Belal’s Path to President’s Club: * Community Leader of #Death2Fluff * 7x Startup Seller and Sales Advisor  RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

8 Des 202133min

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