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”

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60 (Sell): Getting a promotion using quality discovery tactics (Sarah Brazier, AE @ Gong)

60 (Sell): Getting a promotion using quality discovery tactics (Sarah Brazier, AE @ Gong)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  Break-down pricing objections to better understand whether it’s a timing, budgeting, or other issue. Dive into why the customer is evaluating a solution in the first place. Avoid the feature vs feature battle. Get ahead of potential objections by bringing them up preemptively. Treat your promotion plan like a sales cycle - multithread, figure out the buying process, etc.  Sarah’s Path to President’s Club:  Account Executive @ Gong Advisor @ Aligned, Chili Piper, and Ramped Instructor @ Sales Impact Academy RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

21 Jul 202131min

59 (Sell): Leveling with prospects so you actually book meetings (Parker Eide, SDR Manager @ Gong)

59 (Sell): Leveling with prospects so you actually book meetings (Parker Eide, SDR Manager @ Gong)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  * Break the mold by leveling with your prospect and recognizing that you’re a sales rep. * Find your top 3 buying triggers, in 3 minutes or less before you hit the phones. * Use email interactions as MQL triggers and prioritize those leads first. * Ask for a second chance when your opening pitch doesn’t go as well as you wanted. ====================== Parker’s Path to President’s Club:  * SDR Manager @ Gong * 2018 SaaSy Sales Management Impact Award Winner RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

14 Jul 202126min

58 (Sell): The science of asking better questions and handling objections (David Priemer, Founder @ Cerebral Selling)

58 (Sell): The science of asking better questions and handling objections (David Priemer, Founder @ Cerebral Selling)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  * “Cut” your prospect before showing them the band-aid - solidify the enemy. * Utilize stories when you hear a clear prospect pain-point. * Ask related questions before the big questions. Start small before going big. * Plant landmines with credibility and aligning yourself with the features your prospect cares about. ====================== David’s Path to President’s Club:  * Founder of Cerebral Selling * Lecturer at Smith School of Business at Queen's University & London Business School RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

7 Jul 202131min

57 (Sell): Taking your video selling game to the next level (Josh Kirkham, Manager, Emerging Sales @ Vidyard)

57 (Sell): Taking your video selling game to the next level (Josh Kirkham, Manager, Emerging Sales @ Vidyard)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  * Aim to be a one-take-wonder. It’s the only way you’ll be able to efficiently video prospect in bulk. * Get your pleasantries/introductions out before the meeting with a quick video covering the agenda. * Send micro-demos after the call by recording yourself highlighting key points and next steps. * Don’t be afraid to call up your prospect for feedback after you see they’ve watched the video. ====================== Josh’s Path to President’s Club:  * Manger, Emerging Sales @ Vidyard * 255% of Direct Quarterly Quota Attainment * Led sales team to achieve 125% of Team Quarterly Target RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

30 Jun 202128min

56 (Sell): Triangulating the truth to forecast better and drive timelines (Devin Reed, Head of Content Strategy @ Gong)

56 (Sell): Triangulating the truth to forecast better and drive timelines (Devin Reed, Head of Content Strategy @ Gong)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  * Understand every step it will take to get a deal done so you can move from a soft yes to commit. * Ask multiple people how the buying process goes so you can better triangulate the truth. * Get ahead of objections by figuring out what has gone right and wrong in past deals. * Beat procurement with multiple champions and multi-threading your negotiations. ====================== Devin’s Path to President’s Club:  * Head of Content Strategy @ Gong * B2B Marketing & Sales advisor @ TheReeder.co RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

23 Jun 202129min

55 (Sell): Unexpectedly delighting your buyers with mic drops & mints (Belal Batrawy, DeathtoFluff)

55 (Sell): Unexpectedly delighting your buyers with mic drops & mints (Belal Batrawy, DeathtoFluff)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  * Don’t be afraid to insert some humor when being confronted on a cold call. * Trade your cleverness with bewilderment to get the prospect to expand on the uncovered problem.  * Delight your buyer by offering up competitive analysis and pricing off the bat. * Use mic-drop questions to show you’ve done your research and eliminate “not interested” objections. ====================== 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

16 Jun 202133min

54 (Sell): Optimizing your prospecting by skipping the jargon and using effective research (Charlotte Johnson, SDR @ SalesLoft)

54 (Sell): Optimizing your prospecting by skipping the jargon and using effective research (Charlotte Johnson, SDR @ SalesLoft)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  * Cut out all the useless fluff from your emails and get right into your research.  * Start the video on your research - the whiteboard intros aren’t getting the job done. * Get creative with your email by screenshotting your research and including it in the body. * Lead with context when cold calling to establish credibility and generate more conversation. ====================== Charlotte’s Path to President’s Club:  * SDR @ SalesLoft * Host of Sales Development Sounbites RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

9 Jun 202129min

53 (Sell): Nailing your next AE/BDR job interview (Blake Hudson, Director of Sales Enablement @ re:work training)

53 (Sell): Nailing your next AE/BDR job interview (Blake Hudson, Director of Sales Enablement @ re:work training)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways:  * Answer the question you WISHED you were asked to drive your narrative.  * Give your pitch in “story” form (background, journey, aha moment) insead of reciting your CV. * Embrace your “biggest weakness” and highlight the ways you deal with it. * Explain the pull towards your new job, instead of pushing away from your old one. ====================== Blake’s Path to President’s Club:  * Director of Sales Enablement @ re:work training * Former AE/Brand Manager @ Victory Lap RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

2 Jun 202131min

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