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(508)

18 (Sell): Mirroring your objections, giving prospects perceived control, and controlling the room (Adam O’Chart, Top AE at Gong.io)

18 (Sell): Mirroring your objections, giving prospects perceived control, and controlling the room (Adam O’Chart, Top AE at Gong.io)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways: Mirror the objection, then ask a loaded question for the anaconda squeeze Use slides to give prospects control and choice over what they want to discuss Ask your VP / CRO if they’re the type who wants to go really deep Tell ‘em your biggest concern is getting stuck in the demo. Keep tactical ?’s to a minimum. Adam O’Chart: Path to President’s Club: Top producing AE at Gong.io RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

2 Sep 202027min

17 (Sell): Prospecting with some personality and permission-based selling (Sarah Brazier, SDR turned AE at Gong.io)

17 (Sell): Prospecting with some personality and permission-based selling (Sarah Brazier, SDR turned AE at Gong.io)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways: Write like a human - especially in your Linkedin DMs. No over-formal language. Leverage up by reaching out to ICs, then getting referrals to the VPs Tell them it’s a cold call, then ask permission to sell before ya start selling. Use permission-based selling in your upfront contract. Get the buy-in on the agenda. Sarah Brazier’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

26 Aug 202026min

16 (Sell): The PLA cold call opener, 5/20/5 discovery call, and 10/30/10 Linkedin Video (Morgan Ingram, JB Sales Training)

16 (Sell): The PLA cold call opener, 5/20/5 discovery call, and 10/30/10 Linkedin Video (Morgan Ingram, JB Sales Training)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways: Check your profile views and ask your prospects “did I do something wrong?” The PLA Phone Opener: Pleasant, laugh, and arms-up. 5/20/5 Disco: Build rapport and set the agenda, body of the disco, then next steps. 10/30/10 LI Video: Grab their attention, tell them the reason for the video, ask. Morgan Ingram: Path to President’s Club: Director of Sales Execution and Evolution, JB Sales Training Host of the SDR Chronicles Podcast RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

19 Aug 202032min

15 (Sell): Prospecting like a human instead of “I hope you are safe in these uncertain times”  (Jason Bay, Blissful Prospecting)

15 (Sell): Prospecting like a human instead of “I hope you are safe in these uncertain times” (Jason Bay, Blissful Prospecting)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways: Find a very granular problem from a call recording. Put that at the top of the sequence. Time and money are not specific. Pulse check with your prospect when things aren’t going well. Ask them if this is worth it. Not interested? Say “I get it. I was the one who cold called.” Then ask for permission. REPLY Method: Relevant results, empathy, personalization, laser focus, you. Jason Bay’s Path to President’s Club: Chief Prospecting Officer, Blissful Prospecting Owner, Jason Bay Consulting RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

12 Aug 202026min

14 (Sell): Stop thanking prospects for their time and start discovering their business priorities as a peer (Jake Dunlap, Skaled CEO)

14 (Sell): Stop thanking prospects for their time and start discovering their business priorities as a peer (Jake Dunlap, Skaled CEO)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways: Leverage “I work with many who typically focus on X + Y” to lead the agenda. Ask your prospect for their top 2 priorities. If it’s too high level, prime the question. Bring people to the business priorities first instead of getting stuck in the process. Don’t disqualify an entire company when someone says no. Find another in. Jake Dunlap’s Path to President’s Club: CEO of Skaled VP of Sales, Glassdoor RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

5 Aug 202028min

13 (Sell): Relentless prospecting and dial tactics as the #1 all-time SDR (Ken Amar, SDR Manager @ Outreach.io)

13 (Sell): Relentless prospecting and dial tactics as the #1 all-time SDR (Ken Amar, SDR Manager @ Outreach.io)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways: Double tap the phones - people are more likely to think it’s a real call. The moment you see someone reply, call them instead of writing a long email reply. Use a sequence for everything. Replies, objections, open opportunities. If you see someone opening your emails, call it out! It gets the conversation going. Ken Amar’s Path to President’s Club: SDR Team Lead, Outreach.io #1 All Time SDR, Outreach.io RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

29 Jul 202025min

12 (Sell): Leveraging tactical selling to score your next sales job (Trish Bertuzzi, CEO of The Bridge Group)

12 (Sell): Leveraging tactical selling to score your next sales job (Trish Bertuzzi, CEO of The Bridge Group)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways: Build your target list of companies based on geo, stage, market, product, and deal size Cold prospect to people directly in your job hunt and have introductory conversations Redirect the “walk me through your resume” question to focus on your strengths Close your interviews and hit em with the plan to action as the cherry on top Trish Bertuzzi’s Path to President’s Club: CEO of The Bridge Group Author of the Sales Development Playbook RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

22 Jul 202023min

11 (Sell): Running a top 1% podcast while holding a $3M quota (Scott Ingram, Host of Sales Success Stories)

11 (Sell): Running a top 1% podcast while holding a $3M quota (Scott Ingram, Host of Sales Success Stories)

Join the most tactical sales newsletter in the world: https://hubs.ly/Q01-R33G0 Four Actionable Takeaways: Start every day by planning out the whitespace for the day. Then just get after it. Use demoscovery. Ask how the process looks today, take the demo down a different path. Write a shared executive memo with recaps from every sales conversation. Don’t ever do a demo with 20 stakeholders in the room, you can’t satisfy every perspective. Scott Ingram’s Path to President’s Club Host of The Sales Success Stories Podcast Account Director @ Relationship One (where he carries a $3M quota) Creator of the Linkedin Sales Stars 100 list RESOURCES DISCUSSED Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal

15 Jul 202029min

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