Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:08.349
You were listening to bb revenue acceleration, a podcast dedicated helping software executive stay
2
00:00:08.390 --> 00:00:12.189
on the cutting edge of sales and
marketing in their industry. Let's get into
3
00:00:12.189 --> 00:00:17.230
the show. Hi, welcome to
be to be a revenue acceleration. My
4
00:00:17.350 --> 00:00:20.750
name is Adi am with you and
I'm here today with Chris Hall up from
5
00:00:20.829 --> 00:00:24.260
Gonk. Are You doing today,
Chris? I'm doing great, very happy
6
00:00:24.260 --> 00:00:28.859
to be here, excited to talk
affect. So today, Chris, all
7
00:00:28.940 --> 00:00:34.460
conversation will be about low tech factor
that will dominate your competition. Okay,
8
00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:40.049
it's based on the analyticore that you
recently wrote. But before we dive into
9
00:00:40.090 --> 00:00:43.530
the topic, then you please tell
us a little bit more about yourself,
10
00:00:44.329 --> 00:00:49.049
your role at Gong and also what
the what going do as a business?
11
00:00:49.490 --> 00:00:54.679
Sure so, my name's press.
I've been running product marketing over here at
12
00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:58.759
Gong for about the last two years
or so, and before that, funny
13
00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:02.679
enough, I was actually the CO
founder of a small SASS company that competed
14
00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:06.269
with film. was called conversature,
and we were just three kids. Who
15
00:01:06.469 --> 00:01:08.349
Did you know? We didn't really
know what we were doing. We didn't
16
00:01:08.349 --> 00:01:12.909
have the credibility with the BC community
to actually raise a substantial amount of money
17
00:01:14.069 --> 00:01:17.870
and so we boot traps this startup
for pretty close to two years. I
18
00:01:17.909 --> 00:01:21.939
think it was supposed to abound eighteen
months, and we eventually just ran out
19
00:01:21.939 --> 00:01:26.939
of money and we ended up smating
forces with going and it was the happiest
20
00:01:26.019 --> 00:01:30.700
failure I've ever had in my career. I've had had more fun working with
21
00:01:30.980 --> 00:01:34.450
the team Atcong that I've ever had
in my career. But before that my
22
00:01:34.530 --> 00:01:38.409
background was in sales management and sales, as original sales manager over at a
23
00:01:38.530 --> 00:01:44.769
company called inside salescom out of prove
Provo, Utah, and that's where most
24
00:01:44.810 --> 00:01:48.879
of my career has been sales sales
management, and I spent a lot of
25
00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:52.719
time on product marketing injury and our
start up, which is what led me
26
00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:57.280
to running product marketing over here at
Gong and having an absolute last excellent and
27
00:01:57.640 --> 00:02:00.909
and what did that? You do
exactly at going. Yes, so're going
28
00:02:01.310 --> 00:02:05.590
is it's creating a new category.
We're about two years into it. So
29
00:02:05.670 --> 00:02:10.189
we're the number one conversation intelligence platform
for sales and what that means is we
30
00:02:10.349 --> 00:02:17.539
help sales teams have better sales conversations
and generate more revenue by capturing in analyzing
31
00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:23.539
their calls, not just their calls
but their conversations, email communications included.
32
00:02:23.900 --> 00:02:27.340
We analyze those with Ai. So
you can increase close rates, you can
33
00:02:27.419 --> 00:02:30.210
dominate your competition, you can gram
new sellers faster. So that's kind of
34
00:02:30.330 --> 00:02:35.810
the long wind of pitch, short
winded pitches. We analyze your sales conversation
35
00:02:36.050 --> 00:02:39.969
so you can sell that well.
Let's beautiful because as bringing right into to
36
00:02:40.050 --> 00:02:45.120
pick up today. So that's a
beauty from bridge between. Going to my
37
00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:50.319
next question, you recently wrote an
ultiqure. That quote add attention and probably
38
00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:53.039
one of the reason why we reach
out to you to discuss fos or,
39
00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:58.199
to be honest with you, in
that sequel you you quote and and you're
40
00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:01.909
truly a right about the fact that
the market is is becoming more and more
41
00:03:02.150 --> 00:03:08.229
crowded with new technology vendor that often
really on the product differentiation, on their
42
00:03:08.349 --> 00:03:13.780
speck or on their features, shall
I say. And we know that the
43
00:03:13.860 --> 00:03:16.860
volume of the volume of the to
s vendors, it is growing over the
44
00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:20.939
other. I think you've got a
you've got an example actually in the article.
45
00:03:21.060 --> 00:03:23.060
While you look at the mark,
take the mark, take landscape,
46
00:03:23.539 --> 00:03:29.210
and I think you are taking five
hundred vendors or even less than that in
47
00:03:29.289 --> 00:03:32.889
two thousand and eleven, and now
we are looking at over five thousands,
48
00:03:34.090 --> 00:03:38.009
or the numbers are quite crazy.
So obviously there is lots of competitions,
49
00:03:38.569 --> 00:03:42.800
lots of people with lots of boot
product. I'm share, but everybody seems
50
00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:46.039
to be leading on feat shows and
then you come with them. That concept,
51
00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:50.639
I think, is is great and
what we talked about in Lens just
52
00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:54.830
before this podcast, around the fight
that's really to get to two fights or
53
00:03:54.909 --> 00:03:59.110
to be on the battle growner,
to be strong on the battle ground of
54
00:03:59.189 --> 00:04:03.909
competitive differentiation. With what company should
do is to drive or move the move
55
00:04:03.990 --> 00:04:10.780
away from product cell to having the
right type of cells conversation. Okay,
56
00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:14.180
so before we get into that,
to pick and and some of the examples
57
00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:17.500
that you use and dive into the
details, can you please tell audience little
58
00:04:17.579 --> 00:04:24.180
bit more about that concept of driving
the conversation, driving the differentiation through sales
59
00:04:24.220 --> 00:04:30.490
conversation rather than features and products.
We do you think about differentiation? The
60
00:04:30.730 --> 00:04:34.170
average person is going to think about
product uniqueness, and that's right. Like
61
00:04:34.290 --> 00:04:39.560
you should strive to have a very
unique value proposition for your market and have
62
00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:43.720
a unique feature set but what you
need to remember in today's world is that
63
00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:46.959
having a unique product is only a
ticket to play the game. It's not
64
00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:54.029
going to help you win the differentiation
battle. Instead, the battleground for differentiation
65
00:04:54.589 --> 00:05:00.110
has shifted from having a unique product
to having related sales conversations. And so
66
00:05:00.269 --> 00:05:03.670
the argument I make in the article
is that what your sellers say, do
67
00:05:03.990 --> 00:05:09.819
and right during the sales process is
where the perception of difference is created.
68
00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:13.220
And the reason I can make this
play with any sort of player credibility is
69
00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:16.660
the exact trends that you just out
blind a couple minutes. There's an explosion
70
00:05:16.779 --> 00:05:21.089
of competition and every v TOB category. MARTEC, like you said, is
71
00:05:21.129 --> 00:05:25.250
the perfect example. Just to use
it to illustrate. In Two Thousand and
72
00:05:25.250 --> 00:05:29.529
eleven that were a hundred and fifty
Martech vendors and today I think the number.
73
00:05:29.769 --> 00:05:32.209
I've heard two things. They're see
the five thousand vendors or they're sevenzero
74
00:05:32.730 --> 00:05:38.600
vendors, but the point is that's
astronomical. There's a ton of competition in
75
00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:43.639
every category and you cannot rely on
a unique product to cut through that noise.
76
00:05:44.040 --> 00:05:46.000
And here's the last thing, not
the last thing, but the last
77
00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:49.949
thing on this riff I'm going on
I'll say about having unique product is if
78
00:05:49.990 --> 00:05:56.670
you compete in a competitive space and
you think you have a unique product,
79
00:05:57.110 --> 00:06:00.189
you the people at Your Company,
your employees, your sales people, your
80
00:06:00.230 --> 00:06:03.660
marketers, those are probably some of
the only people in the world who really
81
00:06:03.699 --> 00:06:09.660
understand the uniqueness of your product because
they live and read your product. They
82
00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:14.540
know everything about it. That's different
from your competitors. They probably know your
83
00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:18.370
competitors products inside and now they're spending
their lives with the product. But when
84
00:06:18.449 --> 00:06:23.730
you introduce a buyer to your product
for the first time, you know they're
85
00:06:23.810 --> 00:06:27.009
just taking a look at it.
They can't tell the difference is so easy.
86
00:06:27.050 --> 00:06:30.329
It's it's kind of like telling the
differences between twins. If you're a
87
00:06:30.490 --> 00:06:34.199
parent, you spend your life with
your children, if you have twins,
88
00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:39.120
and eventually you can tell the difference
is very easily. But people who are
89
00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:43.319
just meeting your twin children, they
can't tell the differences is easily. It's
90
00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:46.149
going to take them a long time
to be able to easily discern the differences.
91
00:06:46.430 --> 00:06:51.350
And the same thing happens when you
lead with your product to differentiate especially
92
00:06:51.430 --> 00:06:55.750
and be to be and especially in
be to be technology today. Yeah,
93
00:06:56.149 --> 00:06:59.589
I love the twin energy. I
must sell. So I love the little
94
00:06:59.670 --> 00:07:02.819
pig shell that you put on the
on the Linkedin Utquali. It to twins
95
00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:06.220
with a number on. Yet this
is quite fun. But and I actually
96
00:07:06.220 --> 00:07:11.620
have two of my best friends out
twins, the two ladies, the identical
97
00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:15.060
twins, and I remember when I
felt met them, I could not tell
98
00:07:15.100 --> 00:07:17.490
the difference. And then, obviously, as the spend more time with them,
99
00:07:17.529 --> 00:07:20.170
and you know, did you get
my best friend? I was I
100
00:07:20.250 --> 00:07:24.370
could not one thought that people couldn't
not tell the difference. And it's so
101
00:07:24.569 --> 00:07:27.410
true that you know, when you
look at it with with an an expert,
102
00:07:27.529 --> 00:07:30.079
I you can't truly tell. You
just like this, this looks similar
103
00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:33.240
to me, but then when you
get involved on the dead day today,
104
00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:38.639
it's you almost feel offended people don't
see the difference. You like, come
105
00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:42.519
on, this is obvious. So
that's that's probably telling a squad a lot.
106
00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:46.430
But that analogy is great in term
of the more you spend time,
107
00:07:46.589 --> 00:07:50.029
the more you are involving too something, the less what maybe, which you
108
00:07:50.069 --> 00:07:54.670
make prcive, as perceive as obvious, is obvious to the rest of the
109
00:07:54.750 --> 00:07:58.980
world and and I think that's a
very strong statement and a very strong analogy.
110
00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:03.019
So in the article there is also
something that caught my attention. You
111
00:08:03.139 --> 00:08:07.939
speak about the different way to differentiate
yourself in the market. Use the Amazon
112
00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:11.500
example, with a ton of volumes
and and very low margin, but they
113
00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:16.649
absolutely obviously doing extremely well as a
business. You have the niche which other
114
00:08:16.649 --> 00:08:20.089
people probably get stuck into, being
a small business, extra extra right now.
115
00:08:20.370 --> 00:08:24.089
Again, very interesting to see the
different angles you are using and the
116
00:08:24.170 --> 00:08:28.600
categories. But moving down the article, you speak about dominating your competition and
117
00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:35.120
I guess when you speak about that
you mean that the ultimate objective is for
118
00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:39.159
your prospect to see you as being
unique and not even take the time or
119
00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:43.669
take the opportunity to compare you to
someone else or to put you in a
120
00:08:43.789 --> 00:08:46.909
category. Okay, and we know
that, particularly when you deal with large
121
00:08:46.909 --> 00:08:54.389
organization, were large proclament team or
processes around the proclament team, categories are
122
00:08:54.429 --> 00:08:56.539
really important for those gates they like
to put between the books. Anyway,
123
00:08:56.700 --> 00:09:01.659
coming back to my question, Oh, can you make shure that's your prospect
124
00:09:01.779 --> 00:09:07.539
disqualify your competitors untirely and see your
company as a strategic Bot. Now from
125
00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:11.850
the sales conversation. Well, I
think that can make a few podcast episodes
126
00:09:11.970 --> 00:09:13.690
in itself, but I think we
can definitely touch on them. Ye,
127
00:09:13.809 --> 00:09:18.090
here. I think the first thing
you need to realize is, if you
128
00:09:18.169 --> 00:09:22.450
could sum up everything we've talked about
so far, so far it is how
129
00:09:22.690 --> 00:09:26.480
you sell is just as important as
what you sell. Maybe it's even how
130
00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:28.679
you sell is more important than what
you sell. became it because, again,
131
00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:33.840
the perception of difference in your buyers
mind is going to be created during
132
00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:39.830
sales conversations, and sales communications not
necessarily just having a raw, unique product
133
00:09:39.870 --> 00:09:43.149
and hoping they discover that uniqueness on
themselves. But if you're sold on the
134
00:09:43.269 --> 00:09:46.429
idea that how you sell is more
important than what you sell, then there
135
00:09:46.470 --> 00:09:50.190
are a few things you can do
during your sales conversations to really box out
136
00:09:50.190 --> 00:09:54.139
of your competitors right out of the
gate and get your buyer to not even
137
00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:56.779
see them in the pack of category, as you know. And I would
138
00:09:56.779 --> 00:10:03.379
say the first one is you need
to tell a story about your customer,
139
00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:07.049
not your product, in such a
way that threatens the stability of their status.
140
00:10:07.250 --> 00:10:11.490
Well, so perfect. And that's
when that there are a few things
141
00:10:11.570 --> 00:10:15.210
working here. First of all,
you're talking about your customer, not your
142
00:10:15.250 --> 00:10:18.690
problems. Another being attention. Second
of all, you're talking about a problem
143
00:10:18.769 --> 00:10:22.960
that's relevant to them, so another
extra pay attention. And third, if
144
00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:26.840
you can tell a story that threatens
that their status quote, it's going to
145
00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:30.559
trigger what we call loss of version. And loss of version, in short,
146
00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:35.750
is when it's the economic, behavioral, economic principle that people are twice
147
00:10:35.789 --> 00:10:41.269
as hard to work to avoid something
and they are to gain something. And
148
00:10:41.389 --> 00:10:43.429
when you can tell a story in
this way, now you've gotten a seed
149
00:10:43.509 --> 00:10:48.470
at the executive table. You've become
much more strategic, while your competitors are
150
00:10:48.549 --> 00:10:52.940
tactical and pushing product features blow in
the organization. So I'll give you like
151
00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:56.340
a one very short example of how
to craft a story like this. Let's
152
00:10:56.340 --> 00:11:01.779
say you sell formaldehyde free furniture.
So, for the unfamiliar, Formaldehyde is
153
00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:05.370
like this weird chemical that used to
be built in the furnitures and it created
154
00:11:05.370 --> 00:11:09.490
all sorts of sicknesses and it was
actually very common, and today still is
155
00:11:09.570 --> 00:11:15.450
common, for furniture to have formaldehyde. So a bad pitch, not a
156
00:11:15.529 --> 00:11:18.720
bad pitch, but a media or
pitch if you're telling formaldehyde free furniture to
157
00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:24.960
retailers is you say, Hey,
we provide formaldehyde free furniture. It's green,
158
00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:26.799
it's healthy, your customers are going
to love it, you're going to
159
00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:31.080
make more money. That's focused on
your features and, to some extent,
160
00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:35.590
its, but just focused on your
benefits. If that customer is already totally
161
00:11:35.669 --> 00:11:39.269
sold on the idea of having formaldehyde
free, free furniture, than it might
162
00:11:39.429 --> 00:11:41.149
work, but if they are not, that pitch is going to fall flat.
163
00:11:41.590 --> 00:11:46.389
So here's an example of the pitch
you can tell. That tells US
164
00:11:46.470 --> 00:11:50.820
story about the customer and threatens their
status quote. And by the way,
165
00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:54.860
never use the words threatened status quote
when you're on a sales called. People
166
00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:58.059
will not react all to that.
This is probably a past line we're talking
167
00:11:58.059 --> 00:12:01.690
about, not without further do.
Here's an example story you could tell.
168
00:12:01.009 --> 00:12:05.529
Just to come in quickly. I
mean this is so true. We see
169
00:12:05.570 --> 00:12:09.129
that on a daily basis. So
yeah, too, paractis really a focuses
170
00:12:09.169 --> 00:12:13.129
in the beginning of the conversation and
the storytelling, and we've got a great
171
00:12:13.210 --> 00:12:16.559
episode that we recorded with with a
gentleman actually also based in the bay area,
172
00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:20.159
called can Red Ski, around around
telling stories and now do you go
173
00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:24.200
and he's got a layout, cake
methodology be I did, which key it
174
00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:28.519
wills all about it. So I
thought that was great. But the story
175
00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:31.830
is really key and I think I
agree with you're saying. You can't trually
176
00:12:31.990 --> 00:12:35.549
tell people that you will, you
will threaten them. But I think people
177
00:12:35.029 --> 00:12:41.350
enjoy being challenged and I think it's
quite enjoyable to be in a cell speech,
178
00:12:41.629 --> 00:12:46.340
but when I need the cell speech, are really enjoy challenging preconservate this.
179
00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:50.539
Okay, so people may associate something
with something else and there is non
180
00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:54.820
spoken objections, etc. Etc.
But coming back to the first point that
181
00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:58.299
you made, I think if you
are able to speak to a prospect,
182
00:12:58.340 --> 00:13:03.769
almost put yourself at their level by
understanding what's happening in their function, what
183
00:13:03.929 --> 00:13:05.970
the challenge is on a day to
day basis. Are. Obviously you don't
184
00:13:05.970 --> 00:13:09.129
want to make some statement that are
too bold and maybe a little bit too
185
00:13:09.169 --> 00:13:13.840
risky for you, but kind of
almost emphasize, with what they are going
186
00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:18.720
through as a prospect, what they
are potentially but the vertical, because we
187
00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:22.159
took about the function, but it
could be it could be the the industry.
188
00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:24.639
You know, you could be looking
at don't you know what's up penning
189
00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:28.830
in that industry, etc. But
relating to that in a cell speech as
190
00:13:28.870 --> 00:13:33.309
well as challenging what they are doing
at the moment and then telling a little
191
00:13:33.350 --> 00:13:37.629
bit like what we discuss with that
new story, about what could happen when
192
00:13:37.669 --> 00:13:41.659
it is executive properly. I think
you become the first point of coal when
193
00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:45.740
there is an issue on the subject
matter and they want your opinion. And
194
00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:50.700
as in a self speech or in
a in a account management position, it's
195
00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:54.379
a beautiful position to be when you
are the first person that your prospect or
196
00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:58.649
your clients will call to get information, to validate something or to discuss a
197
00:13:58.730 --> 00:14:03.450
pain point. I guess that's job
done from a self perspective. You really
198
00:14:03.490 --> 00:14:05.809
managed to get that confidence on track. And when there is confidence in the
199
00:14:05.850 --> 00:14:09.720
sells process, people trust you.
Then obviously the product needs to deliver,
200
00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:15.720
but what a beautiful step it is
to get the conversation going and put all
201
00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:18.799
the chances on your side to actually
get a deal. Yeah, and there's
202
00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:22.879
actually I have a specific tipt that
you can use to put yourself on a
203
00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:26.629
position like that, and this reks
very well off of how you box out
204
00:14:26.669 --> 00:14:30.990
your competitors kind of ut the beginning, at the sales process, and a
205
00:14:31.190 --> 00:14:37.509
very simple thing that I see very
few people doing is hie your products value
206
00:14:37.549 --> 00:14:43.379
proposition to a more strategic problem.
That will elevate your strategic value in the
207
00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:46.179
buying organization. So here's an example. We do at call. One of
208
00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:52.179
the key use cases of gone is
coaching. But when you talk about coaching
209
00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:54.970
and you use that as your value
proposition, a lot of the Times you're
210
00:14:54.970 --> 00:15:01.009
going to get kicked down to frontline
sales managers or sales enablement or great folks,
211
00:15:01.049 --> 00:15:05.610
but don't necessarily always have buying power
because you've talked about a very tactical
212
00:15:05.690 --> 00:15:09.360
value proposition. Versus what we do
now, and we still talk about coaching,
213
00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:13.840
but one of the angles we take
with enterprise customers is instead of time
214
00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:18.399
going to coaching, we tie on
to competitive selling, which is why we're
215
00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:22.950
having this conversation right now. And
when young tie on to hey going is
216
00:15:22.990 --> 00:15:26.149
a tool that's going to help you
win more competitive feels, differentiate from your
217
00:15:26.230 --> 00:15:31.190
comp competition and ultimately dominate your market. Now the C suite or VP of
218
00:15:31.269 --> 00:15:35.740
sales, those people high up in
the organization are going to see you as
219
00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:39.419
much more strategically important. Like you
said, they're going to see you as
220
00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:43.019
a confidant if you've position to yourself
correctly, and they're not going to be
221
00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:48.259
very likely to kick you down to
lower levels in the organization. And,
222
00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:52.370
by the way, while you're while
all of this is happening, what's most
223
00:15:52.409 --> 00:15:58.610
likely happening with your competitor is they're
talking about something tactical, something product related,
224
00:15:58.850 --> 00:16:03.450
and they're struggling to get above the
mid level range in the buying organization,
225
00:16:03.970 --> 00:16:06.639
while you have a seat at the
executive table. So that kind of
226
00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:11.720
summary Takeaway there is figure out a
business problem or strategic initiative, hopefully a
227
00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:17.919
repeatable strategic inefficiative that you can tie
your value proposition to instead of like a
228
00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:21.669
low level pack of one. Okay, well, that's bringing him a question
229
00:16:21.830 --> 00:16:26.029
to my minding them of a how
would you run the first meeting with a
230
00:16:26.110 --> 00:16:29.190
prospect? Let's say is the first
ever meeting age you've got with a prospect?
231
00:16:29.190 --> 00:16:33.019
Obviously it's a prospective organization. So
as a selfs person, you want
232
00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:36.139
to engage with that person. So
you've got the right accounts. You know
233
00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:38.379
that that accounts should do business with
you. They may or may not using
234
00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:42.379
one of your competitor and you are
discussing, you about to discuss with someone.
235
00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:48.210
We've got authority. How do you
advise your customer to lead the first
236
00:16:48.250 --> 00:16:51.889
conversation? Would you say, okay, do a poot point presentation, or
237
00:16:52.129 --> 00:16:56.929
would you actually just go there,
tonder lat off and have a conversation with
238
00:16:56.049 --> 00:17:00.929
the person, have a business conversation
with them around the challenges that you believe
239
00:17:00.929 --> 00:17:04.160
they have? Then the challenge is
the actually of and then how you could
240
00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:07.000
potentially led them to to to some
of these changes out. I would you
241
00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:14.319
advise your clients to lead that first
kind of row high level decision maker conversation?
242
00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:18.829
Well, the first thing I would
say is if it's your first meeting
243
00:17:18.950 --> 00:17:23.349
with an account in your meeting with
somebody who's very senior, you probably missed
244
00:17:23.470 --> 00:17:27.789
the vote in the sense that you
should have spend time with lower level people,
245
00:17:27.910 --> 00:17:33.740
doing some discovery research throughout your organization
so that when you get this meeting
246
00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:37.740
with the senior buyer you are very
well versed in the challenge is that that
247
00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:41.380
organization is basic. So the first
thing I would say is spend some time
248
00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:47.089
researching the account talk to people within
the account. Even lower level decision makers
249
00:17:47.130 --> 00:17:51.289
and influencers get time on their calendar
so that when you get this initial meeting
250
00:17:51.369 --> 00:17:55.450
with a senior level by senior level
I mean somebody you know who's at the
251
00:17:55.490 --> 00:18:00.079
sea level, vpsvp level. Now, assuming you've done that, when you
252
00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:03.160
go into a meeting with this person, I would plan probably no more than
253
00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:11.599
two or three well thought through diagnostic
questions to validate some of the challenges you've
254
00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:15.829
heard other parts in the organization,
and then I would use that to spur
255
00:18:15.990 --> 00:18:19.990
the rest of the conversation, which
should be an educational story about the problem
256
00:18:21.109 --> 00:18:23.789
that they're facing, that you've learned
their facing, why their status close being
257
00:18:23.869 --> 00:18:27.859
threatened and why they need to move. As far as addressing your question about
258
00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:32.619
like would you do you know,
a discovery call, power point or just
259
00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:36.539
have a conversation? My favorite thing
to do is whiteboarding. I like to
260
00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:41.329
have whiteboard conversations with buyers where we're
like illustrating things with markers kind of on
261
00:18:41.410 --> 00:18:45.049
the fly. A power point is
sometimes a little too rigid. I don't
262
00:18:45.089 --> 00:18:48.930
necessarily I don't hate power point.
I think a lot of sales and marketing
263
00:18:48.970 --> 00:18:52.930
people really hate powerpoint and I actually
think it can be useful, but if
264
00:18:52.970 --> 00:18:56.440
you're well versed enough in the buyers
problems, then I would stick with having
265
00:18:56.480 --> 00:19:00.880
a white boarding conversation. And to
finally put you know, the last answer
266
00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:03.839
to your question is I would not
have a discovery call. What these types
267
00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:07.079
of people. You're probably going to
get kicked into the teeth if you're having
268
00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:11.589
very asking them very generic questions,
which is why I recommended you should go
269
00:19:11.789 --> 00:19:15.069
ask those questions to people who have
a little more time and patients than they
270
00:19:15.109 --> 00:19:19.029
do. But that said, you
should still kick off the conversation by asking
271
00:19:19.309 --> 00:19:23.460
you validating questions to make sure conversations
going to be pointed at great auction.
272
00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:27.940
Absolutely, and from my perspective,
the good news with the White Bird is
273
00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:32.140
when you're done with the meeting and
you see the prospect standing up, taking
274
00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:36.180
the phone out and taking a picture
of the white bomb, always a good
275
00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:41.289
indicator something went well in the process. I've also got another question that is
276
00:19:41.329 --> 00:19:45.329
coming from from from what you just
mentioned in the the previous response, but
277
00:19:45.490 --> 00:19:49.210
the one before that. Previously in
our conversation to the I mentioned procurement process,
278
00:19:49.289 --> 00:19:55.960
Etcetri set right. Reading your article
about features and differentiation, differentiations sorry,
279
00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.799
you made a good point at some
points. I think there is also
280
00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:03.599
a visual in the article about people
building up spreadsheet to compile your features are
281
00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:07.990
centers of feature. Okay, I've
done that recently. You know, I've
282
00:20:07.029 --> 00:20:11.470
got I've got a baby and baby
boy and obviously I want to get the
283
00:20:11.509 --> 00:20:17.390
best from the guests to push share
possible for that baby. So you know,
284
00:20:17.430 --> 00:20:19.470
when you look at push, I'm
just built up an excel spreadsheet and
285
00:20:19.589 --> 00:20:22.140
my wife is a finance director,
so she's used. We are that sort
286
00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:26.740
of fakes. We work together.
I do. Well, wait, how
287
00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:30.460
begging with be can we put it
in the car, because you look good,
288
00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:32.740
you know, and then we had
to like create all that. So
289
00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:34.619
it was we build up that spreadshet. So coming back to my question.
290
00:20:36.049 --> 00:20:38.369
So when we know that, when
you get to procurement, it's actually quite
291
00:20:38.410 --> 00:20:41.970
difficult that, I find it in
my experience, to sell the value to
292
00:20:42.089 --> 00:20:45.569
proclament because you are already bugged down
into the features, you are boling into
293
00:20:45.609 --> 00:20:51.200
pricing and they just want I mean, we probably have some procomming people listening
294
00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:52.519
to that. PUSS guests will get
me a wrong go. Don't take it
295
00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:56.759
the wrong way, but it does
upon pricing a either bit right. So
296
00:20:56.279 --> 00:21:03.039
at what stage of the decision making
process do you advise your clients to stop
297
00:21:03.710 --> 00:21:08.349
that differentiating sets conversation? Well,
you need to do it right out of
298
00:21:08.390 --> 00:21:11.630
the gate. You need to approach. It's not a conversation, it's a
299
00:21:12.269 --> 00:21:18.700
differentiation happens throughout the entire sales process. So it needs to happen on your
300
00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:25.940
first meeting and if you're getting so
I'm not unrealistic enough to know that we're
301
00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:27.460
all going to have to deal with
procurement. But I will say this.
302
00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:33.170
You can avoid procurement a lot more
if you're doing things correctly upstream and the
303
00:21:33.250 --> 00:21:38.329
sales cycle. So if you're having
conversations that are tied to a strategic initiative
304
00:21:38.529 --> 00:21:44.730
and your building urgency by telling a
story that introduces loss of version and you've
305
00:21:44.890 --> 00:21:48.559
really gotten on the top one,
two or three priorities of the C suitee
306
00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:53.000
or BP level priority list, they're
only going to kick you down to procurement
307
00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:57.480
when they're absolutely ready to buy.
They've better everything in the sales process and
308
00:21:57.559 --> 00:22:02.230
they're just telling percurement, hey,
we want this, here's the value.
309
00:22:02.710 --> 00:22:07.309
Just go get this contract sign now. Of course, Percureman is compensated in
310
00:22:07.470 --> 00:22:11.670
some cases on negotiating and trying to
reduce prices as much as they can.
311
00:22:11.349 --> 00:22:15.940
So again, what you're going to
have to do is not only are you
312
00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:18.980
going to have to sell your champion
buyers on the value, in our why,
313
00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:22.539
of your platform, arm or solution, but you're also going to have
314
00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:29.140
to equip them to have that same
conversation internally. You have to arm your
315
00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:33.089
buyers to be able to justify why
your price is higher than your editors and
316
00:22:33.289 --> 00:22:37.410
justify the value. So buying today. That's that could make a whole other
317
00:22:37.450 --> 00:22:42.970
podcast episode it self. Buying today
happens so much more internally in the buying
318
00:22:44.009 --> 00:22:45.960
organization then you see it when it
was like, you know, the only
319
00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:49.640
time people make decisions. Was One
of our facetoface with the cellar. Now
320
00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:53.680
there are so many behind the scenes
conversations going on in the buying organization and
321
00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:57.670
that's really where sales people have to
up their game and get help from product
322
00:22:57.750 --> 00:23:03.269
marketing to do what I call fire
enable we're all familiar with sales enablement,
323
00:23:03.390 --> 00:23:07.349
to equipping sellers with the right tools, collateral and processes get feels across the
324
00:23:07.390 --> 00:23:11.349
finish line. You also have to
provide buyer enablement, which is how do
325
00:23:11.470 --> 00:23:18.099
we enable the fortified decision makers in
the buying organization to really come to consensus
326
00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:23.539
and buy and go through their internal
processes smoothly? Okay, so I've you
327
00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:29.250
seen a love you have a weakness
of you ELP the clients when the conversation,
328
00:23:29.329 --> 00:23:33.170
it's already is already bug down in
what I would called the naty gritty,
329
00:23:33.289 --> 00:23:37.130
to feature the details the product that
give sense, bridget, or that
330
00:23:37.650 --> 00:23:42.000
I've viewing, will see in witness
or add someone to actually turn that back
331
00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:48.680
around, to elevate the conversation back
to okay, let's lead with differentiate ourselves,
332
00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:51.400
differentiate us. I think that's get. May maybe be what you just
333
00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:55.869
mentioned about giving the bayous almost like
I was all dimensioned. Do Look at
334
00:23:55.990 --> 00:23:57.470
Outos, a way to loo get
things on those all way to have invate
335
00:23:57.549 --> 00:24:03.109
things. But have you ever seen
that in practice, changing a decision when
336
00:24:03.589 --> 00:24:07.069
the cycle was already well on the
way? And announcer prevention is worth a
337
00:24:07.190 --> 00:24:12.819
pound of here. Yeah, the
the question. I'm asking the question because
338
00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:15.740
I know when you already dip.
Yeah, and I'm not going to Shir
339
00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:19.420
get that's but that definitely needs to
be stat like what you do early in
340
00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:22.940
the sales process really sets the trajectory
for your deal. But if you do
341
00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:29.369
find yourself in this precarious situation where
the buyers pigeon hold you on to spreadsheet
342
00:24:29.450 --> 00:24:33.170
and comparing you to three other competitors
and they're playing the SPEC war and they're
343
00:24:33.210 --> 00:24:37.009
granting you all down on price because
you guys are pretty much at parody with
344
00:24:37.089 --> 00:24:40.440
the other at least from their perspective, what you need to do, your
345
00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:45.240
only chance of hell at turning that
situation around without really dropping your pants on
346
00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:48.920
price, is educating, getting your
buyers take a step back, get them
347
00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:52.359
on a meeting and say hey,
I want to kind of press the reset
348
00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:55.390
on. I think there are some
things that I have not told you during
349
00:24:55.430 --> 00:24:59.069
the sales process that I probably should
have told you, and I think it's
350
00:24:59.069 --> 00:25:02.150
very important for me to tell you
these things and if you get them on
351
00:25:02.230 --> 00:25:04.589
the calendar, if you get that
opportunity, that platform to tell them something
352
00:25:04.710 --> 00:25:10.819
new, now it is your time
to UN teach them about everything they can
353
00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:14.619
learned throughout the sales process. And
where I would start, as I would
354
00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:19.259
think about what is your winning differentiator
and what kind of Edgy cation can you
355
00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:25.009
give them to value that? That
been beyond everything they're looking at in terms
356
00:25:25.049 --> 00:25:27.450
of a spreadsheet? So I'll give
you an example. One of our differentiators
357
00:25:27.490 --> 00:25:32.849
at gone, what of our like
product level differentiators, is we can analyze
358
00:25:33.250 --> 00:25:37.720
to a tee what your best sales
people are saying and doing on their sales
359
00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:41.000
calls different but if I just tell
a liar that's our differentiator and they don't
360
00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:45.839
necessarily value that, then they don't
care. They're just flapping that on their
361
00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:49.069
spreadsheet. It's another row on specially
and they're comparing you. But if I
362
00:25:49.150 --> 00:25:53.630
take a step back and I first
educate them about the problem that feature solves
363
00:25:53.990 --> 00:25:57.390
and why it's important, and I
say something like Hey, I want to
364
00:25:57.390 --> 00:26:02.029
tell you a story about this performance
that that this bell curve we see in
365
00:26:02.109 --> 00:26:04.940
sales and just about every sales leaders
familiar with it. You know you've got
366
00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:10.339
ten or twenty percent of your sales
force attaining a hundred and fifty percent of
367
00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:14.500
quota and it feels so amazing to
see that. But it's so frustrating is
368
00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:18.730
that everybody else on your sales force, the other eighty percent of your wraps,
369
00:26:18.049 --> 00:26:22.569
they're a little bit below quota and
they are canceling out the overachievement of
370
00:26:22.690 --> 00:26:27.529
your best Reps. so this next
feature I'm about to introduce you to is
371
00:26:27.650 --> 00:26:33.119
position to solve that problem. It's
position to close this Delta between your best
372
00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:37.400
trips and everybody else. And let
me demonstrate for that or demonstrate that for
373
00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:41.279
you. So I guess if you
listen to the story I just hold,
374
00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:47.630
I lit differentiation on its head.
Instead of leading with my differentiating feature,
375
00:26:47.990 --> 00:26:52.349
I led to do that feature and
I started with the problem that it solves
376
00:26:52.670 --> 00:26:56.789
and I made sure the customer value
back. Introduce the different here, and
377
00:26:56.950 --> 00:27:00.539
that is going to change their perspective
on Tom parrying all these products together do
378
00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:03.619
not make sense. That was like
a very long winded way he explain.
379
00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:07.819
Yeah, I think it makes perfect
sense to me. I mean the I
380
00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:10.700
hadn't know, like example, I
read. I was just thinking about it
381
00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:15.059
actually, as well as you answering
my question, there is a great book
382
00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:18.369
that is college challenge or sell and
that's from the I think it's from the
383
00:27:18.410 --> 00:27:22.650
consultancy Boston Group, and we love
that methodology. is about taking the control
384
00:27:22.690 --> 00:27:27.329
of the cell cycle, challenging the
preconceivate these or the prospect but also teaching
385
00:27:27.410 --> 00:27:32.839
them something or educating them, because
teaching me sound a little bit, little
386
00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:36.039
bit too much. And and in
that book they've got an example of I
387
00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:40.039
believe it was a ladium. May
Be paraphrasing a little bit the story here,
388
00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:41.880
because he was a while back since
I read that story. But she
389
00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:45.109
just lost a deal, or company
lost a deal, and what that company
390
00:27:45.230 --> 00:27:49.109
was doing was off his funiture and
they just lasted into a competitor. They
391
00:27:49.150 --> 00:27:52.630
receive the goal thing. Look,
we won't walk with you. We've been
392
00:27:52.670 --> 00:27:56.390
all of your furniture. Someone else
is coming. We've got the plan with
393
00:27:56.549 --> 00:27:59.500
them, etc. Etc. We
moving forward with this, guys. So
394
00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:02.299
she just pick up diffront to the
clients and say well, you've been a
395
00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:04.619
clients for I don't know how many
else. What I would like to do
396
00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:07.500
is to give you a certain minutes
of my time, one off my times
397
00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:11.660
for free, where I can't come
down look at what does suggesting, because
398
00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:14.890
I know you and I know you're
on it's were talking about something slightly different
399
00:28:14.930 --> 00:28:18.170
here. We talking maybe about a
and like saving an account rather than acquiring
400
00:28:18.210 --> 00:28:22.529
a new account. But basically the
story goes that. She goes there and
401
00:28:22.609 --> 00:28:26.289
she looked at the suggestion from the
other companions. Look, what I would
402
00:28:26.289 --> 00:28:27.799
suggest you do is as them to
do that, as them to do that.
403
00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:32.480
If I was in your shoes,
we see that open space increase of
404
00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:37.720
productivity by approximatively celty person. So
really, for that team in that part
405
00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:41.000
of your office, you should not
have partitioning, but you should have some
406
00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:44.470
sort of that space in that space, maybe you should have like a lounge
407
00:28:44.589 --> 00:28:48.750
type of area somewhere what people can
relax or have a bit more of a
408
00:28:48.190 --> 00:28:52.309
laidback meeting, etc. Etc.
Basically, by doing that, the story
409
00:28:52.430 --> 00:29:00.180
goes that she get the business back
because she inspired the clients with IDs,
410
00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:04.019
with what's happening, with stats of
what she's seen in the market and by
411
00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:11.210
giving those almost this this advice as
a gesture of good will for saying Good
412
00:29:11.250 --> 00:29:15.450
Bay to a customer, the customer
realized that actually they could have much better
413
00:29:15.049 --> 00:29:18.329
management from that person and went back
to and she got the business back.
414
00:29:18.450 --> 00:29:22.210
So I think, I think there
is. There is lots of way to
415
00:29:22.250 --> 00:29:26.640
go around things, but it's about
sometimes it's also about the selfs person doing
416
00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:30.559
the Extremiz. You know, we
often see sells people that wants to get
417
00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:34.279
very, very late in the self
process. Other the individual in seller tell
418
00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:38.430
you came. I want a very
well qualified opportunity to walk on. I
419
00:29:38.509 --> 00:29:42.029
think that's all good, but the
later you get to the game, the
420
00:29:42.109 --> 00:29:45.910
less you can influence the game from
from from our perspective, and I'd like
421
00:29:45.950 --> 00:29:49.230
to my final question to you.
I'd like to just get your sorts on
422
00:29:49.309 --> 00:29:53.420
that very briefly. Well, first
of all, I agree with your influence
423
00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:56.700
in the sale cycle happens at the
beginning and maybe the middle of not so
424
00:29:56.779 --> 00:30:00.460
much the end. Things start to
really crystallize toward the end and what you
425
00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:03.700
do early on really sets the trajectory. But I do want to refer on
426
00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:07.289
what you said a minute ago about
that story you told. If you think
427
00:30:07.289 --> 00:30:11.769
about what that lady was selling,
it was completely different than what her competitors
428
00:30:11.849 --> 00:30:17.049
were selling. So her competitors were
selling what she was selling was productivity,
429
00:30:17.250 --> 00:30:21.680
in creativity for her, for the
workforce and the something of the clients and
430
00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:25.079
on the standing of what team is
doing what, because she is she was
431
00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:27.720
on the sounding the clients, or
she was also a bull to provide this
432
00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:33.240
advice. But yeah, absolutely,
and also those can be applied at any
433
00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:37.390
part of the sale cycle. That's
not just an account saving technique. Had
434
00:30:37.470 --> 00:30:42.029
she led with that story, she
probably wouldn't have to add to go save
435
00:30:42.109 --> 00:30:45.630
the accounts begin with. But that's
a traummendous way to differentiate. I love
436
00:30:45.710 --> 00:30:49.579
that story. Good what thanks for
that, Chris. The conversation today was
437
00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:55.500
really in safe for any really interesting. We always ask at this stage of
438
00:30:55.579 --> 00:31:02.339
the podcast our guests to give our
audience a few ways to get in touch
439
00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:06.089
with them. So what we would
like to understand crisis. What is the
440
00:31:06.130 --> 00:31:10.009
best way to get hold of Chris
ad gone if someone wants to take the
441
00:31:10.049 --> 00:31:14.650
conversation at we had today away with
you, or of that one one interaction
442
00:31:14.730 --> 00:31:18.210
with you to carry on the conversation
we had to day? Definitely linkedin.
443
00:31:18.450 --> 00:31:21.720
I spend more time than I should
on Linkedin, so you can just find
444
00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:26.039
me. I think I'm the only
Chris Wor lab on Linkedin's pretty weird unique
445
00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:30.799
name, but you need the spelling. It's CHR I guess our loo be
446
00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:34.549
as a boy. So just pop
those letters into the search box. Send
447
00:31:34.589 --> 00:31:40.710
of your request. I'm happy to
all the conversation start right what it was
448
00:31:40.990 --> 00:31:44.269
great having you to them to podcast. Chris, many things for you all
449
00:31:44.349 --> 00:31:48.140
time, and a those you're mentioning
a couple of times, I could doing
450
00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.539
those. All podcaster are on this. We could do on those. Up
451
00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:52.579
pudcasts are on that. So clearly
you want to receive our fellow Zo invitation,
452
00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:56.740
which we would make sure you're doing
the new Fud show right. Yeah,
453
00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:59.380
this was an absolute last thank you
so much for having me on.
454
00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:06.369
Thank you, Chris. operatics has
redefined the meaning of revenue generation for technology
455
00:32:06.450 --> 00:32:12.609
companies worldwide. While the traditional concepts
of building and managing inside sales teams inhouse
456
00:32:12.930 --> 00:32:15.920
has existed for many years, companies
are struggling with a lack of focus,
457
00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:22.680
agility and scale required in today's fast
and complex world of enterprise technology sales.
458
00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:30.990
See How operatics can help your company
accelerate pipeline at operatics dotnet. You've been
459
00:32:30.069 --> 00:32:35.549
listening to be tob revenue acceleration.
To ensure that you never miss an episode,
460
00:32:35.829 --> 00:32:38.549
subscribe to the show in your favorite
podcast player. Thank you so much
461
00:32:38.549 --> 00:32:40.150
for listening. Until next time,