Traditional Cold Calling Sucks, Try This Instead! | Armand Farrokh and Nick Cegelski - 1819

Sometimes, getting a prospect to say “yes” requires the right personality. But what if your personality doesn’t quite match theirs? How can you prevent them from hanging up the phone? My guest, James Buckley—the self-proclaimed phone expert and co-host of the Sell Better Podcast—is here to share the communication style you need to instantly increase your cold-call success rate. Click play and learn how to align your sales style with your prospect’s personality. Meet James Buckley After meeting James Buckley, it’s clear why he’s known as “the phone guy.” His communication style evokes emotions far more swiftly and effectively than email ever could.  James personalizes his sales approach by being authentic, intuitively connecting with prospective customers in a way that builds rapport and trust.  Thanks to his unique methods, James has become a valuable resource for both new and seasoned sales professionals.  Be sure to check out Sell Better, where he shares daily and weekly sales tips. Have the Right Personality The wrong approach could be keeping you from closing deals. James explains how to tailor your communication based on personality cues you can often pick up from LinkedIn profiles.  For example, if someone appears friendly in their profile, adopt a jovial tone; but if a prospect’s profile has a more serious vibe, use a tone that matches. Think Smaller with Emails James says, don’t write a novel when emailing prospects! Decision-makers often read emails on mobile devices, so the shorter, the better. His advice?  Make your emails concise and to the point by removing unnecessary words.  Here are three ways ChatGPT prompts to improve your emails: Rewrite the email to make it shorter. Make it more about the prospect, less about yourself. Ensure it’s easy to read on a phone. Subject Line Tips Your subject line matters more than the email’s body. James shares that specific words can boost your open rates.  For example, use “Thanks” for an ego appeal, rather than the neutral “Quick question.”  Also, a meaningful preview text can also capture the prospect’s attention, increasing response rates. “Folks, I’m going to give you four words that will change everything about your emails in 2025: The shorter, the better.” — James Buckley. Resources The Daily Sales Show Sellbetter.xyz  Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Here’s a shocking fact, reps don’t have to be nice in order to make a deal. Unconsciously, your need to be liked is turning you into a pushy salesperson. Listen to this episode with my guest Chris Caldwell to help you stop making this sales mistake.  Chris Caldwell’s Background Chris Caldwell is a sales trainer and expert who runs “Sell As You Are,” a company that helps sales professionals succeed by embracing their authentic selves. With experience coaching youth soccer and leading sales retreats, Chris has deep insights into human behavior and the psychological needs that drive success. He focuses on aligning beliefs and behaviors with genuine intent, offering practical strategies to foster personal power, authenticity, and commitment in sales teams. Unmet Needs in Sales How do sales reps manifest their unmet needs in sales contexts? Chris provides an analogy of parents at a youth soccer game, demonstrating how people often project their unfulfilled emotional needs onto external situations or people. This behavior negatively impacts sales performance and client relationships. The Power of Setting the Frame To set clear expectations and agendas with prospects, try using Chris’s framework for sales conversations. His framework allows you to stay confidently in control throughout the sales process. The Importance of Getting to the Truth The primary objective of every first discovery call should be to uncover the truth of the prospect’s needs and situation. Chris stresses the significance of ensuring honest exchanges to facilitate genuine progress and decision-making. “It is in the nature of executives to get distracted because they have a hundred things they’re responsible for, and the problem you’re solving is likely one of fifty they’re trying to address. At the same time, if you do not keep them on the leash, if you do not keep them on your calendar, it is in their nature to deprioritize you. And you cannot blame them; you can only blame yourself.” - Chris Caldwell. Resources Chris Caldwell on LinkedIn sellasyouare.com  Email: [email protected]  LinkedIn Prospecting Course Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

LinkedIn Ads are a great way to help sales teams reach their target audience with less stress. But to make them work, you’ll need the right LinkedIn Ad strategies. In this episode, I’m joined by AJ Wilcox, host of the LinkedIn Ads Show podcast. Discover his three tactics that will have prospects running to your inbox. Meet AJ Wilcox AJ Wilcox is a seasoned expert in LinkedIn advertising. He runs a podcast dedicated to LinkedIn Ads and manages a successful LinkedIn Ads agency. Initially an SEO and Google Ads specialist, AJ transitioned into LinkedIn advertising while working for a SaaS company. His expertise quickly grew, leading him to manage LinkedIn’s largest spending ads account worldwide. Why Should Sales Teams Use LinkedIn Ads? Most people avoid using LinkedIn Ads for two reasons: 1. They’re expensive 2. They believe they don’t work If you’re one of those who think Meta Ads are better than LinkedIn Ads, AJ is here to prove you wrong. He explains that LinkedIn targets a company’s audience with ease, and the return on investment is 2x higher with LinkedIn Ads. Three LinkedIn Ads Strategies for Sales Teams AJ shares these LinkedIn strategies for sales teams: Thought Leadership: Posts that feature a human face receive more reactions on LinkedIn. Instead of sharing company content, showcase an employee or CEO offering advice. AJ tested this method and saw a 5 to 16 percent increase in click-through rates. ABM Strategies: LinkedIn is the top social media platform for ABM (Account-Based Marketing) strategies. Having a list of leads that haven’t signed up yet at your fingertips makes it much easier to reach companies’ buying committees. This helps increase brand recognition on LinkedIn and improves sales teams’ deal closure rates. Engaging Leads in the Sales Pipeline: Sales reps can collaborate with the marketing team to create personalized campaigns for the company’s leads list. This ensures ongoing engagement with leads and keeps them moving through the pipeline. “When we show these sales reps, as opposed to their company posts, they’re getting on average more than one extra second of dwell time.” - AJ Wilcox. Resources Connect with AJ Wilcox on LinkedIn Hear more LinkedIn Strategies on the LinkedIn Ads Show podcast Learn more about AJ Wilcox at b2linked.com  LinkedIn Prospecting Course Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

What in the world is the status quo? How is it able to keep you from closing deals? My guest, Will Barron, founder of Selling Made Simple and the Salesman Podcast, is here to reveal the number one deal killer. Tune in to learn more about the status quo, Will’s experience with it, and how he was able to overcome this sales challenge. Introducing Will Barron Will Barron, the mastermind behind Selling Made Simple and the Salesman Podcast, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in B2B sales. He specializes in helping salespeople close more deals in a simplified manner. Will’s strategies revolve around understanding the root causes of sales stagnation and turning them into actionable steps. What is the Status Quo? You know that feeling where you won’t do anything unless there’s a massive reward at the end? It kind of stalls your motivation to get things done. This feeling illustrates the concept of the status quo. Many salespeople face situations where deals stall and ultimately fall off the pipeline, not due to competition or pricing, but simply because of inertia. There are psychological and business factors contributing to the status quo. Often, it’s not about the product or the competitor, but more about the inherent resistance to change. Engaging with Decision Makers Often, you may find yourself speaking to individuals who lack the authority to move deals forward. You want to communicate with the decision-makers to close deals. Will provides practical advice on identifying and engaging those with the actual power to affect change. DIY Objection & Simplification Without realizing it, you may be oversimplifying or overcomplicating the sales process, making prospects believe they don’t need external help. Will explains the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) objection, where prospects feel they can implement solutions on their own. He also shares how to keep prospects in the “Goldilocks zone,” where they see the value in seeking professional help for their problem. “If you’re selling complex products to sophisticated buyers, where there are real financial concerns and businesses on the line, you need to guide them through their buying journey. You need to help them make decisions and move forward.” - Will Barron.  Resources www.salesman.com The Salesman Podcast LinkedIn Prospecting Course Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

In the early days of my career, I had the chance to go through Sandler Sales Training. While there, I met my two wonderful guests for this episode, Emily Davidson and Mike Montague. The principles they taught in that course provide excellent strategies that you can use during this year’s Q4 to help prepare for Q1 next year. Take notes and listen to their game plan, which will surely help you close more deals before the new year. Common BDR Challenges During Q4 You may wonder how to make the most of the remaining months of the year. Which deals should you focus on? Should you let any clients go if you know they won’t make a decision before the end of the year? These challenges can cause a lot of anxiety, but with a strategic plan, you can overcome them. Mike suggests continuing to prospect during this time. You don’t want to start the new year trying to rebuild your sales pipeline. Don’t start fresh in 2025 and bring Q4 clients along. Prioritizing Deals You may find yourself with deals that are moving very slowly through the pipeline or with nothing at all. What actions should you prioritize to help close deals? Follow the Sandler Sales Training Care Plan, where you assess your accounts and prioritize which ones to keep. Mike and Emily provide examples of the Care Plan to help you understand how to apply it to your situation. Sales leaders may need to help team members prioritize their deals. Sometimes an outside perspective can help a sales rep view their accounts objectively. Be Creative with Your Prospecting During this time of year, most sales reps are out enjoying the holiday festivities like everyone else. You may be tempted to do the same, but if you want to close deals, you’ll have to put in some work. The good news is, if you get creative with your approach, you can still have fun while doing it.  Attend the Christmas parties, but use the opportunity to talk to decision-makers. Don’t take a vacation during this time—use it to cold-call CEOs and presidents. The key is to work smarter, not harder, during this season. “Our job is to create an atmosphere and environment that allows the customer to buy while the salesperson stays out of the way.” - Mike Montague.  “Looking at your accounts through the lens of the Care Plan will help you break down those targets into categories. You can focus on which ones are a priority to keep.” - Emily Davidson. Resources “The 12 Week Year,” by Brian P. Morgan and Michael Lennington www.sandler.com  How To Succeed Podcast LinkedIn Prospecting Course Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.  

In sales, you can’t rely solely on the product to close deals; you need the right strategies and mindset to get prospects to say yes to your offers. Some companies excel at this, while others need a bit of help. Join me and my guest, Mark Roberge, in this episode as we share three case studies of businesses that turned their sales success around. Meet Mark Roberge Mark Roberge is a renowned expert in sales and venture capital, known for his data-driven strategies that transform businesses.  As the fourth employee at HubSpot, he developed a scalable sales model that fueled the company's growth.  In addition to mentoring startups, he shares his sales expertise through podcasting and speaking at major events like the Inbound conference. Understanding the Reticular Activating System (RAS) Your brain filters information all the time, and often in ways that may keep you from succeeding in sales.   We explore the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and how the brain prioritizes information it deems important.  Your mindset and perception influence your belief in the effectiveness of your sales strategies.   For instance, if you believe cold calling is ineffective, your RAS will filter information that supports this belief, often leading to self-fulfilling outcomes. Sales & Psychology: The Connection   Whether you believe it or not, psychology plays a major role in sales.  We also believe that therapists can make some of the best sales representatives because they understand the human mind so well.  Salespeople who focus on diagnosing customer issues and truly understanding their needs are able to build rapport and trust. The Journey to Sales Mastery If you want to improve your sales skills, try role-playing for practice.  We share a case study of how an individual increased their quota performance from 70% to 120% within three months through better engagement and refined practices. "With a new product and a revolutionized product, no one is going to know how to buy it. You have to teach them how to buy that particular product.” - Mark Roberge.  Resources Check out Mark Roberge’s podcast, “The Science of Scale,” for in-depth interviews with founders discussing scaling strategies. Learn more about The Sales Evangelist Sales Mastermind Program. Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Continuing from our last topic on prospecting, this episode dives deeper into it. I’m sharing an episode from last year featuring my discussion with Dr. Jean Oursler. She discusses why you’re not prospecting enough and what you can do to overcome this unique sales challenge. Meet Dr. Jean Oursler Dr. Jean Oursler is a renowned sales trainer known for her innovative approach to boosting new business development.  She created the Caveman Brain System, a methodology based on understanding how the amygdala’s fight, flight, or freeze response can hinder sales success.  Through her coaching, Dr. Jean aims to spread the principles of the Caveman Brain System widely, enabling teams to improve their business outcomes significantly. Caveman Brain: What Is It? Our brain still operates as though we’re living in the wild, even though society has evolved.  Dr. Jean explains that the amygdala plays a major role in how we interact with the world around us. For example, you might struggle with cold calling because of your fight, flight, or freeze response.  Your amygdala is trying to protect you from perceived dangers, and without you realizing it. This primitive part of your brain holds you back in sales situations, creating unnecessary fears and inhibitions. Practical Steps to Harness the Caveman Brain Dr. Jean offers actionable advice on how to deal with the Caveman Brain: Positive Self-Talk and Affirmations: Write down affirmations and repeat them daily to change your mindset. If you can’t come up with your own, try these: “I am a fabulous salesperson” or “People love reading what I write.” Understand the Source of Fears: Are you holding onto fears from childhood, culture, or past experiences? For example, maybe your parents told you not to talk to strangers, and that fear still influences your behavior. Simplistic Approach: Focus on basic goals like making a friend or solving a problem, rather than just closing the sale. Transforming Your Sales Mindset If you want to become a great salesperson, start by creating a positive mindset.  Dr. Jean emphasizes that what we repeatedly see and hear shapes our reality.  Fill your mind with positive and empowering thoughts to help you achieve professional success. “Know that almost everything in your life that isn’t happening the way you want is tied to your Caveman Brain. When you realize this and start to fix it, everything else begins to fall into place.” - Dr. Jean Oursler.  Resources Connect with Dr. Jean Oursler on LinkedIn Visit CavemanBrain.com for free resources and training Join The Sales Evangelist Mastermind Group Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.  

How’s your sales pipeline going? It’s not performing as well as you need it to during this time of year. That’s why in this episode, I’m going to show you how to fix it fast and continue growing your business before the holidays arrive. What's the Number One Sales Pipeline Killer?   You’re doing everything right to grow your pipeline, and everything is going great. You’re getting clients, and they’re saying yes to your pitches.   But now things are starting to slow down, which is frustrating when you’re getting used to the groove.   Listen to my short story on how I overcame this unique challenge. It may help you when your sales pipeline suddenly slows down.  Always Be Prospecting Closing deals is what makes you money. Once those are done, you’re going to need more to keep the money rolling in.   This is why you always need to be on the lookout for new business opportunities.   You don’t want your pipeline to dry up, because once one deal closes, you need to be ready to close another one ASAP.   If you want to learn how to close deals faster, join my Sales Mastermind Class. You can find the link in the resource section. Self-Discipline for Prospecting  Sellers who don’t take the time to prospect are the ones who believe it doesn’t work.   However, it actually does work. Tell yourself, "I just can’t stop prospecting!"  Set aside at least two hours on your calendar for prospecting to help you stay consistent. If you need help growing your pipeline, check out this episode with Monica Stewart.  “Always be prospecting. You want to have more opportunities than you think you need to keep your pipeline full and advance deals.” - Donald C. Kelly.  Resources Cold Call Openers TSE’s Sales Mastermind Class TSE’s LinkedIn Prospecting Course Donald C. Kelly on LinkedIn  Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

One thing that AI lacks, which humans possess, is creativity. I'm not suggesting you stop using the technology because of this, but it's important to be aware of its limitations. When you add your personal touch to AI-generated content, you can close more deals more effectively. Learn how in this episode with Dale Dupree, where he shares tips on incorporating creativity into AI-driven processes. Is AI Preventing Society from Being Creative? As you may notice, tools like ChatGPT and other AI platforms can often sound robotic. Dale discusses how AI lacks emotions and likely always will.   While researchers are working to infuse human emotions into AI, upon closer examination, this thinking proves to be flawed.   AI doesn’t understand emotions the way humans do. When it comes to tone, feeling, and triggering the brain to take action, a human touch is still necessary. Have a Bigger Purpose Than Making Money Yes, you entered the sales industry because you wanted to make money. But to get where you want to be, you have to work for it. You can’t always rely on AI to do your job for you.   While your goal is to make money, you also need a deeper purpose for why you’re doing what you do.   Strive to achieve great things and have a vision or sense of impact for your organization. Why are you trying to sell your product to your buyers? How does it help them with their problems?  Answering these questions will help you stay motivated beyond just making money. Improving the Buyer Experience with AI and Creativity People in today’s society often dislike dealing with humans in customer service. This is usually because they feel the salesperson isn’t listening to their problems, is reading from a script, or simply doesn’t care about the buyer at all.   I shared an example of when I tried ordering a pizza, and the customer service representative was from Dubai. Due to AI, the service experience wasn’t great, which made me want to take my business elsewhere.   Keep this in mind when switching everything to AI. The human touch is essential to maintaining strong customer relationships and keeping customers loyal to your business. Breaking the AI Reliance Trap   It’s hard not to over-rely on AI—it makes life so much easier. However, remember that sales is all about building and maintaining relationships.   Too much automation can create a disconnect between businesses and customers.   Learn how to use AI effectively without losing the human touch! “We think we’re being more efficient with AI, but we really aren’t. It’s like UberEats—you pay for someone to bring the groceries to you so you don’t have to leave the house. However, it costs money to do this, and you’re spending the same amount, if not more, than if you had gone to the store yourself.” - Dale Dupree. Resources The Sales Rebellion The Sales Rebellion LinkedIn  Jeremiah Griffin  Dale Dupree LinkedIn Prospecting Course Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Most sellers take the time to master their pitching or objection handling skills. However, do you ever stop to take the time to master your active listening skills? Join me in this episode with my guest, Zach Bradshaw, President of Business Development at Brightkey, as we deep dive into the nuances of active listening in sales. Introduction: Meet Zach Bradshaw Zach is the Vice President of Business Development at Brightkey, a company that specializes in providing managed services to businesses.  His success stems from the many failures and obstacles he faced throughout his professional journey.  Overcoming rejected proposals and poor approaches has allowed him to hone his ability to listen to clients.  Now, he guides his team to approach client interactions without preconceived notions and to focus on genuinely understanding clients' problems in order to address them.  The Power of Listening in Sales Recently, I conducted a LinkedIn poll and discovered that one of the most important sales skills is active listening.  However, this doesn’t just involve using your ears to understand consumers' pain points. Zach shares that a seller must also take the time to understand the unsaid and read between the lines, which is a crucial aspect of active listening. Preparing for Effective Sales Conversations Always prepare yourself before engaging in sales meetings. Zach advises sales reps to conduct comprehensive research on their prospects to gain a deep understanding of their businesses.  Analyzing CRM data and reviewing past interactions allows you to anticipate potential challenges and tailor your marketing approach accordingly. This preparation sets the stage for a more meaningful and productive dialogue with potential clients. The Role of Team Collaboration and Continuous Learning Stop holding isolated one-on-one meetings and adopt the collaborative approach that Zach uses with his team at Brightkey.  Holding meetings with your team allows everyone to share their experiences and insights on the company’s sales.  This culture of continuous learning and shared knowledge helps team members develop a well-rounded understanding of various sales scenarios and enhances their ability to ask the right questions. Overcoming the Fear of Asking Difficult Questions Are you afraid to ask questions that might disrupt the flow of a conversation? Learn Zach’s strategy to overcome this fear and adopt a partnership-based approach. "Don't go in with a preconceived solution. Don't go in thinking that we're going to push a and b product because it was brought up at the most recent meeting." - Zach Bradshaw. Resources Zach’s email: [email protected] Zach’s LinkedIn  Brightkey.net  //thttpshesalesevangelist.com/opener Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.