Continuous observation and learning

Having been in sales for a while, I'm always observing and evaluating when someone is trying to sell anything to me, sometimes just out of curiosity, and sometimes to learn some new tricks. Everything from a tire store manager trying to sell me a warranty on new tires for my truck, to locals selling their produce at a farmers market, to random inbound emails from SDRs out there in cyberspace. I can learn a lot from all of these folks, and sometimes I walk away with a new way to engage with my software customers, even if it's just a better way to connect on a personal level with someone.


Honestly, I can't really help myself from mentally critiquing their sales abilities, whether good or bad.


Stay hungry!

Do you do this too?

Attached poll
*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.
๐Ÿ‘‘ Sales Strategy
๐ŸฅŽ Training
17
Beans
Big Shot
4
Enterprise Account Executive
Absolutely - quick example I was shopping for a new BBQ recently and the guy was just feature dumping me, not a single Q asked about my specific needs.

I ended up doing some more research and ordering online, but he had the perfect opportunity and didn't capitalize.
HarryCaray
Notable Contributor
1
HMFIC
I see that a lot.ย  Good observation, thanks for the input!
rekled
Opinionated
2
Strategic Account Executive
@HarryCarayย - curious to know if you let individuals know if their pitch was good? I will respond to folks reaching out with a good pitch even if I have no interest in their service.

Would you mind sharing some of the good experiences (e.g. what was a good, maybe even a refreshing approach)?ย ย 
HarryCaray
Notable Contributor
1
HMFIC
Honestly I don't do that a lot.ย  I probably should, I bet they'd appreciate it.ย  Especially if they did a good job and I gave them some good feedback.
AlecBaldwinsHairline
Valued Contributor
2
Head of Sales Development
See the insights they have gained and understand how they deliver them.

Top notch stuff!
HarryCaray
Notable Contributor
0
HMFIC
100%
chubbspeterson
Politicker
1
Business Development
Agreed, I do this all the time.
chubbspeterson
Politicker
2
Business Development
I still make yearly recurring donations to the nature conservancy because a volunteer stopped me on the street years ago and blew me away with his sales pitch.
HarryCaray
Notable Contributor
1
HMFIC
That's a cool story.ย  Really makes you aware of the lasting effect a good sales pitch can have on someone.
Lambda
Tycoon
1
Sales Consultant
You haveeeeee to or you will die professionally
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
0
Director Sales and Market Development
i try to take a lot of the calls and also am pretty terrible on some as i am busy. Love to hear others pitches and looking to recruit them too lol
HarryCaray
Notable Contributor
0
HMFIC
Always recruiting!
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
0
Director Sales and Market Development
ABR
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
0
Sr. Customer Success Manager
continuous improvement - golden rule
looper1010
Celebrated Contributor
0
Solutions Specialist
Misclicked! The answer is always! Especially anyone from any background spellbounds me! How do they do it and I wanna know!
KendallRoy
Politicker
0
AM
I'm shopping for a specific high end couch. Went to one store, said we wanted fabric but wanted it to be durable and stain-resistant. The sales rep recommended the most expensive fabric. Went to a different store of the same chain, different sales rep. I said the same thing I did at the first store, and added that I was considering the expensive fabric. That sales rep said it isn't durable at all, and the most durable is the cheapest. Went to a third store, validated the same thing.ย 

Sales has definitely sharpened my bullshit detectorย 
salesandstrategy
Opinionated
0
Senior Account Executive
Always learning, have to be able to iterate and adapt. Applicable to sales and to life.ย 
Kinonez
Celebrated Contributor
0
War Room Enthusiast
If you donโ€™t continue to learn you wonโ€™t continue to succeedย 
NoSuperhero
Politicker
0
BDR LEAD
How can one survive without observing one's surroundings and adapting to them?
MR.StretchISR
Politicker
0
ISR
Sending UberEats gift cards through Sendoso was huge for me.
10

Sales Learning Curve

Discussion
7
4

Sales Certifications/Trainings/Actionable learning

Discussion
9
11

The Sales Learning Curve

Discussion
9