I'm a new SDR in a company that doesn't place a great emphasis on mentorship. What are some of the core-skills I should be trying to learn in my first 2 years on the job (overcoming objections, active-listening etc). Can using a tool like Going.io, or Chorus.ai actually help identify areas of improvement / help me iterate? Or are they fancy AI tools that will identify when to set up a follow-up call with the prospect but can't replicate actual mentorship / provide growth?

S SSS

Account Executive at Anonymous

How to improve as new SDR: are Gong.io and Chorus.ai helpful?

I'm a new SDR in a company that doesn't place a great emphasis on mentorship.

What are some of the core-skills I should be trying to learn in my first 2 years on the job (overcoming objections, active-listening etc).
Can using a tool like Going.io, or Chorus.ai actually help identify areas of improvement / help me iterate? Or are they fancy AI tools that will identify when to set up a follow-up call with the prospect but can't replicate actual mentorship / provide growth?

🎈 Mentorship

🔎 Prospecting

🥎 Training

15 comments

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jefe

Arsonist

🍁

We don't like Gong 'round here.

Don't have any firsthand experience/familiarity with Chorus.

I haven't been an SDR, but the most important thing is to get reps in - JUST DIAL. You need to listen actively, and understand objections - don't just repeat 'handles' from a book

unclespacejam

Politicker

ur dad’s brother

Couldn’t agree more. Software is never going to be the silver bullet, you can’t hack your way past the ugly phase - as much as we’d all like to hope.

You’ve just gotta make those goddamn calls, constant repetition and iteration will get you there though. It’s like going to the gym, do the work then reflect on the day’s work and see how you can improve for the next session

What’s that old cliche bit about 1% better each day? That shit is a cliche cuz it works dog

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

To add on to all of this - try and learn from the most successful rep(s) there. Understand what they're doing, what works, what doesn't, and make it your own

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Fucking Gong 😆

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

Hey, welcome to the War Room!

I am Gasty, the WR community manager here. Just a couple of things, before I get to your question.

This is an anonymous sales platform with some of the best sales people anyone has to offer. Their advice is pure gold. Being anonymous will get you the most out of this platform.

Keep posting, engaging with other posts, and you'll gain so much value, I assure you.

Also, this isn't LinkedIn, you can go as detailed as you want, no need to keep it short. Just focus on adding value.

Lastly, have you checked out the commission store yet? If not, I highly recommend. Earning commission is also super easy, upvotes get you commission points.

Now coming to your question;

Firstly, congratulations on your new role. That’s awesome.

My suggestion would be, learn as much as you can, read LI posts, learn from mistakes, build a brand for yourself in the space you’re working at. Find your niche.

After learning a lot and following all the “influencers”, focus on what works for you and carve out your own path.

Tools help but depends on your needs and requirements, you can have all the tools in the world but still may not be able to get opportunities if you don’t know what do you want to exactly do with them.

Start with basics, pick up the phone.

Building a personal brand in your niche is super important. Will help out a lot.

Once again, welcome :)

StringerB

Politicker

Senior Account Executive

Gong gets a lot of hate here but personally using it to watch the calls of top performers was extremely helpful for me when I was new in my role. They've also added some features for email recaps that save me a lot of time. Of course, it needs to be spot checked for accuracy, but its gotten really good.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

1) I hope you’re not an SDR for 2 years
2) These tools are only as good as your manager. Have better 1:1 and coaching calls with your manager and other high performers. Those calls will teach you far more than a call recording.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

Shadow top performers, how to they indenting A account vs spinning their wheels, is the big thing

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

We use chorus. I do like the transcript capabilities and the fact it can draw out action items. Personally I find the rest of it to be noise. The transcript is good, but not 100% accurate - and every so often, the missed words are hilarious. But that said, using that same imperfect system to then track talk time, intent, filler words, all for metrics and “coaching” - not so much.

lowhangersalesbanger

Executive

Account Executive

If you want to listen to calls from a top performing SDR that is great, but you really just need to dial dial dial and eat your shit. That is 90% of the job anyway. Get your at bats in and you will start hitting balls.

BasstheBear

Executive

Account Manager

Are you remote or in person?

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

the best thing you can do, is find who the top performing SDR is on your team and just do exactly what they do.

when it comes to the SDR role you do not need to recreate the wheel. what ever problem you are facing others have faced it and overcome it. find out who those ppl are and copy them.

BillyHoyle

Tycoon

Senior Account Executive

You can absolutely use Gong or Chorus to help round out your skills. One thing that really helped me when I didn't have a super strong background of the product when I was cold calling was to learn an AEs first call demo inside and out. 95% of what you would need to understand is going to be in there (i.e. Who We Are, What We Do, etc.). And from there time in seat will help you out. Figure out the 4-5 main objections you get most frequently and get some lines there.

Pachacuti

Politicker

-1

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Gong sucks.