AntifragileSalesman

Business Development Specialist

Is he right or just a buffoon?

Dear Sales slayers,

I've just finished an interview for a sales executive role. In the end, in my questions section, I asked my favourite question - what books, courses or blogs do you recommend as a salesperson?

The AE who was interviewing me said:

- "I don't recommend any books, courses or blogs because I don't believe in them. When it comes to sales skills you either have it or don't. You cannot learn it."

Let's begin the discussion then. Was he right or is he simply a buffoon?

Was he right?

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40 comments

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jefe

Arsonist

🍁

That's a load of shit. There are of course certain innate qualities that help, but so much can and should be learned.

Stay away from this one - he is a buffoon and basically screamed that he won't be coachable at you.

AntifragileSalesman

Opinionated

Business Development Specialist

The best thing was when he said - "It is easy to spot someone who has zero skill and went through many pieces of training/books/courses". He claimed that those people use a bunch of questions and methodologies which are artificial. I was a bit confused, because whenever I read something - a prepared question or anything from someone else I learn how to better formulate my questions.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

That's utterly ridiculous.

At least he did you a favour and waved those red flags proudly.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

You can be taught industry, sure. You can go through sales training too.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

To a degree, there are traits that some people have innately. however, with that being said, it's like saying you don't have to go to school to be a doctor. even doctors or people of any profession still have to do continued education as things change constantly and there are always things to learn.

short answer, sounds like the guy has a fixed mindset and will always refer to "well how I used to do it at my old company is...."

AntifragileSalesman

Opinionated

Business Development Specialist

I think he was a bit opinionated which tells me that I wouldn't like to work with him. In my opinion sales, skill is nothing "natural" because money/products are something artificial (created by a human). You can have the talent to dance because it is natural but not sales. So, in my opinion, it is definitely a skill you can learn.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Yeah, he's an idiot.

Maybe he just can't read, and didn't want to expose himself.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

So what is this person going to say week 1 when it’s non stop training. Just tell the training leader he is naturally gifted this is a waste of time?

There are people that are naturally better than most in Sales. You don’t need to do trainings and completely change who you are or what you do in a meeting, but in every training or blog I can at least take one thing away that helps me be better.

AntifragileSalesman

Opinionated

Business Development Specialist

True, the most important fact is you can brush up on your skill in order to be the best salesman you can possibly be.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

I wish I just "had it" and never had to do week long training every quarter

AntifragileSalesman

Opinionated

Business Development Specialist

Me too brother, me too!

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

no this is totally wrong. You can 100% learn sales.
Now there are PARTS of sales you cant teach.

I cant teach you to have a think skin
I cant teach you to think quick on your feet on a cold call
I cant teach you to think creatively.

But i can teach you to make cold calls,
I can teach you to give a solid demo
I can teach you how to ask for the deal.

In my opinion, he shot him self in the foot.
I would have asked him: "Do you think your skill level is the same now as it was when you started your career?"
and see what they say to that.

I will say not many ppl in the WR have said there are books or courses they like so interested to see everyones reactions to this

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

Sounds like a bull shit answer designed to make you think he's confident and therefore capable rather than realizing he doesn't know what he's talking about. The dude's resume likely has bull shit numbers on it as well.

Mobi85

Politicker

Regional Sales Manager

An idiot. Just wrong on so many levels, people that want to perfect their craft continue to keep learning.

Look at any professional athlete (yes I am equating sales professionals to athletes) they all continuously practice and learn to become better YOY.

That dude is ridiculous thinking he can't get better through training and learning.

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

He may not find a benefit from them and maybe what he wanted to say is that there is no replacement for first hand experience, however there’s plenty of non sales books that treat great sales lessons.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

he's an idiot. there's always more that can be learned. This screams "I beat quota consistently by a small margin so no one can tell me different".

AntifragileSalesman

Opinionated

Business Development Specialist

My gosh, I thought just that when I heard that!

adrienmc

Good Citizen

Founder @LaGrowthMachine

The fact that we have the war room to share our knowledge is just a proof that part of the craft is learned over experience.

;For sure, there are inner traits/emotional intelligence that cannot be taught, but he’s totally wrong on believing that’s it’s all about innate talent

such response would be a red flag to me : probably not coachable + dipshit attitude

AntifragileSalesman

Opinionated

Business Development Specialist

Felt the same way - especially the dipshit part <3. Let's imagine that I won't hit quota and ask him for some recommendations/tips hahah - He will have only one - get out of here!

adrienmc

Good Citizen

Founder @LaGrowthMachine

Wait, you were interviewing because you APPLIED to the job? Not the one running the interview?

Even worst, that probably means that this dipshit attitude is widespread in the company if they trust this guy to interview new hire

Run away

GDO

Politicker

BDM

This screams unwillingness to learn/improve or search for feedback. Thus I would not hire

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Sure there are natural born sales people, but those skills trend toward just being outgoing, personable, and having grit.

You can definitely teach someone Sales 101.

I would pass on hiring that kid.

Kmoney

Valued Contributor

Account Exec

I mean…it depends. You can read about the product. You can read about HOW to be better at sales.

But just because you can read and retain information doesn’t mean you can execute those strategies effectively.

They were probably trying to get across that they’re natural go getters and socialable. My guess anyway.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

Maybe it's right for him. Maybe he was able to not only survive, but thrive without using any books or courses or blogs. Maybe Sales comes naturally to him. Or maybe he's a bull-shitter!

Nonetheless, what works for him doesn't necessarily has to work for you too. You do you.

NoSuperhero

Politicker

BDR LEAD

That's a really egotistical way to answer that... I wasn't a salesperson when I first started, actually, I was petrified of starting this job, I was a medical interpreter before making the jump, and before that, I was an English teacher as a second language. FAR from being a salesperson, and I'm a pretty good one now... currently crushing my bdr numbers and my manager is talking of maybe grooming me to become an AE, not bad for meself

revenuegenerator

Praised Answer

Sales Management

Outrageous take on so many levels. Hire talent, train skill. That's how it works.

Spartanmode

VP of Sales

He was wrong because he said "skills", most all skills needed to be successful in sales can be learned and definitely sharpened through study & practice.
I believe there are some traits exhibited by top sales professionals you cannot train for, like empathy, but most everything else can be learned.

Pink1985

Valued Contributor

Business Development Manager

Seems like the AE had the bias of expertise - nothing new to learn and not wanting to accept other ideas.

Team_Me_Up

Personal Narrative

Business Solution Consultant

You are either a leader or mentor or you’re not! Leaders should never be scared to coach someone that could be better than them. Moving up the ladder means you have to make room for someone that has the potential to be better than you! No true leader should be scared to coach up and recommend materials that could make them better at any position. Lead . . . And they too will also lead others. Teach and you will have a loyal team that wants to be better together.

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

Director Sales and Market Development

Step 1- dont work for them, you will be one of those "didnt have its" if shit hits the fan

2- If you are the smartest person in the room......youre in the wrong room.

Homie needs to stay humble and keep learning

frenchiemom1120

Member

Inside Sales Representative

In other words, he’s a sucky coach and won’t be helping you.
The only thing you cannot teach in sales is drive, motivation, persistence, etc. Someone has to have the personality or they won’t be good at it or enjoy it, but the actual skills like what to say/not say, constructing emails, public speaking/group presentations…. These are definitely coachable and will get better over time.

Angusmacg

Valued Contributor

Territory Account Mgr.

I answered no because his rationale is flat out lazy. You really can’t teach being a good salesperson. You can teach techniques, etc. but if you do not have the personality you won’t be truly successful. There is that proverb about blind squirrels…

In all reality you can do sales by reading books and taking a variety of training programs. If you do not have the true sales personality and ability to accept rejection then your sales career will not be long. You can get by and have some success in sales but the passion won’t be there.

AntifragileSalesman

Opinionated

Business Development Specialist

Can you elaborate a bit more on the "true sales personality"? What does it mean for you? What are the characteristics of such person?

Angusmacg

Valued Contributor

Territory Account Mgr.

It’s tough to categorize to be honest. Basically if you have multiple people that tell you that you can sell ice to an Eskimo then you have it. Especially if those people aren’t involved in sales at all.

My best categorization I can come up with is that you can take whatever product/service you are selling and incorporate the selling points into normal conversation without a formal presentation. The more conversational your meeting is with clients the better opportunity to close the sale.

AnchorPoint

Politicker

Business Coach

He is an idiot. No more discussion is needed.

SalesMama

Executive

Senior Account Executive

Total buffoon

Skynyrd

Personal Narrative

National Sales Director

Always be learning

kojali

Fire Starter

founder

It’s a skill , more than something you can learn , negotiation skills you can get better but it’s not natural, but been accepted and Charisma you can not learn 👍🏽

SalesPharaoh

Big Shot

Senior Account Executive

Man if that is a general culture than you are going into a ego/narssacism group of one man shows who all think they are the best in what they do and will never listen to one another. I guess the org will be siloed up.

draculina

Fire Starter

process development specialist

You can learn it. Three years on the sales floor made me, an introvert with stilted people-skills, an extrovert who could chat up with customers very easily. I wasn’t even a sales person, I was just sales support. I tagged along, and hang out with them. It rubs on you if you’re open to it.

I even sold a project! My favourite sales guy bragged about it to the whole office that *I* closed it lol.

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AntifragileSalesman

Is he right or just a buffoon?

Was he right?

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