Is mastering cold-calls a necessary skill to become an AE?

I feel among other skills, mastering cold calls is the way to learn the persuasive arts. But I'm not sure how true is this in today's scenario. What other SDR skills are crucial in order to become an AE?

What SDR skills are pertinent to the AE role?

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๐Ÿ“ž Cold Calling
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1
sales101
WR Officer
3
Head of Channel & Alliances
In my opinion, I donโ€™t think actually mastering cold calls is necessary, but I think having the willingness to do them and having a cold outreach system
that does work for you is.
Telehealth_2the_Moon
Notable Contributor
4
Director of Business Development
This!ย 

Becoming a master a cold calling isn't necessary for success as an AE. Willingness to do it and a goal to do it well is though, there is a lot of cross over in ability to cold call well and handle a pitch, especially when pitching and things go off the rails a bit.ย 
Wolfe
Politicker
1
BDR
Makes a whole lotta sense.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
๐ŸฆŠ
Yes cold calling is important for an SDR, but to make it to an AE you should practice email, letter writing, and the most important in my mind, relationship/social skills.ย 
Wolfe
Politicker
0
BDR
Relationship management and social skills ftw!ย 
GlenRoss
Politicker
2
Account Executive
I think it depends on the industry/company but I think AEs should at least know how to and be willing to cold call
DwightsEgo
Politicker
1
BDR Manager
You should be a master of time (calendar) and process. If you can master how to manage cold calling, manage developing inbound leads, while becoming an expert relationship builder and communicator....that IMO is the ticket.ย 
Wolfe
Politicker
-1
BDR
Time management is critical. Indeed.ย 
AlexT
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Here are some side benefits of cold-calling Reduce dependencies on others, feel even more at ease with every other call type, make enough repetitions fast enough to really get good on the phone, anyone can send written communication, not everyone can make a killer call - stand out!
BlueJays2591
Politicker
1
Federal Business Dev Director
Know how to cold call but i find that mastering emailing and linkedin messaging is more important, but i know many AEs that are amazing at cold calling.
Ras_Rebuttles
Contributor
0
Sales Consultant
If marketing nice you donโ€™t cold call ๐ŸคŒ๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ“žย 
Wolfe
Politicker
0
BDR
Marketing nice? Never heard of that.ย 
7

Leadership VS SDRs - Cold calling

Discussion
16
Would you smoke your management cold calling?
81% Heck yea - no doubt
19% I don't think so.. these guys are business
47 people voted
4

How many AEs out there are still making cold calls to drum up business?

Question
12
% of Pipeline sourced by AE directly (cold not marketing leads that AE follows up on)
35% 0-25%
27% 26-50%
24% 51%-75%
14% 76%-100%
74 people voted
30
Members only

What do you think are the necessary skills and qualifications for success here?

Question
19