HVACexpert profile picture
HVACexpert profile picture

HVACexpert

sales engineer

Politicker
Catalyst
Valued Contributor
+8

Question: for a technical sales role, do you think it’s easier to teach sales to a technical person, or to teach technical product to someone who has a flare for sales?

I'm sure it depends on the technical requirements, industry, product, the person, etc.  But I know many will have an opinion and would love to hear it.
😀 Sales Engineer
🧢 Sales Management
😎 Sales Skills
12

12 comments

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CuriousFox
WR Officer
6
🦊
Teach the product. You can always learn industry. Sales swagger - you either have it or you don't. IMO of course. 🦊
Fenderbaum
Politicker
2
Retired Choirboy🪕
Absolutely.
braintank
Politicker
4
Enterprise Account Executive
I'd vote for the latter. Sales is sales. I've worked with some great salespeople who barely knew what their product did.
Diablo
Politicker
3
Sr. AE
If you know how to sell you are a gem. Product can be learnt (with variable learning curve)
Gasty
Notable Contributor
3
War Room Community Manager
I agree with the savages. It seems easier to teach the product to the one having a flare for sales.

In the same breath, I'd LOVE to hear the story of a President's Club Winner who transitioned from Product to Sales.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
Almost forgot - Welcome to the War Room @HVACexpert!
TennisandSales
Politicker
2
Head Of Sales
I would say it’s easier to teach a sales person the technical product.

I think it’s really hard to learn sales without actually DOING it. So it’s going to take a non sales person longer to learn sales than it will to learn a product
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Easier to teach technical product to a sales person. In the vast majority of cases, a sales person does not need to know every single technical detail of the product, but needs the sales savvy to know how to discuss benefits, value, and to work through any procurement and contracting process.
Maximas
Tycoon
1
Senior Sales Executive
The latter is the better option, as you'll only get him extra knowledge and he already has the sales practice!!
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
1
Bravado's Resident Asshole
teaching the product/skills is always going to be easier.
Justatitle
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
Teaching product to a flare for sales. I don't think it is so easy for someone to have the soft skills that exist in sales.
TheOverTaker
Politicker
0
Senior Account Executive
You can't necessarily teach some of the intangibles of sales. You can teach a good seller any product. They might not be able to explain everything but they will understand and sell it.

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