C-Level Relationship Selling - 6 Steps to Avoid Selling Suicide

"I've got a great product, and I know thisoffering around those problems.
prospect can use it, but I can't get this personHere's how.
interested." Sound familiar. Well the problem to thisPrepare Yourself
dilemma is not the competition or your price. It'sRealize you have to stop pushing what you have
the word "I". Look how many times "I" is used.to offer. It's annoying.
Try restating in terms of the prospect. It mayPractice interview questions to uncover what
look something like, "You've got a problem youbenefits / solutions the person wants as it relates
need to solve as it relates to.... You're probablyto your product / service, and why s/he wants
looking for solutions and you're trying to findthem. It's rewarding.
someone to help you. I'm curious what you seeNever assume to know what someone wants or
as your problem and what your concept of awhat problems s/he is facing - especially a senior
solution for it is?"executive. It's stupid.
Sales people approach a prospect with theTak'n It to the Streetsa. Develop interview
attitude that they have a great offering thequestions.
prospect has to have. I mean, "What companyWhat will you say or ask to find out what your
doesn't need it?" I mean, "It's all about me."next prospect wants or what her issues are?
Unfortunately sales people don't realize they areFor example ask, "What issues are you facing
doing this. However, depending on the prospect'scurrently as it relates to....?" If she says, "None" be
frame of mind, the sales person can come off asprepared to offer some benefits, you thinks she
helpful, presumptuous, out of touch, and/orshould be interested in. If she still says not
annoying or rude.interested, move away from this person - not
Now the prospect may need your offering, ornecessarily the account.
need it, but doesn't realize it, or s/he may realizeHow will you prevent yourself from presenting?
it, but not want to deal with it at this time, orRepeat to yourself, "I must present only what he
may feel s/he doesn't need it. Good prospectingwants. So I can't present until he tells me what
would say determine which one it is and have anthat is. If I do, the buzzer sounds and I lose."
approach for each in order to move to the nextWho's talking - you or the prospect? Check
step.yourself when you're with a prospect. If you're
Since the sales person sees the situation from histalking are you answering his questions or pushing
viewpoint, and is confident of the need, and isyour product.
anxious to sell something, he becomes pushy inModify your attitude to the prospect. Change
an attempt to engage the prospect. There is anyour approach to get the prospect to do the
adage, "Selling starts when the customer says,talking. And finally prepare yourself before every
'No'." This is crazy. Actually selling starts when theencounter to pull this off because your natural
customer says, "Tell me more." So how do youinstincts are to do the opposite.
get the prospect to say that? You find out whatAnd now I invite you to learn more.
problems s/he sees as pressing and fit you're