Catalyst Sale Podcast: Sales Training | Sales Strategy | B2b | Selling | Marketing

Technology and Sales - Is the Technology Enabling Something? This week Jody and Mike discuss technology adoption, and the process Mike uses to evaluate technology that we may consider implementing at Catalyst Sale, and within our client base. Thank you for sharing the Catalyst Sale Podcast with a colleague.  Please let us know how you apply the concepts discussed in this episode, via twitter, facebook or LinkedIn. Questions Discussed How do you evaluate technology in sales? How do we know if the technology will be relevant?  Where do we start? What if you are reluctant to add technology into your workflow? Where/how do older tools/technology still have a place today? Key Takeaways Go to your network - and ask some questions about the technology - i.e. Have you used it, have you heard about it? Will the tool/tech augment something you are doing today? If you are a laggard when it comes to tech, still ask questions.  Identify the early adopters in your organization and your network. Think about the things th

Emerging Technologies, Salesforce, and Learning with guest Dan Peter This week, another guest joins the podcast.  Dan Peter, the Salesforce Practice Lead with Robots and Pencils joins us to discuss a broad range of topics.  We get into Dan's break from traditional work, and venture down the consulting path.  We also discuss the group he is building out at Robots and Pencils, and we touch on a number of emerging technologies. Some of the topics discussed include AI, blockchain, data, emerging technologies, Salesforce release schedules, AI as an argumentation of human capability, the importance of teaming, organization systems, software, automation, communication between the front lines and operations within sales teams, the notion of the "60-year curriculum", and the student at the center of learning,  "Be forward thinking" Dan Peter Questions Discussed What's new with Dan Peter? What are some of the things from an emerging technology perspective that are interesting to Dan, both in the Salesforce ecosystem a

Complexity in Work and the Challenges We Create for Ourselves Ted Bauer joins me on the Catalyst Sale Podcast this week.  We discuss a number of different topics including universal evils in work, why they persist, manager/employee relationships, onboarding, and interviewing. Ted turns the table at the end of the discussion, and asks Mike a couple of questions as well, which was an awesome surprise. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Questions Addressed What is the catalyst for the questions Ted asks on Twitter? What are some topics that tend to get the most activity? Why do universal evils continue in the workplace? Why do we overcomplicate this stuff? What are some things that I can keep in mind as a manager of a team, and how we will impact the business? What can I do as an employee to help my manager be better? What are some of the challenges with onboarding today? Ted's Questions Why do companies struggle with retaining revenue? Do you think that short term focus is inherently a bad th

Infinite Learning - How Can You Apply It To Your Role? (Repost) This week on the Catalyst Sale Podcast, we discuss Infinite Learning. Specifically, what is it, how you can apply it to your job, how it applies to sales, and how we apply it within Catalyst Sale. Mike Simmons first heard the phrase Infinite Learning on a recent Masters of Scale podcast with Reid Hoffman and Barry Diller. A link to that episode is included in the notes below. Questions Addressed What is the difference between Continuous Learning & Infinite Learning? Is it just another marketing thing? Some learning builds upon other learning.  How do you apply infinite learning in this context? How does Infinite Learning impact sales? What can we do differently? Key Takeaways This is a concept discussed on Master's of Scale Podcast w/ Barry Diller Continuous Learning - Natural curiosity, desire to keep learning.  If I'm not learning, I'm not getting better Infinite Learning - more of a learning loop - the importance of starting with a begi

Consistency - How do you Execute and What Tools do you Use? This is the second of a series of podcast episodes where we will focus on sales tactics.  This week we discuss the importance of consistency, and how the practice of consistency as a strategy translates into specific tactics.  We also discuss some of the tools that help us maintain consistency and execute. Thank you for sharing the Catalyst Sale Podcast with a colleague.  Please let us know how you apply the concepts discussed in this episode, via twitter, facebook or LinkedIn. Questions Addressed How is consistency a tactic and not a strategy? How do we treat consistency a tactic? How important are tools when thinking about consistency? What are some of the tools we use to support consistency? Key Takeaways Consistency is actually both a strategy and a tactic. Saying what you do, and doing what you say. This is important both in building rapport and trust. Start with your calendar - block out time to accomplish the things you plan to deliver. Thi

Is Sales an Agile Process? - Repost Is sales agile?  Mike and Mike tackle this question of sales in the context of agile methodologies.  We also discuss how this development approach applies within the Catalyst Sale Process.  Successful sales professionals are agile by design.  Whether thinking about how we work with customers or how we work with our team, critical thinking and iteration are core requirements of the job.   Mike & Mike also share some experience with cross-functional team communication, process application, setting expectations, and the importance of listening to your customer.  Thank you for sharing the Catalyst Sale Podcast with a colleague.  Please let us know how you apply the concepts discussed in this episode, via twitter, facebook or LinkedIn. Call To Action How Agile is your Sales Environment? Send Listener Questions to us at https://catalystsale.com  Show Links Catalyst Sale Call Planning Template Send us your Questions Twitter hello@catalystsale.com  Catalyst Sale - Live Ch

Thinking Differently to Do the Impossible with Jeff Noel Jeff joined us on a previous podcast episode (First Noel) at the end of 2018.  It's April 1st, and Jeff is back to help us think differently and do the impossible. Embrace the freedom of April Fools day to challenge your thoughts, push your limits, ask questions, and do the impossible. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Questions Addressed What does it mean to Think Differently to Do the impossible? Why do we struggle with doing the impossible? How often is Jeff trying to do impossible things? Does Jeff design space during the day to address the impossible? Where does Jeff go for Inspiration? How can you overcome external obstacles? Where does journey play a role in thinking differently and doing the impossible? What questions can we ask to help us think differently to do the impossible? Key Takeaways Thinking differently is about Envisioning a future that is much better than now. Move in the direction of that impossible dream Imposs

Call Planning - How do you Execute? This is the first of a series of podcast episodes where we will focus on sales tactics.  This week we discuss the call plan.  As has been quoted many times - "Failure to Plan is a Plan to Fail" - Ben Franklin. This prompts the question - how come we often fail to plan for our sales calls?  How come each of those calls tend to look the same? Many of the concepts discussed can apply to meeting planning and SME discussions as well. Thank you for sharing the Catalyst Sale Podcast with a colleague.  Please let us know how you apply the concepts discussed in this episode, via twitter, facebook or LinkedIn. Questions Addressed How many of us fail to plan for their calls? What's the difference between a template and a script? What happens if you don't plan? Key Takeaways Most folks fall into two categories when it comes to planning. Category 1 - The Plan Looks the Same - it's the same script. We have discussed the dangers of this approach. Category 2 - They Do Not Plan - or, t

Taking the Cringe Out of Recruiting Sales Pros with Guest Amy Volas This week Amy Volas, Founder & CEO of Avenue Talent Partners, joins us on the podcast.  The conversation was great.  We covered a wide range of topics including recruiting, sales, recruiting sales professionals, being human, setting expectations, partnering with a recruiter, and executing. Thank you, Amy, for joining us this week - I really enjoyed the conversation. Questions Addressed What does Amy love about recruiting? Why should someone (organization or professional) want to work with a recruiter? What are common mistakes companies make when hiring sales professionals? How are recruiting and sales shifting? Why do we make recruiting/sales difficult? What are some of the guideposts Amy uses to evaluate if a relationship is going in the right direction? If I get a call from a recruiter, what should I be thinking about? What can we do if we want to make it easier for a recruiter to contact us? If you are the person trying to move into a

Blindspots - We all Have Them This week on the Catalyst Sale Podcast, we have a listener question from Ann in San Diego.  Ann asks - What is something you consistently find within organizations you work with? One of the most consistent things we see across all of the organizations we work with, are the blind spots they have created.  Many times these blindspots are a function of focus, attention, and passion.  The challenge with blindspots, everyone has them, they require help to identify, and they bring risk if not addressed.   Questions Addressed Can you provide an example? How can you avoid/overcome blind spots? How can consultants/coaches help with blindspots? How can we find out more about Catalyst Sale? Key Takeaways On a positive side the organizations it is clear, that the organizations we have worked with are committed to their customers. They have identified a need in the market and they are passionate about addressing the need. On the negative side - there are blindspots that many of these organ

  Sales Process - Do You Need One? Continuing our series on common listener questions, this week we discuss Sales Process, why it is important to have one, common mistakes made when defining sales process, and why the Sales Process is different from the Customer Decision Making Process. Thank you for sharing the Catalyst Sale Podcast with a colleague.  Please let us know how you apply the concepts discussed in this episode, via twitter, facebook or LinkedIn. Questions Addressed What are some misconceptions when discussing Sales Process? How does Buyer Journey differ from Sales Process? Do most organizations have a defined process? What are some common mistakes in documenting a Sales Process? Key Takeaways The Catalyst Sale Process (Links to previous episodes) Validation – do I see the potential for a business relationship between both organizations? Qualification – This is where we build out the customer story Fit – Based on what we know about the customer, can we solve their problem? Feasibilit

Connecting Security, Technology, Leadership and Sales with Guest Mike Kail Mike Kail is the CTO of Everest.org, with over 25 years working in technology companies from large to early-stage startups.  We discuss Security, SecDevOps, Sales and Software Development Alignment, Sales Rep Outreach, Compensation, Leadership, Focus, etc.  This discussion crosses a number of different critical areas that will impact your organization. Thank you Mike for joining us this week - the discussion was awesome. Questions Addressed What are some lessons Mike learned as he has become more experienced on the sales side of the equation? Why do sales reps forget empathy? If Mike's working with a vendor, what are some questions a rep can ask to reveal timeline, focus, plan? How often does Mike delegate research to other members of the team?  Where does collaboration fit? How can we build better rapport? How often does Mike see the same type of outreach communication? What is DevSecOps? Why do people worry about security teams in t

Training - Is it an Expense or an Investment? CFO asks "what if we train our people and they leave?"  Someone else asks "What if we don't train them, and they stay?" - this story/set of quotes has been uttered so many times, I'm not sure who we should attribute it to. This week on the Catalyst Sale Podcast we discuss the question - Is Training an Investment or an Expense?  We also discuss how to handle the objection if the person you are working with holds a different opinion. Thank you for sharing the Catalyst Sale Podcast with a colleague.  Please let us know how you apply the concepts discussed in this episode, via twitter, facebook or LinkedIn. Questions Addressed Is Training an Investment or an Expense? If it is an investment and not an expense, how can we convince a decision maker that it is an investment? How can we avoid checking the box? From a trainers perspective, how do you help people with this question? Key Takeaways Investment vs Expense - Depends on where you sit in the organization? Simmon

Key Performance Indicators This week is a repost of one of our original podcasts on Key Performance Indicators. We discuss some common errors when creating KPIs, general best practices, and some practical examples.  We also discuss how KPIs can be established outside of sales, and be used to measure other aspects of the organization's success.   When we think of these metrics we usually begin with the end in mind.  We identify the desired behavior(s), desired state, and some of the key milestones that are necessary to demonstrate progress.  It is important to understand what we expect to see to indicate success. KPIs provide a data-driven measurement of performance that goes beyond feelings or intuition.  When tracked consistently, they provide a great look into the rearview mirror as well.  Year over year, quarter over quarter, month over month, measured performance can help to identify opportunities in your business.  Thank you for sharing the Catalyst Sale Podcast with a colleague.  Please let us know how

Regaining Momentum and Kicking off the New Year - Again Executing on Your Objectives - This week on the Catalyst Sale Podcast we discuss maintaining focus on your goals in the New Year, at a time where you might be losing momentum. Momentum may have faded, you may have already decided to wipe the slate clean.  It's February - get refocused, and start executing. Thank you for sharing the Catalyst Sale Podcast with a colleague.  Please let us know how you apply the concepts and tactics discussed in this episode, via twitter, facebook or LinkedIn. Questions Addressed Why do we struggle with execution? Do you set larger goals? How does fitness goals relate to executing professional goals? How can we improve on execution? Key Takeaways Start with one thing. We tend to overcomplicate goal setting, trying to accomplish too much. If you can execute on the first goal, then establish two more. Push your capacity to the limit, then determine your actual capability. There are always some larger overarching goals. Howe

Territory Planning that Works - A Catalyst Sale Approach This is a repost of one of our earlier podcast episodes where we cover a topic that we receive a number of questions on Territory Planning. This week on the Catalyst Sale Podcast we discuss the components that makeup the territory plan, including starting from ground zero, and defining your area of focus. Traditionally this starts as a whiteboard exercise for us. We start with a blank whiteboard and go through yes/no questions to refine our focus. Given that this is a whiteboard exercise, a visual follows. In previous episodes, we have discussed the Account Plan and the Call Plan. The territory plan establishes the guardrails that the Account Plan, and subsequent call plans fit within. The call plan is the day to day detail. The three of these should tell the story of how you accomplished your objectives. The Territory Plan is a preview of what’s to come. Questions Addressed How do you start building out a territory plan? Where does Account Planning f

How Do You Know When It Is Time to Add Members to your Team? This week on the Catalyst Sale Podcast we discuss some of the questions you should ask yourself when determining if it is time to scale your team, how to onboard new team members, and how to integrate them into your organizational culture. Thank you for sharing the Catalyst Sale Podcast with a colleague. Questions Addressed How do you know when it is time to Scale? How do you bring the member on the team? How do you integrate someone new into the culture? Key Takeaways There is a risk in adding headcount Prepare for a potential step backward Before you Scale Identify patterns Identify gaps Adding team members can address capacity issues Additional team members can also help you focus, and reduce opportunity costs When you Onboard Use Motivation-Based Interviewing in your hiring process Don't micromanage Map out the onboarding journey Here is an example of a sales rep onboarding mindmap we use. You need to plan Design based on outcomes Be del

REPOST - Listener Question - Mentoring on the Job This week on the Catalyst Sale podcast we review a listener topic. Spencer asked if we could discuss the importance of having a good mentor as a new rep OR a seasoned rep starting with a new company or in a new industry. It is through mentoring programs and job shadowing programs that organization information can be passed down from person to person, and generation to generation. It is also through these programs that creativity can be inspired, relationships can be built, knowledge can be passed quickly, and a catalyst for innovation can occur.   If these programs are set up poorly, or the mentor/mentee match is mishandled, the results can be rough. Should you implement a job shadowing or mentoring program in your Sales Org? The short answer - it depends.   Should you have a formal or informal mentoring program?   Again, it depends.   We discuss why you may want to consider a formal mentoring or job shadowing program, even if culturally it may not seem like t

Sell Without Selling Your Soul - with author Liz Wendling Liz Wendling is a sales coach and consultant for women, sales professionals, and a few smart men.  Liz is also the author of Selling Without Selling Your Soul Bringing integrity to the sales world was Liz's inspiration for this book. Since we are all selling something, Liz thought it was time to drop the baggage, and focus on the thing that keeps us in business - Sales. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Questions Addressed Sell without selling your soul why? You choose how you want to sell - why is this important? Why do we struggle with identity and confidence? What are some common mistakes we all make? Why is it important to be authentic? What can we do if we struggle with being ourselves? How does technology play a role in sales? What does Liz's execution process look like? What is the Knowing/Doing Gap? What are some skills that we can focus on that will help us be better sales professionals? What are some of the skills that peop

How Do You Know When It Is Time To Leave Your Job? This is the time of year where many of us take the time to reflect, we think about what the past year has provided, and what we plan to accomplish in 2019. This week we discuss some of the questions you should ask yourself when determining if it is time to look elsewhere, and move on.  We also discuss the importance of exiting with grace, and handling your business appropriately. Thank you for sharing the Catalyst Sale Podcast with a colleague. Questions Addressed How do you know when it is time to leave? How do we know if we are settling for good, when great is out there? If we are in a position where things are not good, how do we know that we are better off by breaking free? What if you should leave just because you want to get different experiences? How can you send us questions? Key Takeaways Ask yourself these questions. Are you Happy? Are you Learning? If you are not excited about the thing you are doing for the organization you are currently wit