What is “Positive Confrontation”?

Recently a prospect asked me to explain what I meant when I said that many sales managers would be more effective sales leaders if they used what I call “positive confrontation” with their salespeople. Positive confrontation is the discussion that a sales manager has with a salesperson in a timely manner, regarding an unsuccessful behavior … Read full article

5 Tips for Great Sales Meetings in 2012

Every sales meeting you deliver is an opportunity to showcase your sales management leadership skills. Here are a few specific suggestions: Set a clear meeting objective. Ask yourself, “One month from now, what will be happening differently as a result of this meeting?” The answer is your sales meeting’s primary objective. Anticipate which salespeople are … Read full article

Does a focus on sales results actually reduce sales results?

As the leader of your sales team you, no doubt, place great emphasis on the achievement of sales results. And rightly so. But if a sales manager focuses exclusively on results, so to do your salespeople. An intense focus on results can distract everyone from the sales process, which is the all-important input side of … Read full article

My Book is a Sales & Marketing Awards Finalist!

I have just heard that my book “Slow Down, Sell Faster!” is a finalist in the annual Sales & Marketing Awards competition for “Top Sales & Marketing Book of 2011.” For those of you that have read my book and liked it you can cast your vote today. Polls are open until December 12th. There are … Read full article

Sell Value, Not Price – OK, but what does that mean?

A prospect who sells industrial products to power plants recently told me that his sales people were really good at selling features and benefits, but not so good at selling value. So, when a sales manager urges a salesperson to “sell value, not price” what does he or she really mean? The value of what … Read full article