Sales Blog from Sales expert Trent Leyshan

Archive for the ‘Sales Culture’ Category

Rules and records are made to be broken

Thursday, November 24th, 2011

Break free!

In 1988 I watched in horror as my childhood hero Carl Lewis was blown away by Ben Johnson in the men’s 100m final at the Seoul Olympic Games.

The ripped and bulging Canadian sprinter launched out of the blocks to blaze to a new world record time of 9.79 seconds. To my relief, three days later, Johnson was stripped of his gold medal and banned for testing positive to steroids. Lewis was then unceremoniously anointed as the Olympic champion, and faith was restored to my little world.

Not many records can endure the vacillation of time. Johnson’s drug assisted time was considered only possible because he used a banned substance. His time has since been broken on several occasions. Usain Bolt is the reigning Olympic champion and world recorder holder, clocking in a 9.58 seconds. May I be so bold as to suggest that one day a man of freakish ability will run it in eight seconds?

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Friends with benefits

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

friends-with-benefits-movie-poster-2011-1010702676

One of the most valuable asset’s you can create in business is called a ‘friendship with benefits’.

Not the touchy and feeling kind, rather an enduring relationship between a customer and vendor that contributes to both in a meaningful way. Acquaintances, we can take or leave. Typically surface level, these relationships hold little lasting value. Unfortunately, the majority of customers are treated this way because staff are not empowered habitually with the right knowledge and skills.

Its vital businesses get this right: how you treat people in a commercial situation shouldn’t differ that much to a social setting. The same essentials apply, such as; empathy, common courtesy, respect, keeping our word, and above all a genuine interest in the other party’s best interests. Think about the people we consider friends. What behaviours do they demonstrate? How long have we known them? Why are they so important to us? What really attracts us to them?

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If cash flow is King, credibility is Queen.

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

red queen logo1Credibility can take a lifetime to establish, yet it can be stripped from you at light speed.

I can speak from experience, one erroneous move, fumble or stumble can take you many years to recover.

Credibility in business is a great deal like a credit rating in our personal life. One or two black marks on your profile and no Bank will take a risk on you, for five years at least. And why should they, if you fail to demonstrate a trustworthy past?

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Hunt and Herd your Competition

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Hunting competitorsSelling is a contact sport and when it comes to competitors it should be full body contact!

Competition serves the collective good. Merchants are kept on their toes and customers are able to select a provider that best meets their needs or desires. Many business people underestimate their competitors ― pretending they don’t exist or their offer is irrelevant or somehow inferior. Dont make that mistake.

By default, we often frame competitors as the enemy. We’ve never met them, nor do we want to. If they’re flying a flag with a different brand ― they’re evil! This belief is not only ignorant, it’s limiting and ultimately self-defeating.

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Nuances of effective negotiation

Sunday, March 6th, 2011

communication_negotiation[1]Often a sale will come down to a final negotiation when two or more parties aim to draw a body of communication to some form of conclusion.

In Australia, negotiating is frequently referred to as “haggling” and is not considered part of our laconic and laid back business culture.

I recently met with, Morry Morgan the co-owner of ClarkMorgan Corporate Training. His new book, ‘Selling Big to China’ delves into Morry’s ten years of on the ground experience selling in China and also provides insights into Asian business culture.

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One plus one should equal three

Monday, February 14th, 2011

One plus one should equal threeOne happy customer plus another should equal three.

For every two customers you win at least one should buy again or refer you to a friend. We all exist in a hyper-connected and transparent business world. If people aren’t sharing their positive experiences about you with others, something about what you do needs to change.

Although competition is vicious and margins in most markets are being eroded, customers still and always will pay for value and quality service. In fact, we crave it. Deep in our psyche we all have an innate need to be loved and included. Moreover, to be valued, appreciated and remembered. This is the essence of what I refer to as, RetroService.

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The panic merchant

Friday, February 4th, 2011

panicButton[1]The best time to “get urgent” is when you least need to.

Complacency is ubiquitous and also highly contagious. I see too many sales teams merely moving through the motions with no accountability or consequence. There is little pride in what they do and few are prepared to fight for what they believe in.

Someone in your company needs to be, ‘the panic merchant.’  This person shouldn’t necessarily always be the CFO; though most are adept in its dark arts. You’ve got to get urgent for your own outcomes. Be hungry and sell like your life depends on it. Not all the time, but at the very least when you need to.

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Tis the season to celebrate

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

merrychristmas[1]Christmas is almost here bringing with it the season of loving cheer.

Retailers are rallying in hope of a bumper period, while other less active industries are winding down for a well earned respite and regroup for the New Year.

December is my silly season, every year I spend this time investing in my clients. I take a selection of my valuable clients out for celebratory lunches. We simply catch-up and share a meal, sometimes wine, but always meaningful conversations. This is not my time to sell, in fact there’s little business banter, rather it’s a moment to simply relax and reflect.  

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The curse of competence

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

mediocrity[1]

Being competent at what you do is a good start, but it’s not enough to be the best.

People that stay competent kill long term company value. Ooh that’s a  harsh sweeping statement I know. But competence breeds complacency which leads to mediocrity. To be a great salesperson or company you need to go from being competent to being the best. That’s how great companies and people grow.

How does you being the best benefit your customers? It means they get the right people that provide the best advice, commitment to outcomes, and value/benefit for their risk/investment.

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Contribution

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

GIVE

In business if you aren’t contributing to the lives of others, you’re either simply doing nothing or taking from them.

Many people think “selling” is the art of getting what I want. This is only partly true. The real movers and shakers in sales understand how contribution serves them and others. 

We all know people in life who take, so as we get older and wiser ― we don’t associate with these people for too long. Perhaps if we are really honest with ourselves we take more than give sometimes too. And this is easy to do, particularly when we get desperate.

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