Don't Go Into the Woods | Sales Development | Wilson Learning Worldwide
 

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Don’t go into the woods!

Horror stories from the sales field (Juillet 22, 2014)

It is a damp night, fog rolling in. A wolf howls as eerie music plays in the background. A woman appears, blood on her hands. Alone and scared, she stumbles out of the house and down creaky stairs, looking out across a wide yard. At the edge of the yard is a dark entrance to the woods. The woman looks around, then heads slowly toward the woods.

If you are sitting at the cinema, what are you saying to yourself, maybe even yelling at the screen? “Don't go . . . Don't go into the woods!”

Now picture this: Alex is pursuing an opportunity. In several discovery meetings, Alex gains a lot of information, but not much understanding. The actual problem is not clearly defined. There is no evidence the project is strategic to the company. One contact says there is funding; another says there is no funding. Priorities seem to change with every conversation. What will Alex do?

“Don't go . . . Don't go into the woods!” Many times, the signs are as clear as a cheesy horror film. You should really re-think your decision to continue, but the reality is that most salespeople will continue to pursue the opportunity because of the time and effort already invested.

How do you decide to pursue the right opportunity? It is actually quite simple to say, but hard to do.

Three Questions to Ask:

Will the customer buy? The signs are usually clear. Is there strategic importance, a compelling event or a budget? Without these three things, it is just an entry into a dark woods.

Will the business, if won, be good for my company and myself? Salespeople tend to focus on the time and resources already invested when they should be focused on the costs to deliver and support the sale. If this has potential for becoming the “customer I wish I hadn’t got,” then re-think entering the woods.

Finally, will the customer buy from me? The question is not will they buy, but will they buy from you? Is a competitor better aligned with the customer on value? Is there a competitor with an inside tract? Are you offering a clear competitive advantage? If not, that dark entry to the woods may just be a dead end.

Consider each question in order. If you don’t know the answer, find out. But if there is compelling evidence that the answer is no, then don’t do it . . . Don’t go into the woods!

About the Author
David Yesford

David Yesford

David Yesford est Vice-Président de Wilson Learning Worldwide. Fort de plus de 30 ans d'expérience dans le développement et la mise en oeuvre dans le monde entier de solutions visant à améliorer la performance humaine, M. Yesford apporte à son travail une expertise précieuse, une orientation stratégique et une perspective globale. Il a occupé au sein de Wilson Learning des postes stratégiques dans les domaines clés de la vente et du leadership, ainsi que de l'e-learning et du conseil stratégique.

M. Yesford a contribué à l'écriture de plusieurs livres et a été publié dans diverses revues commerciales à travers le monde. Il intervient régulièrement lors d'événements internationaux sur les sujets de la vente, du leadership, de l'engagement des employés et des clients, de la marque et de la mise en oeuvre de stratégies.

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