Instead of directly asking to meet with a senior executive, first propose a more tactical next step with your current contact. Then, position the executive meeting as a logical 'next, next step' contingent on the success of the first. This reduces pressure and makes the request feel less abrupt.

Instead of waiting until the end to close, establish the meeting's potential outcomes upfront. Get the prospect's permission to deliver a 'no' if it's not a fit, and pre-agree on a specific next step if neither party says 'no'. This eliminates the buyer's power to stall later on.

Instead of waiting to combat objections live during a high-stakes group meeting, work with your champion beforehand to anticipate them. This proactive step allows you to prepare your strategy and address potential deal friction before it can derail the conversation in front of the entire buying committee. It's about seeking out friction early to ensure a smoother path to consensus.

An enthusiastic champion often rushes to pitch a solution internally, only to be shut down. Slow them down using 'commercial coaching'—sharing stories of how similar deals failed. This helps them understand the importance of first aligning the buying group on the problem.

Prospects often decline meetings to avoid another bad sales experience. Counter this by explicitly stating the value they'll receive (e.g., free ideas, best practices) even if they don't purchase, making the meeting a low-risk proposition for them.

After a group discovery call, don't just set one follow-up. Schedule brief, individual breakout sessions with every stakeholder. This creates multiple parallel threads, uncovers honest feedback people won't share in a group, and builds momentum across the entire buying committee, dramatically increasing deal velocity.

To break the typical 'salesperson vs. buyer' dynamic, open the meeting by framing the objective as achieving a shared understanding of the problem, not deciding on a solution. Explicitly state that deciding not to proceed is a perfectly acceptable outcome for the meeting.

In complex enterprise sales, don't rely solely on your champion. Proactively connect with every member of the buying committee using personal touches like video messages. This builds a network of allies who can provide crucial information and help salvage a deal if it stalls.

To secure a critical meeting with a large buying group, don't just ask your internal champion to set it up. This adds work to their plate and creates friction. Instead, remove the effort by ghostwriting the meeting invitation for them. This simple, tactical step makes it easier for your champion to act on your behalf, increasing the likelihood of getting the right stakeholders in a room.