A deal forecast is weak if the rep can't articulate the champion's personal motivation. Managers should push beyond "they like the product" and ask what's in it for the individual (e.g., a promotion, solving a personal pain point). This uncovers true deal commitment.
To truly resonate with an economic buyer, align your solution to the specific KPIs they are personally accountable for. These metrics often differ from those of your champion or general corporate objectives like revenue and cost savings, requiring tailored messaging.
Before teaching sales tactics, first understand a new rep's personal motivations. This intrinsic desire for a better future is the only thing strong enough to help them push through the inevitable pain and rejection of prospecting.
When preparing for a sales call, reps often confuse tactics ('walk through price') with the actual goal. A manager should coach them to articulate what they are trying to *accomplish* (e.g., 'align on value with the economic buyer'), not just what they plan to *do*. This separates productivity from busyness.
Beyond financial incentives, a powerful 'carrot' for salespeople is the personal pride and satisfaction of winning a specific, coveted customer logo. This non-monetary goal adds a 'notch on the belt' and can be a stronger driver of performance than the deal's commission alone.
Companies don't sign six-figure contracts to solve one person's frustrations. To justify a large purchase, you must anchor the sale to tangible business outcomes. Frame discovery questions around the company's goals, not just an individual champion's personal pain points.
Salespeople need specific, tangible goals to pull them through daily rejection. Abstract goals like 'providing for my family' are less effective than concrete objectives like earning a specific commission check or buying a boat, as these provide a more visceral and immediate motivational pull.
Many sales leaders run pipeline reviews solely to extract information for their forecast. The meeting's primary purpose should be to help the rep understand what to do next. Effective coaching leads to closed deals, which in turn creates an accurate forecast naturally.
In enterprise deals, discovery shouldn't stop at company objectives. Ask your champion about a key stakeholder's personal career goals. Are they newly promoted and need to prove themselves? Are they aiming for their next promotion? Aligning your solution to their personal ambitions creates a much stronger motivation to buy.
Sales leaders wrongly assume compensation is the universal motivator. However, assessment data shows money is the primary driver for only about 55% of salespeople. To create effective incentives, leaders must uncover individual motives, which may include free time, recognition, or charitable giving.
The traditional definition of a champion (power, influence, vested interest) is incomplete. The most critical, and often overlooked, criterion is their proven willingness to actively sell on your behalf when you are not present. Without evidence of them taking action, you don't have a champion, regardless of their position.