If you are facing a flatlining sales record, the cause may be one of your team members. This low performer can weigh on morale and harbors repercussions beyond their results: it impacts the whole company’s success. Coaching such underwhelming performances is tricky; it requires ingenuity and skillful management for them to start selling successfully again. In this article, we will discuss how to coach a low-performing salesperson effectively.
Encourage personal development can improve confidence
Confidence is a significant factor in sales success and those lacking this trait often need help to close deals. To support your low-performing staff and help them achieve peak performance, give them the resources they need – such as one of these inspiring books, which could potentially transform their mindset and ability.
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Solutions like motivational books can help increase self-confidence and break through any barriers that may be standing in the way of success. Remember, it’s vital also to double-check your sales process for other issues beyond low confidence – addressing these two aspects will ensure optimal progress on both fronts.
Product Knowledge
A salesperson’s confidence can take a hit if they need to be better versed in their product. To ensure success, arm them with helpful resources such as product sheets and videos which explain how it works and the features and benefits, plus provide one-on-one training sessions for specific questions with trainers or manufacturer reps. Encourage staff to take notes during these sessions as an additional learning aid when engaging customers.
Overcoming Objections
Even the most experienced salespeople will encounter customer resistance periodically – so it’s vital to equip your less successful team with strategies for overcoming objections. Doing this can help them boost their performance and give customers a powerful, positive experience.
To equip your sales team with the best methods to address common customer objections, create a document that outlines how each objection can be overcome. Provide this resource to those struggling and then hold role-playing sessions. In these sessions pose as customers raising various objections. Such exercises will provide necessary practice for conquering real-life scenarios.
Provide helpful, effective sales scripts
Struggling salespeople may need help to open and close conversations with customers. To help them rise above these obstacles, provide a personalized sales script that outlines key ideas they can use in their own words during customer interactions. Ask your team what type of guidance they need the most, then equip them with the right resources to increase their success rate!
Teach the salesperson how to listen actively
Listening is critical to sales success; it enables your team to uncover the knowledge they need and craft personalized solutions that will make a positive difference in their customers’ lives. You can build trust and create opportunities for successful sales with active listening. By teaching your team these communication skills now, you’ll benefit from its long-term rewards.
Coaching Sessions
Coaching a struggling sales rep is an excellent opportunity to gain insights into your team’s challenges. Before starting, carefully analyze their process for flaws and consider listening in on the sales floor for evaluation. By taking this approach, you can suggest effective strategies to improve their performance while providing valuable information to use when making future hiring decisions, allowing you to create and maintain high-performing teams.
Although it may be difficult, coaching a low performer is essential for any sales manager. Using the techniques we’ve outlined, you can help this individual improve their performance and get back on track to contribute to your team’s success. To do this, you must make your sales meetings engaging and provide actionable and motivating feedback.
