Premature presentation syndrome

Contributed - Jun 11, 2012 / 5:00 am | Story: 76122

Sadly, this is a damaging disease that afflicts many sales people. It occurs when a salesperson launches into a sales presentation or develops a quote before the timing and conditions are right. Why does this happen?

Well it happens often because we want to show our expertise. We believe that if we tell the prospect everything we know about our product and service, that prospect will be so overwhelmed and impressed that they won’t be able to control themselves and they’ll have to buy. Horse hockey. The real reason we do it is to make ourselves feel good.

By launching into a features and benefits dissertation, we get to show how good we are. “Yep, I know my stuff!” The problem often is we over present, or we present information that is not related to the prospect’s real problem. We want to sell what we have and not necessarily what the prospect needs. That may be convenient for us but prospect’s will not take you seriously.

The other scenario is the prospect wants a presentation before you have enough details to effectively develop a meaningful solution to their problem. Sales people beware! You should be very suspicious of prospects who simply want a price. It’s never the reason good long-term customers buy. If you succumb to this buyer tactic, you will be nothing but a vendor, someone with a product and price.

To avoid the affliction of Premature Presentation Syndrome learn to tell your prospects nothing. Until you have all the appropriate questions answered, have a full and detailed understanding of the prospect’s issues, including their willingness to spend what’s appropriate on the solution, you have no right making a presentation.

John Glennon is the owner of Insight Sales Consulting Inc, the authorized Sandler Training Licensee for the Interior of British Columbia. He can be reached at [email protected], toll free at 1-866-645-2047 or view his website at www.glennon.sandler.com

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

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About the Author

John Glennon is an authorized licensee of Sandler TrainingSM in the Interior of British Columbia.

John is an accomplished sales person and manager with over 17 years sales and sales management experience. Beginning in sales in 1990 as a sales representative, he progressed to territory manager, sales manager, division manager and national sales and marketing manager roles throughout his career.

In 1997, John became a student of the Sandler Selling System. This introduction changed his sales career and over time propelled John and his career to new heights.

Successful in accelerating growth through strategic leadership, John knows firsthand the value of a sales training approach that follows a learning philosophy of ongoing reinforcement. He is experienced in driving the behaviours, attitudes and techniques required of an effective sales team.

Sandler Training is offered on a regular basis from their Kelowna, BC training center and through innovative distance learning programs to the rest of the BC Interior.

www.glennon.sandler.com

[email protected]
1-866-645-2047

The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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