Who can say no?

One of my advisors said this to me and I was embarrassed because I didn’t know the answer. It struck a chord with me because I knew why I didn’t know the answer. I didn’t want to know!

It’s much more pleasant and exciting to speak with the Champion.

You love the champion, they are your biggest fan. They believe in your solution. They want your solution and are willing to put their neck on the line to help get the deal done.

Cheers to all the champions out there!

It’s much more enjoyable to speak with or seek out the Economic Buyer.

This person has the most power and could be the ultimate decision-maker. They hold the rubber stamp, sign the check, help get you paid!

It’s easy to have tunnel vision in pursuit of the almighty economic buyer.

“Avoiding pain” early on in the sales cycle can lead to a great deal of pain at the end.

Find out who can say ‘no’.

There is always a person who can say NO to your solution or service. Ask your champion or primary contact this once you understand the problem you are solving and the potential solution. The earlier you make the ask, the more open you’ll find their response.

If your champion isn’t sure, take a minute and think, what groups does your offering touch? Who else is involved in the end-to-end process?

“Person No” might be a part of a different team or work in another department. Like identifying the competition, just because you haven’t heard it come up doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Don’t confuse “Person No” with being a blocker. They aren’t. At least, not yet. They might become a blocker if you don’t proactively reach out to them to understand their needs and concerns.

Ask the question. Uncover this opportunity blind spot.

Uncover your opportunity blind spots

The average deal has grown from 7 signatures to 11, so you don’t want to be blindsided ← pun fully intended.