Guest Post: How I Got Into The CFO’s Office (And Was Invited To Stay) – Part 2

In our last blog we discussed that salespeople are under-qualified to sell in this new economy. Why? While most salespeople possess strategic, relationship, and consultative sales expertise, many have little or no financial sales training skills. As a result, they cannot easily identify and formulate accurate business and financial cases for their products and services.

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Since 2008, corporations are under a tremendous amount of financial pressure. They have limited time for vendors following a pre-determined sales process or technique that doesn't immediately focus on their company's financial needs. Prospects want sales professionals to get right to the financial point or they will find a vendor who can.

Since 2008, corporations are under a tremendous amount of financial pressure. They have limited time for vendors following a pre-determined sales process or technique that doesn't immediately focus on their company's financial needs. Prospects want sales professionals to get right to the financial point or they will find a vendor who can.

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Fortunately for most sales professionals, it is easy to re-tool and learn to insert Financial Performance Sales Skills into each sale.

Fortunately for most sales professionals, it is easy to re-tool and learn to insert Financial Performance Sales Skills into each sale.

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Salespeople need to remember just one fact: the key to closing any deal can always be found in the financial data of your prospect.

Salespeople need to remember just one fact: the key to closing any deal can always be found in the financial data of your prospect.

What Your Competitors Don't Know About Senior Decision Makers

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Financial Performance Selling utilizes your prospect's financial data to dramatically shorten sales cycles, position the sales professional as a trusted advisor and close larger and more meaningful deals at higher levels of the organization. The basic assumptions with Financial Performance Selling are:

Financial Performance Selling utilizes your prospect's financial data to dramatically shorten sales cycles, position the sales professional as a trusted advisor and close larger and more meaningful deals at higher levels of the organization. The basic assumptions with Financial Performance Selling are:

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   Key decision makers of every organization study and know what financial numbers are negatively affecting their firm.

   Key decision makers of every organization study and know what financial numbers are negatively affecting their firm.

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   They have a fiduciary responsibility to examine products/services that can change these trends.

   They have a fiduciary responsibility to examine products/services that can change these trends.

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Moreover, prospects are willing to close deals faster if sales professionals will present their products/services in the financial terms that are meaningful to the bottom line. Most salespeople can't easily do that. Thankfully, you don't need the training of a CFO or an MBA to understand and present solutions connected to financial impact. In fact, the training to recognize the ratios and KPI's to quickly frame and close the biggest sale of your career can be accomplished in a matter of a few focused hours.

Moreover, prospects are willing to close deals faster if sales professionals will present their products/services in the financial terms that are meaningful to the bottom line. Most salespeople can't easily do that. Thankfully, you don't need the training of a CFO or an MBA to understand and present solutions connected to financial impact. In fact, the training to recognize the ratios and KPI's to quickly frame and close the biggest sale of your career can be accomplished in a matter of a few focused hours.

The Secret to Setting Up and Closing a Big Deal

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All public companies make their financial data available to the public. A salesperson simply needs to tap into this information to gather the necessary data to formulate a "financial impact" solution. The best sources for this information are the 10Q's, 10K's and Annual Reports of a company. Even if you cannot get a company's financial data, you can learn to ask the right questions to unlock the information. Your informed and thoughtful financial questions indicate to your customer's senior buyers that you are a candidate for trusted adviser status. Trusted advisers will always rise above the competition.

All public companies make their financial data available to the public. A salesperson simply needs to tap into this information to gather the necessary data to formulate a "financial impact" solution. The best sources for this information are the 10Q's, 10K's and Annual Reports of a company. Even if you cannot get a company's financial data, you can learn to ask the right questions to unlock the information. Your informed and thoughtful financial questions indicate to your customer's senior buyers that you are a candidate for trusted adviser status. Trusted advisers will always rise above the competition.

ASTD Says The Next Evolution Of Selling Is Here!

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According to ASTD's recent research report, Accelerating Revenue Through Learning: Developing Sales Teams that Win, the salesperson's role has dramatically shifted four times in the past 30 years and we are now entering a fifth stage.

According to ASTD's recent research report, Accelerating Revenue Through Learning: Developing Sales Teams that Win, the salesperson's role has dramatically shifted four times in the past 30 years and we are now entering a fifth stage.

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The Study states that, "This report has shown us that success in this economy is based upon the ability to shift selling strategy. Furthermore, the key to shifting selling strategy is sales force education. A new set of skills is clearly required, and this set of skills is significantly different than those of the past."

The Study states that, "This report has shown us that success in this economy is based upon the ability to shift selling strategy. Furthermore, the key to shifting selling strategy is sales force education. A new set of skills is clearly required, and this set of skills is significantly different than those of the past."

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As the study continues, " Over three quarters of the Study respondents want their sales training focus to change. They want to learn how to manage the perception of customer value, focus on strategic thinking, and become a better consultant. Salespeople want more training in problem-solving and diagnosis. In fact, sales professionals ranked problem-solving directly behind sales skills as the most important skill a salesperson can acquire."

As the study continues, "Over three quarters of the Study respondents want their sales training focus to change. They want to learn how to manage the perception of customer value, focus on strategic thinking, and become a better consultant. Salespeople want more training in problem-solving and diagnosis. In fact, sales professionals ranked problem-solving directly behind sales skills as the most important skill a salesperson can acquire."

And How Exactly Did I Close The Sale?

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At the end of our last blog, I joined my "almost-closed" customer's CFO in her office for a deeper dive into the financial impact of my products on her key metrics. "Angela, I told you I was sure my products could improve 5 of your key metrics, i.e., Days Sales Outstanding, Days on Hand, Cost of Sales as a % of Sales, Gross Margin, and Return on Assets . I can show you exactly how we impact each one. With respect for your limited time, would you tell me which one of those measures is bothering you the most?" Angela said, "Well, since you asked, it's Cost of Sales as a % of Sales ." I said to her, "Let me guess why: that number is going up because your salespeople are focusing too much on discounting and it is eroding your margins and your sales force's confidence." Angela smiled, "That is exactly what is going on and you're the first salesperson we've talked to who understood the problem before we explained it. I have to admit that I'm impressed and I think we can begin 'next steps' to getting this deal done."

At the end of our last blog, I joined my "almost-closed" customer's CFO in her office for a deeper dive into the financial impact of my products on her key metrics. "Angela, I told you I was sure my products could improve 5 of your key metrics, i.e., Days Sales Outstanding, Days on Hand, Cost of Sales as a % of Sales, Gross Margin, and Return on Assets. I can show you exactly how we impact each one. With respect for your limited time, would you tell me which one of those measures is bothering you the most?" Angela said, "Well, since you asked, it's Cost of Sales as a % of Sales." I said to her, "Let me guess why: that number is going up because your salespeople are focusing too much on discounting and it is eroding your margins and your sales force's confidence." Angela smiled, "That is exactly what is going on and you're the first salesperson we've talked to who understood the problem before we explained it. I have to admit that I'm impressed and I think we can begin 'next steps' to getting this deal done."

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In next week's blog, we will show you how I identified and understood - and how you can all know - the issues that would close the deal with the CFO. Having that insider's knowledge is the fast track to closing more and bigger sales every time.

In next week's blog, we will show you how I identified and understood - and how you can all know - the issues that would close the deal with the CFO. Having that insider's knowledge is the fast track to closing more and bigger sales every time.