Two critical elements in the sales process are control and urgency. By effectively controlling the conversation and maintaining a sense of urgency, you can significantly improve your chances of closing deals. This is the importance of control and urgency in sales and some practical tips on how to master them.
Why Control and Urgency Matter in Sales:
- Control: By controlling the conversation and process, you can keep the focus on your prospect’s needs, overcome objections, and guide them towards a decision.
- Urgency: Creating a sense of urgency helps motivate prospects to take action and prevents deals from stalling due to indecision or procrastination. It also helps you push your prospects to make a decision, whether it’s a yes or a no.
How to Master Control and Urgency in Sales:
- Set the Agenda: At the beginning of a conversation or meeting, establish the purpose and desired outcome. This sets the stage for a focused and productive discussion.
- Keep the Conversation On-Track: Be prepared to steer the conversation back to the topic at hand if it strays off course. This helps maintain control and ensures you’re addressing your prospect’s needs.
- Use Time-Based Incentives: Offer time-sensitive discounts or promotions to encourage prospects to make a decision sooner rather than later.
- Emphasize the Consequences of Inaction: Highlight the potential risks or drawbacks of not taking action, such as missing out on potential savings, benefits, or opportunities.
- Maintain a Consistent Follow-Up Schedule: Regularly check in with your prospects to keep the momentum going and demonstrate your commitment to their success. And be prepared to follow up 3 times, then let your prospect know that is your last follow up unless they get back to you. “Sacking” a prospect often brings them back on course.
- And Most Important of All, Schedule the Next Step: Before ending a meeting or call, always schedule the next interaction, whether it’s another meeting, a phone call, or a product demonstration. This helps maintain control of the sales process and keeps the sense of urgency alive. If you fail to book the next meeting or call before you end this one, you’ve lost the sale.
Mastering control and urgency in the sales process is essential for closing deals and achieving success in sales. By setting the agenda, keeping the conversation on track, using time-based incentives, emphasizing the consequences of inaction, maintaining a consistent follow-up schedule, and scheduling the next step, you can effectively control the conversation and maintain a sense of urgency throughout the sales process. Incorporating these strategies into your sales approach can help you become a more skilled and successful sales professional.
Would you like to learn more? Book a FREE sales improvement workshop
