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- 👸🏻 How to Audit Sales Calls: 5-Step Guide for Founders & Sales Leaders
👸🏻 How to Audit Sales Calls: 5-Step Guide for Founders & Sales Leaders
Ask a CRO with Chief Revenue Officer Michelle Terpstra
💡 Highlights
Why it's best to use a sales framework [00:44]
Focus on one specific part of the call [01:10]
Don't listen to the entire call, skip to the part you're focusing on [01:41]
How to make sure your sales reps listen to the feedback [02:22]
Record and document your feedback [03:14]
As a sales leader or founder, auditing your sales team's calls is crucial for fostering a culture of continuous improvement and hitting your growth targets. However, reviewing sales calls can feel like a daunting and time-consuming task. In this article, we'll walk you through a streamlined, 5-step guide to effectively audit sales calls while maximizing your time and impact.
1. Use a Proven Sales Framework
To make the auditing process more efficient, use a sales framework that outlines the key components of a successful sales call. This framework should serve as a script for your sales team's engagements, making it easier to identify areas for improvement during the auditing process.
2. Focus on One Area at a Time
Instead of attempting to review an entire call, select one specific area to focus on each week. For example, you might choose to concentrate on rapport-building one week, and then shift your focus to uncovering needs, closing techniques, or follow-up strategies in subsequent weeks. This targeted approach helps your sales team stay focused and allows you to provide more meaningful feedback.
3. Skip to the Relevant Section of the Recorded Call
When auditing a call, resist the temptation to listen to the entire recording. Instead, jump directly to the section that aligns with your chosen focus area for the week. This will save you time and enable you to provide targeted feedback more efficiently.
5. Provide Constructive Feedback
When offering feedback to your sales team, it's essential to use a constructive approach. Remember that salespeople face rejection and challenges on a daily basis, so it's important to balance your critique with positive reinforcement. Start by highlighting their strengths, then provide specific, actionable feedback on areas for improvement. Consider recording your feedback on video, stopping and starting the call recording as needed to provide targeted insights.
5. Record and Document Your Feedback
To ensure that your feedback is effectively implemented, record and document your observations and recommendations. This creates a baseline for future conversations during one-on-one meetings, weekly calls, and team huddles. Require your sales team to respond to your feedback, sharing their key takeaways to promote active learning and accountability.
Remember, the goal of auditing sales calls is not just to identify flaws, but to recognize strengths, promote self-coaching, and continuously improve your sales team's skills over time. By consistently providing targeted feedback, you can dramatically enhance the effectiveness of your sales team and foster a high-performance sales culture that drives growth and success.
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First? Second? Third? In my experience, founders will go through the process of hiring, onboarding, wait-and-see’ing and firing sales reps 3 times before they give up and ask for help. So, why not skip the pain and fast forward to the pleasure? Hire your first (or next) salesperson and get it right the first time. Check out Startup Sales Leadership Academy.
“We have been able to re-design our sales process in a way that feels much more strategic, easy, and achievable. I never loved sales, but now I am excited by it, and Michelle showed me ways I could grow my business and my team without having to be the main chief salesperson. Highly value and recommend her wealth of experience and knowledge she shares with her clients.”
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