<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=577820730604200&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">

Let’s say your sales results are off by 50 percent. You are literally producing half of your number. There are a few things you can do to improve your results and close the gap.

First, you can double your activity. You can do twice as much work, which for many people may be exactly what is necessary.

Second, you can double your effectiveness. You can double the size of the opportunities and double your win rates. This recipe will also produce an improvement, and it may also be a good choice.

The first choice begins with an assumption that sales is strictly a numbers game. In this view, there is nothing but activity. More activity leads to more opportunities leads to more wins, and there is no reason to do anything except double up your prospecting efforts, which, again, may not be a bad idea for those who do too little to create the results they need.

Choosing only to increase activity leaves out too many other factors to make it the only thing that one might do—or should do—to improve their sales results.

The second choice begins with a different assumption than the idea that activity is the only thing necessary to producing results. Instead, this view is biased toward improving the effectiveness of the sales force or salespeople who are struggling. The training, development, and coaching that increase one’s ability to target their dream clients and create bigger opportunities isn’t easy to provide and it doesn’t produce results as fast as one might hope. But the upside of working on effectiveness is that it also improves win rates, and a higher percentage of wins against bigger opportunities improves results exponentially, almost invariably more than activity alone.

The truth of the matter is that some people need more activity to produce the better results they need. Others need to improve their effectiveness to close the gap between their results now and the results they need, especially if they already have good activity.

Some, however, need to improve their activity while they work on their effectiveness. The increased activity solves the problem that is low activity, and the additional reps provide them with the opportunity to practice the new mindsets and skills that will—eventually—lead to greater effectiveness.

Tags:
Sales 2018
Post by Anthony Iannarino on August 15, 2018

Written and edited by human brains and human hands.

Anthony Iannarino

Anthony Iannarino is an American writer. He has published daily at thesalesblog.com for more than 14 years, amassing over 5,300 articles and making this platform a destination for salespeople and sales leaders. Anthony is also the author of four best-selling books documenting modern sales methodologies and a fifth book for sales leaders seeking revenue growth. His latest book for an even wider audience is titled, The Negativity Fast: Proven Techniques to Increase Positivity, Reduce Fear, and Boost Success.

Anthony speaks to sales organizations worldwide, delivering cutting-edge sales strategies and tactics that work in this ever-evolving B2B landscape. He also provides workshops and seminars. You can reach Anthony at thesalesblog.com or email Beth@b2bsalescoach.com.

Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn, X or Youtube. You can email Anthony at iannarino@gmail.com

ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1 Sales-Accelerator-Virtual-Event-Bundle-ad-square
salescall-planner-ebook-v3-1-cover (1)

Are You Ready To Solve Your Sales Challenges?

Anthony-Solve-Sales

Hi, I’m Anthony. I help sales teams make the changes needed to create more opportunities & crush their sales targets. What we’re doing right now is working, even in this challenging economy. Would you like some help?

Solve for Sales

Join my Weekly Newsletter for Sales Tips

Join 100,000+ sales professionals in my weekly newsletter and get my Guide to Becoming a Sales Hustler eBook for FREE!