Hey there, sales rockstars! 🚀 Guess what? It's been a whole week since we launched Zinnia Daily - a tool to help you be prepped for all of your upcoming meetings! 🎉
In light of that, do we have a special treat for you! We’re diving into the juicy world of sales leadership, emotional intelligence, and how to thrive in this wild, remote-first landscape (where meetings are not happening in person, and your reps are no-longer always in the office!)
In sales, emotional intelligence (EQ) is now vital for leaders, especially in remote work. It's about understanding and controlling your emotions and being empathetic to others. EQ can decide whether a deal succeeds or fails.
Adapting to a Remote Work Environment
Picture this: you're navigating the remote work sea, and emotional intelligence is your trusty compass. It's not just about understanding your own vibes but also tapping into your team's feelings. Because, let's face it, a happy and supported team is a productive team.
Take Codility, for example. These folks from Warsaw know a thing or two about remote work. Thanks to CEO Natalia Panowicz's leadership, they smoothly transitioned to a fully remote setup. How? By listening to their team, of course! Flexibility for the win!
Remote First and the Sales Environment
Now, in this crazy remote-first sales world, building relationships can be like trying to find a needle in a digital haystack. It’s imperative to remember: virtual communication is your new best friend, and emotional intelligence is the key to decoding those subtle client signals.
Selling to Well-Informed Customers
Today's customers are more informed than they ever have been and may already have ideas about your product or service. Sales leaders should be empathetic and genuinely try to understand the customer. This means listening actively, asking open-ended questions, and being fully engaged in the conversation. These actions build trust and credibility, important for strong client relationships.
Cold Calls Are Not a Thing
And can we talk about the death of cold calling? Yep, it's happening. Customers want you to know their stuff before you slide into their DMs. “According to a study by Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business, fewer than 0.3% of cold calls by experienced sales executives resulted in a meeting. And yes, you read that right–only 19 out of 6,264 calls yielded even the chance of a sale.” - Why Technology Has Made Cold Calling Obsolete In 2019, by Ben Hartmere.
In a nutshell, emotional intelligence is your sales superhero cape in this remote-first world. So show up prepared and personalize your interactions. It's a journey, not a destination, folks! Channel your inner EQ guru, connect with your team and customers, and let the sales magic happen.
