Todd Cohen

Starbucks.

Dear ToddCohen.com Sales Community, I love my coffee ( yes, I do actually drink decaffeinated). Yes, this post has virtually nothing to do with sales and I dont care. I was finishing my walk this morning and stopped into my regular Starbucks to get my large decaf coffee. I refuse to say the words "venti" or whatever. Anyway, I am amazed that people can ask for a drink that's at least 16 different words and do it with straight face. I am equally amazed that the people behind the counters can repeat it and it gets made correctly. So, I began to think about how these people who work at Starbucks might ...

Almost There

Dear ToddCohen.com Sales Community, Its amazing ( well at least to me)! On June 4th we will celebrate our first full year of building the ToddCohen.com Sales Community! How does a year go by so fast?....Well, to that end, several new things are about to happen. First, you will be seeing the new and upgraded ToddCohen.com website. We have made many upgrades to the technology and added great new features. I have just finished recording video and more podcasts. Many great people writing timely articles for us to learn from as a community. On the heels of the new ToddCohen.com, my new corporate website, SalesLeaderLLC. com will be launched as well. ...

Finding Sales Talent

ToddCohen.com Sales Community, Finding great sales talent is always a challenge for companies. Its hard to find the best! Sourcing and attracting sales talent takes time, skill and the right focus and perspective. I have asked John Smith, Vice President and Partner from Kellen James in Phoenix , Arizona to comment on this for our Sales Community! I think you will enjoy Johns comments and thought. Good Selling! -Todd

10 Digits Away!

Hello ToddCohen.com Sales Community!

Email is everywhere. It rules our lives, or so it feels at times! I for one am sick of it. I like my voice-more importantly I like hearing other peoples voices! Great sales cultures depend and thrive on effective and consistent ("obsessive") communication.

Communication is the lifeblood of an organization. When you, as a sales leader have an opportunity to talk or email with someone, what do you choose? Why did you choose that manner of communication? I realize that there are some things that need to be documented, but not everything needs to be in email. I

Coaching vs. Telling

Hello ToddCohen.com Sales Community,  Are you in a position to be a coach to someone? The answer is "YES"! It does not matter if you are a  sales manager or an individual contributor.  You can always find an opportunity to coach and offer counsel to other sales professionals in your real and virtual world. I am asked many times about the best way to coach someone? The first thing that comes to mind is to know the difference between coaching and telling them something. The difference is in delivery and how you "set up" the coaching session. Always begin a coaching session-- or as I like to call them "coaching moments" --by asking if you may coach them at  that time?  If ...

Prospecting for Quality Business

Dear ToddCohen.com Sales Community, Are you prospecting and creating quality business? In other words, are you bringing business to the able that is profitable, actionable and is a win-win for both parties? Let me suggest that as we go forth and prospect and develop business, always ask yourself, "Is this good business?" Does it make business make sense? Can my company deliver it and make a profit? Will it stand out as business that the company can act on and deliver? These are all good questions that great sales professionals constantly challenge themselves with. It is true that we can get caught between bringing any business to the table and knowing when to bring forth the right ...

Sales Culture Part TWO!

Dear ToddCohen.com Sales Community, As many of you know, my work and passion is very much about helping companies build successful sales culture. I have been doing some formal and informal research the last few months and have been asking the question" What does sales culture mean to you"? Here are some more answers:

“Sales culture is the sum total of all the informal behavioral interaction between people, within the organization and between the staff and customers. It starts at the top and pervades all levels of the organization. These behaviors will tend to fall into one of these behavioral categories: rigid, coherent or diffuse. Coherent behaviors are the ones that engage people – staff as well as customers –

I am Back!

Dear Todd Cohen Sales Community... Hello! I am back and ready to blog! Thanks to all of you in the ToddCohen.com Sales Community who were sending me emails and calling to see where I was! In short, I learned the hard way that moving and keeping up with your blogging is not easy! Some updates: *The new ToddCohen.com is about a month away and I am sure you will like it! Many of you have offered great insight and thoughtful suggestions I thank you! Please keep the ideas coming. *I am holding off on my next newsletter until the new ToddCohen.com is ready. Stay tuned. *I am busy writing my next white paper titled " Creating Great Sales Cultures". ...

Quality vs. Quantity

Dear Sales Community, Which do you think is better? Quantity of sales calls or the quality of sales calls? As one who was raised (in sales) in a time when we were strictly measured against metrics, one might say that making many calls is the most important thing. Make as many calls as you can and you will be successful. I do agree that activity is critical and a key party of being a successful sales professional! In fact, in the world of sales management this is still very important-making sure that your team is keeping activity high. That has not changed. However, times have changed in some ways.  In many cases, what we sell has ...

The Difference is Service

Good Morning ToddCohen.com Sales Community, Yesterday I was talking with some sales professionals who were concerned about their product being seen as a commodity. This is certainly not the first time I have heard this. It happens to all sales professionals at one time or another. I am often asked how I deal with that issue, and one of the first things that comes to mind is service. The service you provide as a trusted partner to a client is the difference and a large reason why people will buy from you. Now we all have heard the old adage " people buy you not the product". Guess what? It is TRUE. ...