The market for professional services is becoming increasingly competitive, with some firms and individuals becoming very effective at winning new work, leaving others lagging way behind.
Given the choice between spending time on client work and business development work, we all tend to choose that which we feel to be easier, more attractive and more aligned with our image of ourselves. We stay within our comfort zones, we focus on client work, and we only resort to business development work when we have to, which can also lead to 'feast or famine' syndrome.
The programme will help participants:
Understand the professional business development approach and the style that is appropriate for their business and their clients
Follow a process to guide their conversations and business development meetings
Prepare thoroughly for a business development meeting/contact with a client to ensure they use their time efficiently and maximise results
Create a great first impression and professional opening to a conversation
Ask open questions and listen effectively in order to spot opportunities, understand needs and progress the opportunity
Identify and understand buying and decision-making processes and criteria
Skilfully and confidently handle questions and objections
Sell the benefits of their services and approach over those of their competitors
Progress the sale by agreeing next steps and gaining commitment appropriately
1 Introduction
Aims and objectives of the programme
Personal introductions and objectives
Workshop overview
2 An introduction to business development and selling for professionals
What is selling?
Who are you selling to?
The buying experience
What clients want
The four-step business development process
The business development cycle and pipeline management
Upselling and cross-selling as well as winning new clients
3 Networking and generating leads
What is networking?
Networking objectives
It's not what you know but who you know
Asking for referrals and introductions
Making appointments from networking activity
4 Opening the sales relationship/sales meeting
What potential customers are thinking
Judging first impressions
Creating positive first impressions
Building rapport and creating interest and impact
Earning the right
5 Core communication skills for professional selling
Overcoming barriers to listening
The art of listening
Questioning refresher
Types of questions
Questioning funnel
6 Understanding and identifying needs and opportunities
Identifying the questions to ask to identify needs and opportunities
Questions to move us through the buying and selling process
Understanding their buying processes
Asking questions that position you as a 'trusted adviser'
The questions that give you a competitive advantage
Knowing when you have asked enough questions
7 Introducing solutions
Tailoring your 'pitch' to the client
Speaking the client's language
Using features and benefits
Applying the benefit cycle
8 Handling objections and concerns
Identifying the typical objections and concerns
Understanding why clients raise objections and concerns
Following a structure for handling objections
Handling the price objection
9 Gaining commitment
Knowing when to close
The art of checking
Recognising buying signals
Small c and big C
10 Putting it all together
Personal learning summary and action plans