Industry news
CRM adoption is a joke
When is a salesperson not a salesperson? When they're updating their CRM. We apologize if you were expecting a joke, but there's nothing funny about CRM adoption challenges. In fact, according to rough calculations by Gartner analyst Robert Blaisdell, "CRM adoption culture" is the butt of 1 out of every 5 sales jokes on Instagram. According to Blaisdell, this lack of adoption has caused CRM to go from being a "single source of truth" to "the source of enough truth to automate key workflows across the business." Check out the Gartner blog to learn about the technology innovations that enable revenue teams to improve CRM adoption—because your CRM should be all about the bottom line, not the punchline.
Many unhappy returns
Whoever said "absence makes the heart grow fonder" was clearly not talking about the office. Amazon, Google, and Tesla are all rolling out return-to-work plans, but these are not happy returns for most employees. But what if you bribed them to return—say with a $30K raise? Nope. A recent survey found that nearly two-thirds would turn it down in favor of working from home. Why are an increasing number of major companies siding with employees? Check out this Insider interview, where leaders from Citi, McKinsey, Electronic Arts, and others share their reasons for embracing remote and hybrid work.
Beyond your wildest Dreamforce
You heard right. Dreamforce is back and it's bigger than ever! And by "ever," we mean "since Covid." (Everything pre-pandemic is still a little fuzzy.) Dreamforce is turning 20 this year, and Salesforce is pulling out all the stops. Tens of thousands of in-person attendees will join millions online for three days of inspiration, learning, and networking. With more than 1,100 sessions, it can be difficult to navigate the world's largest software conference. Fortunately, Salesforce Ben has created the Complete Guide to Dreamforce 2022. You don't want to miss this year's event. With the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing, you know it's going to be extra spicy. Dreamforce starts September 20, so make your plans today.
In the Groove
Leave it for the shoe sales
Discounts. "BOGO." "Everything must go." "Best markdown of the year." You love them when you are shopping, you hate them when you are selling. When it comes time to seal the deal and the buyer wants just a little more, you have to know when to kick your negotiating skills into gear as a seller. Thankfully, seasoned negotiator and saleswoman Christina Nalband has put together three ways to improve your B2B sales negotiation skills to help you on your journey to Closed-Won. Let's leave buy-one-get-one deals for shoe sales. It's time to become a master negotiator.
Learn something new
Meditation for sellers
The Closer is all about keeping you on top of your sales game with the latest insights, news, tips, and tricks. Faithful subscribers will have read countless articles from top sellers about how to hone their sales skills and strategy. Practical sales tips are great, but what about things sellers do outside of work that contribute to their success? We all know that working out and meditating is good for us, but maybe discovering how they can help you reach your sales goals is the kick you need to start. LinkedIn compiled the top non-sales habits that help high achievers sell better. It's not a traditional time of year to be writing down resolutions, but you might want to take notes on this.
EQ on the rise
What is EQ you ask? No, it doesn't stand for equestrian, though studies show that horses possess a high level of it. EQ stands for emotional intelligence. It is one's ability to read, understand, manage, and empathize with others and your own emotions. And EQ is on the rise. Today, EQ has become a strong predictor of job success as it can improve workplace communication and camaraderie. Some were born exceptionally empathetic, but luckily for others, emotional intelligence can be practiced and improved. Inc. Magazine examines six ways to show your emotional intelligence at work. Unfortunately, riding horses isn't on the list.