Episode Details

Here’s a question I get asked all the time: What’s the single biggest misconception holding salespeople back?

That question came from a room full of college students at BYU-Idaho, ages 19 to 24, all exploring sales careers. And my answer is the same whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the game for decades.

The biggest lie about selling is this: Good salespeople have the gift of gab.

You know the stereotype. The smooth talker. The fast-talking closer. The person who can talk their way into or out of anything. We’ve all seen it in movies, TV shows, and plays like Death of a Salesman. It’s been around for a century, and it’s completely wrong.

The Truth Top Performers Know

Here’s what the best salespeople actually do: They listen.

The greatest salespeople aren’t the best talkers. They’re the best listeners. They’re individuals who know how to ask the right questions and know how to ask questions in a way that create these aha moments for prospects and customers.

They understand something fundamental that average performers miss: Closing happens in the discovery process, not at some magical point where you lay the hammer down and ask for a sale.

Think about that for a second. The deal isn’t won when you deliver your polished presentation. It’s not won when you overcome the final objection. It’s won in those early conversations when you’re asking questions, uncovering pain, and building relationships.

Why the Stereotype Persists

The negative stereotype of salespeople has been pervasive in society for generations. Part of it’s because no one really likes to be sold. And there are salespeople who are bad. They talk at people instead of actually taking the time to listen.

But here’s the reality: Lots of professions have negative stereotypes. Lawyers. Politicians. Salespeople aren’t the worst of them.

And here’s the good side of that negative stereotype: Nobody wants to be in sales. So if you’re in sales, you’re making a whole lot more money than anybody else. That’s a good thing.

The people who look at the profession of selling and say “I could never do that” or “I could never interrupt people or take that type of rejection” are the same people who will never experience the income, freedom, and impact that comes with being great at sales.

The Power of Questions

When you shift your mindset from talking to listening, everything changes. Instead of thinking about what you’re going to say next, you’re focused on what your prospect is telling you.