Presentation Training:
Sales Presentation Skills Training - Finding an Exceptional Trainer

With the economy tanking, your workforce shrinking, and the game more competitive than it has ever been, you want to improve your team's batting average. Yes, your budget is tight. Still, you are thinking that presentation training might be money well spent--giving your sales people a better chance at hitting a home run when they step up to the plate.

Is now the time to be spending scarce dollars on training? You bet it is. In this struggling economy, you simply can't afford lackluster presentations.  In fact, when you pick the right trainer the up-front costs are negligible compared to the value of the results you can expect?

There's lots of training out there, and some of it is pretty good. But pretty good just isn't good enough in today's competitive marketplace.  You want a highly skilled, professional trainer. You want exceptional. Do not accept anything less.

Here's what to look for in your search for exceptional training:

1. Energy and enthusiasm

Exceptional presentations trainers have a unique energy and enthusiasm--and you feel it, even on the phone. Exceptional presentations trainers model what they teach. So if you don't get a sense of that energy in your initial conversation, you should probably keep looking.

2. A presentation system or formula

The best trainers teach a system or formula because they know that their success depends on your success. They want to ensure participants can repeat what they learn--every time they step up to the plate.  So the best trainers simplify the lesson and turn it into a reliable presentation system or tool to be used over and over again.

3. A long Google trail

Exceptional trainers have made an impact in a number of significant areas and you'll find out what they have done when you check them out.  To get an exceptional trainer, look for a smart professional with a variety of experiences and a depth of expertise. Don't just check their website. Google their name.

4. Customized workshops

Great trainers customize their programs because their goal is to achieve your corporate goals. Great trainers know that off-the-shelf training is too generic to resonate with participants, so they ask for examples of your presentations and discuss their findings with you. They consult and collaborate with their clients as a standard part of their prep.

5. A variety of teaching methods including videotape, experiential exercises, hands-on work, individual and group coaching.

It isn't good enough for sales people sit in a room and listen to a talking head. It's boring, it is not productive, and it is outrageously costly in terms of out-of-pocket dollars and lost opportunity. Besides, they do that every night in front of the TV and it doesn't get them very far. On the other hand, coaching alone won't move your team in the direction they need to go. That's why great trainers use a variety of methods, to be sure they tackle every learning style--and get results with every participant. They want to see every person in attendance succeed in kicking it up a notch.  That's everyone--from the rookie to the seasoned pro.

6. Flexibility and creativity

The best trainers are flexible and creative--both in their training and in their approach to helping you make that training happen. Look for the signs.

A note of caution: Exceptional trainers generally charge more than ordinary ones because they know the value of their training. Still, a great trainer wants to be with you for the long haul and in this economy, they should be sensitive to your budget constraints and open to negotiating fees.  

Your sales presentation is your most important closing tool. It must be well honed, sharp and incisive to be effective and score.  The good news is that exceptional training pays off--even in this struggling economy. Indeed, an exceptional trainer will teach your team how to engage an audience in a way that is compelling, powerful and memorable. The great news is that when they do that, it's a home run.

Source: Fern Lebo link

Related: Presentation Skills Training

More Presentations Skills Tips