Course Outline
Introduction and Workshop Goals
- Welcome, agenda overview, and expected outcomes of the workshop
- Aligning closing skills with organizational sales targets and values for government
- Personal baseline assessment and goal setting for the day's activities
Understanding Buyer Psychology
- Analysis of buyer motivations, decision triggers, and risk perception in public sector contexts
- Identification of economic, technical, and personal factors influencing decision-making for government
- Mapping the stages of the buyer journey to appropriate closing strategies for government contracts
Structuring the Close: A Repeatable Process
- Frameworks for consistent, stage-based closing processes in public sector sales
- Development of checklists and readiness signals to ensure a smooth closing process for government
- Adaptation of the closing process for both short-term and long-term procurement cycles
Effective Questioning and Listening
- Utilization of high-impact closing questions tailored to public sector buyers
- Active listening techniques to identify and address hidden objections in government sales
- Strategies for converting answers into clear next-step commitments for government
Handling Objections and Negotiation Tactics
- Categorization of common objections and tailored response strategies for government contracts
- Application of negotiation principles to maintain margins while preserving relationships in public sector deals
- Roleplay exercises: converting objections into opportunities to close for government
Closing Scripts, Trial Closes, and Language to Use
- Proven closing scripts and customizable templates for public sector sales
- Techniques for using trial closes to assess readiness and secure micro-commitments in government contracts
- Key words and phrases that increase urgency without applying pressure in public sector negotiations
Handling Price and Value Conversations
- Methods for framing price as value and return on investment (ROI) for different government buyer types
- Strategies for anchoring, bundling, and making strategic concessions in public sector pricing
- Practice scenarios: effectively pitching value and responding to price pushback in government contracts
Follow-up, Commitments, and Post-Close Activities
- Designing follow-up cadences to maintain momentum and ensure continuous engagement for government
- Techniques for securing explicit commitments and documenting next steps in writing for government contracts
- Best practices for handing over projects to onboarding or delivery teams within the public sector
Practical Roleplay Sessions and Peer Coaching
- Paired roleplays covering common seller and buyer archetypes in government procurement
- Structured peer feedback focusing on observed behaviors and effective techniques for government sales
- Cycles of refinement and coach-led demonstrations to enhance closing skills for government
Action Planning and Measurement
- Development of a personal 30-day action plan to improve closing skills in public sector sales
- Selection of simple metrics to track progress and measure improvements in closing rates for government
- Preparation of a manager handoff document to support ongoing reinforcement and coaching in the public sector
Summary and Next Steps
Requirements
- A foundational understanding of the sales process and customer journeys
- Demonstrated experience in engaging with prospects or customers
- Willingness to participate in roleplay exercises and accept constructive feedback from peers
Audience
- Sales representatives and account executives for government contracts
- Field sales and inside sales teams supporting public sector clients
- Sales managers and team leaders responsible for enhancing closing performance in the public sector
Testimonials (3)
Irma was attuned to us as learners and our business needs. It was clear that she was actively listening to us from the informed feedback she then provided.
Siobhan - Raintree
Course - Digital Marketing for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
Responses with solutions and practical use.
Agnieszka - AIRBUS HELICOPTERS POLSKA SP. Z O.O.
Course - Google AdWords: Beginner to Advanced
Found the entire two days of training very informative and educational, but the content covered on Day 2 (Social Media & Mobile Marketing, Analytics, as well as Strategy & Planning) was the most valuable to me as it relates directly to my current line of work.