Why are sales kickoff's still in the stone age of powerpoint presentations? Here are some unique ideas to get your sellers ready to crush 2025.
1. Improv Game: "Questions Only"
Description: In this improv exercise, participants engage in a dialogue where every sentence must be a question. Any statements or hesitations result in the player being "out," and another team member takes their place.
Objective: Enhances quick thinking, active listening, and adaptability—crucial skills for sales professionals.
Implementation:
- Divide the team into pairs.
- Provide a sales-related scenario (e.g., negotiating with a hesitant client).
- Each pair must converse using only questions relevant to the scenario.
- Rotate pairs to ensure diverse interactions.
Example:
- Person A: "Have you considered how our product can boost your efficiency?"
- Person B: "Can you explain how it compares to our current solution?"
- Person A: "Wouldn't a 20% increase in productivity interest you?"
This exercise encourages sales reps to think on their feet and respond to clients' inquiries with agility.
2. "Sell It to Me" Challenge
Description: Participants are given an unconventional or everyday item and must craft a compelling sales pitch for it.
Objective: Enhances creativity, persuasion skills, and the ability to find unique selling points in any product.
Implementation:
- Provide each participant with an item (e.g., a paperclip, a rubber duck).
- Allow 5 minutes for preparation.
- Each participant presents a 2-minute pitch to the group.
- Encourage feedback focusing on persuasive techniques and creativity.
This activity stimulates innovative thinking and helps salespeople practice crafting persuasive narratives.
3. "Objection Handling" Role-Play
Description: Teams engage in role-playing exercises where one person plays a skeptical client, and the other is the salesperson addressing concerns.
Objective: Improves the ability to handle objections, enhances empathy, and refines negotiation skills.
Implementation:
- Pair team members.
- Provide common objections (e.g., "It's too expensive," "We're satisfied with our current provider").
- Role-play the scenarios, switching roles after each round.
- Debrief as a group, discussing effective strategies and areas for improvement.
This practice prepares sales reps to confidently and effectively address client concerns.
4. "Trade-Up" Challenge
Description: Inspired by the classic game, participants start with a simple item (e.g., a pen) and must trade up to acquire something of higher value within a set timeframe.
Objective: Develops negotiation skills, creativity, and persistence.
Implementation:
- Provide each participant with a basic item.
- Set a timeframe (e.g., one week) for them to make trades, aiming to increase the item's value.
- At the end of the period, have participants present their final items and share their trading journey.
This activity encourages resourcefulness and strategic thinking in sales negotiations.
5. "Sales Bingo"
Description: Create bingo cards with various sales achievements or learning milestones. As reps accomplish them, they mark off squares, adding a fun, competitive element to their daily routines.
Objective: Motivates achievement of specific goals, encourages healthy competition, and tracks progress.
Implementation:
- Design bingo cards with tasks such as "Schedule a meeting with a new lead," "Close a deal over $10,000," or "Attend a sales training session."
- Distribute cards at the beginning of the month.
- Offer incentives for completing rows, columns, or the entire card.
This game adds excitement to daily tasks and encourages goal-oriented behavior.
Conclusion
Implementing these distinctive activities can rejuvenate your sales team's approach, foster a culture of continuous learning, and prepare them to tackle the challenges of 2025 with renewed vigor and creativity. Don't forget to check out Part 2 for more engaging activities to energize your sales force.
Sources:
- Goodmeetings. "15 Sales Games To Make Sales Meetings and Training Fun." https://goodmeetings.ai/blog/15-sales-games-to-make-sales-meetings-and-training-fun/
- The Accent Actor. "IMPROV GAME - 'Questions Only'." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoxuabw6jTo
- Koko Experience. "9 Creative Sales Kickoff Ideas To Encourage Innovation And Creativity." https://www.kokoexp.com/post/9-creative-sales-kickoff-ideas-to-encourage-innovation-and-creativity
- Klozers. "15 Energizing Sales Kickoff Themes for Your Team." https://www.klozers.com/sales-kickoff-themes/
- Close. "12 Sales Kickoff Meeting Ideas & Best Practices to Rally Your Team." https://www.close.com/blog/sales-kickoff-meeting
- Surf Office. "Unveiling 56 of the best Sales kickoff themes and ideas." https://www.surfoffice.com/blog/sales-kickoff-themes
- Fireflies.ai. "Ultimate Sales Kickoff Guide 2024: Themes, Agenda & Ideas." https://fireflies.ai/blog/sales-kickoff
- Open AI ChatGPT 4o
- Tenali AI https://www.tenali.ai/
