Sales can be intense and extremely high-pressure given all the targets to meet and objections from buyers to overcome. Dense, tedious courses can make it all the more difficult to grasp the knowledge you need to tackle these difficulties. For learning to be more palatable and easier to retain, researchers recommend a more vibrant and participative approach.

So, consider turning to sales training companies that promote interactive elements, such as games, to liven the process. It’s important to choose sales training providers promoting games that:

  • cater to the different levels and needs of the group
  • focus on building specific skills
  • allow everyone involved a chance to participate and learn practically

Here’s a run-down of some of the best training games to look out for.

Name the benefits

How to play

With participants in groups of five or six, the facilitator from the training company acts as a customer and provides an outline of the product that they are looking for. The trainees have to ask questions about the “customer’s” needs. Then, participants will take turns stating the features and benefits of each product.

One participant, for instance, will mention a feature of the hypothetical product on sale, and the next person states a matching benefit. Whoever fails to state a benefit is eliminated while the one who mentions the most wins the game.

Why the game works

Customers want to know about how the product will benefit them and not only the product’s features. The “name the benefits” game allows participants to practice turning features into benefits. Once reps master how to sell on benefits, they are more likely to convert more customers.

How long

How to play

Participants go out into a public area and find a stranger to talk to. The point of the game is to see who can get a stranger to talk to them for the longest time.

Participants will start by asking for simple directions, for instance, they can pretend to be tourists or new in town. If the other person responds, the trainee will keep asking for more and more help, for example, for:

  • recommendations about where to eat 
  • the public transport schedules
  • the best phone company to use
  • information about local entertainment

The longer the trainees can get the stranger to keep responding, the more points they score. The trainee who can hold a conversation for the longest time wins the game.

Why the game works
Persistence is one of the most important skills in sales. It takes several tries to convert a buyer but sadly statistics show that 40% of sellers don’t give the follow-up more than one shot. The “how long” game trains salespeople to keep finding ways to talk to someone without annoying them. The more regularly salespeople play the game, the more their confidence grows and the better they can get at initiating and maintaining contact. What’s more, they practice using their creativity to get the other person to cooperate. In addition, the game teaches reps to think on their feet and adapt to new situations.  

Seller’s hangman

How to play

A new take on the popular game. Split participants into two groups and have each group prepare a set of questions. Then each group takes turns firing at the other group with their prepared questions. If a team gets the wrong answer, the other team draws part of the hangman on the whiteboard. The first team to be “hanged” loses the game.

Why the game works

For a company to declare its training a success, participants have to demonstrate that they’ve understood the course information and can remember key points. Hang the seller is a fun and interactive way to test retention and highlight areas that need reinforcement.

Let the games begin

Games are an exciting way to keep sellers engaged and fortify sales skills, so consider making them a part of your training. Remember to adapt each game to suit your own environment to ensure that your team willingly participates and benefits more from the experience.

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