Sep. 06, 2010 - (by Olalah Njenga, Columnist, Marketing Strategist & Author Marketing Strategist; and owner of YellowWood Group) Too often, our enthusiasm to simply close the sale clouds our perspective. Not only are we leaving money on the proverbial table, but we are leaving something far more important on it. Opportunity! When we sell collaboratively, we roll up our sleeves and get a little dirt under our finger nails. We ask both the finite and the broad sweeping questions. We probe. We reflect. We engage. In the end, we, as sales professionals, position ourselves as the non-expendable resource that our clients are craving. We become the catalyst of opportunity making.

Don't assume that collaborative selling is merely the evolution of consultative selling. You would be mistaken. In a consultative selling relationship, sales professionals offer value, steer dialogue and uncover issues that could impede progress. In collaborative selling, sales professionals are highly involved in the interworkings of the clients' businesses. Collaborative selling demands that we work lock-step with a variety of people within the companies were we collaborate. Selling collaboratively is not for the faint at heart. It's not for the sales professionals who are happy to close the deal. Collaborative selling is for "sales rock stars". If you don't know whether you are a sales rock star or not, you probably aren't, but that doesn't mean you can't be one . . . eventually.

If you're interested in selling collaboratively, then take note, here's 3 ways to jump start the journey.   More »