To be an effective sales trainer you need passion and leadership…in other words, you need John Whitehall. With more than 30 years successfully leading teams as a sales director, plus six years as a Sandler Training client, Whitehall opened a Sandler franchise in Berks to help others taste sales success.
Q: What makes the Sandler training method unique compared to other sales training programs?
Most people in sales sell the same way they’ve sold all their lives, or they just wing it. Sandler gives professionals a process that is efficient and repeatable. We teach them to ask better questions leading to deeper conversations and stronger relationships. Sandler also provides a common business language for sales leaders to coach and hold their teams accountable. We support our clients with supplemental online follow-up and exercises.
Q: Do you offer courses besides sales training?
We offer public and private training in Sales Management, Coaching Development, Organizational Excellence Leadership Training, Customer Service and Talent Acquisition, and Development.
Q: How long does an average training course last?
Training can be as short as a two-hour workshop, a two-day bootcamp or year-long training tracks for managers. Most clients stay engaged with us for three years or more. Sandler’s power comes from reinforced training with follow-up sessions after the initial course to embed the process into the selling culture.
Q: What types of clients do you serve?
I work with owners, CEOs, sales leaders and professionals who rely on selling to expand their customer base to consistently generate profitable sales. I also work with individuals and entrepreneurs to help position themselves for growth.
Q: Do clients ever repeat the course as a refresher?
Yes, in fact I encourage this! Sometimes it’s like re-watching a movie and picking up something missed. Many of our clients are enrolled in Sales Mastery, a weekly reinforcement meeting on techniques using additional training exercises, role playing and sharing of real-world experiences.
Q: How has the pandemic changed the sales and management training landscape?
Remote training has been a convenient option for many companies, though many still prefer the in-person option. The expansion in the number of remote employees has required new levels of trust and accountability to be in place. Managers need to learn new ways to communicate, coach and develop their talent. I don’t think remote training is going away any time soon.
Q: How did you come to own a Sandler training franchise?
I was a National Sales Director at a sporting goods distribution business. We brought Sandler in to help us grow, which we did, almost tripling in size over six years. I left that company in the fall of 2015, purchased a Sandler franchise and never looked back. I’m having fun helping others achieve their goals.
Q: What does your free time look like?
I spend time with my family. I love the beach, surfing, paddle boarding and cycling.
Need to level up your sales game?
Contact John Whitehall at Strategic Sales Training Solutions, LLC at 610.223.4346, or john.whitehall@sandler.com and learn how to blow the competition out of the water!
