National Sales Center

The Need For Sales Training Games

I’m often asked for suggestions about sales training games. My first assumption is that the sales trainer probably isn’t very entertaining. Sales training should be entertaining but it should not be a game. I’m not a fan of sales training games. So, let’s learn all about sales training games.

Doctors don’t need to be trained in a game format. I’m sure doctors are too serious about their work and so they’ll never consider any training a game. It would be a sad day when “life or death” procedures become a game but isn’t earning a living also very serious?

“I’m going to help you earn a living!!!

“But first, a game!!!”

This view of training and games holds true for just about every profession except sales training. So, what’s with this need for sales training games? Selling is serious business. I try my best to keep my sales training entertaining but I never conduct sales training games.

Lawyers, law enforcement, paramedics, fireman and the bomb squad don’t learn by playing games. Do we really need sales training games?

Commissions put food on the table and a roof over our heads. That’s serious stuff. That’s no game. So what’s with sales training games? Top sales trainers never use sales training games.

I see no problem with using games to train sales reps when that training is about product knowledge. There are a number of quiz show formats that fit well with product knowledge training. That said, I do not recommend sales training games when it comes to pure sales training. I want the sales training to be entertaining and fun but I don’t want to position it as a game.

No More Sales Training Games Please!

The term “game” is overused when it comes to training. I’m sure you know that the military often refers to their training exercises as “War Games”. Since when did war become a game? As it relates to sales, since when did earning a living become a game?

I’ll say it again… the training should be entertaining but not to the point of playing a game.

My advice is… stay away from sales training games.

Nick Moreno

DISCOVER A NEW AND POWERFUL SALES PROCESS

Tags: Sales Training