How to Hone a New Sales Skill This Weekend — and Actually Enjoy It

Sales conversations come with pressure. When that pressure hits, we tend to default to old habits — not the new skills we're trying to develop.

But learning a new skill takes time, repetition, and (yes) sleep. And it’s a whole lot easier in low-stakes situations.

Think about how we learn anything else — music, sports, public speaking. We practice outside the performance. So when it’s game time, we execute with confidence.

Same goes for sales.

If you want to improve your ability to:

• Focus entirely on the other person
  
• Listen deeply
  
• Ask better questions
  
• Stay present and curious
  
  

…you need practice outside the sales meeting.

So here are two weekend assignments. Try one. Or both.

Assignment 1: Discovery Mode

• Go to a social gathering. Bar, BBQ, wherever you can hold a conversation.
  
• Pick someone to talk to — friend or stranger.
  
• See how much you can learn about them.
  
  

If it’s a friend: Find out something new about them.
If it’s someone new: Learn what they do for work and what challenges they face — go deep.

Assignment 2: No “I” Statements Allowed

• Same setup: social setting, uninterrupted convo.
  
• The rule? Don’t talk about yourself at all.
  
  

If someone says, “We went to this great Indian place in Marlboro,” you don’t say, “Oh, I love Indian too…”
You say:
“What did you order?”
“Do you like spicy food?”
“What other restaurants do you like?”

This is active listening in action.
You’ll talk less, learn more — and people will love you for it.

Why do this?
Because the best salespeople make it all about the other person. And this is a fun, low-pressure way to build that muscle.

Get out there. Practice being curious. Monday-you will thank weekend-you.