Qualification in Practice – How to Qualify in a Real Conversation?
Day 10 of 30 · Build Your Sales – 30 Days to More Deals
Today you'll learn how to qualify leads in a real conversation. The key: combine the BANT/MEDDIC framework with natural conversation.
Daily Goal
- Practice the qualification conversation in a real situation
- Create a qualification template
- Identify common mistakes and avoid them
- Set up qualification routine
Why it matters
- Practice makes perfect. Qualification is a skill you can improve with practice.
- Better results: Better qualification = better leads = more closes.
- Time savings: If you qualify well, you don't waste time on bad leads.
- Professional appearance: Good qualification = professional salesperson.
Explanation
Qualification conversation structure
- Introduction (30 sec):
- "Thank you for taking the time."
- "The goal is to understand how I can help."
- Discovery (5-10 min):
- BANT or MEDDIC questions
- Listen more than you talk
- Take notes on important information
- Summary (1 min):
- "So the main problem is X, and it needs to be solved in Y timeframe?"
- Confirm you understand the problem
- Next step (1 min):
- "Would you like to see a demo?"
- Concrete date and time
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
| Mistake | How to avoid |
|---|---|
| Talking too much | 70% listening, 30% talking |
| Not asking about budget | Always ask about budget (indirectly) |
| Not identifying decision maker | Always ask: "Who makes the final decision?" |
| Not documenting | Write down answers in CRM or notes |
| No next step | Always have concrete next step with date |
Qualification template example
Introduction:
"Thank you for taking the time. The goal is to understand what challenges you're facing and how I can help. I'll ask a few questions, okay?"
Discovery (BANT):
- "What is the main problem you need to solve now?" (Need)
- "Why is this important now?" (Need strength)
- "When does this need to be solved?" (Timeline)
- "Who makes the final decision?" (Authority)
- "What budget is available?" (Budget)
Summary:
"So the main problem is X, and it needs to be solved in Y timeframe. There's a budget, and you make the decision. Correct?"
Next step:
"Would you like to see a 30-minute demo where I show how we'd solve this? When would be a good time?"
Practice 1 – Practice qualification conversation (25 min)
- Choose a colleague or friend to practice with
- Practice the complete qualification conversation (10 min)
- Ask for feedback: Was it natural? Did you ask good questions?
- Repeat and improve based on feedback
Practice 2 – Create qualification template (10 min)
- Write down your own qualification template (introduction → discovery → summary → next step)
- Use it in the next conversation and see if it works
- Refine based on experience
Key Takeaways
- Practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the better you'll be.
- Listen more than you talk. 70% listening, 30% talking.
- Always have a next step. With concrete date and time.
- Document everything. Write down answers so you can reference them later.
Optional Resources
- HubSpot – Discovery Call Best Practices: https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/discovery-call – Discovery call best practices
- Salesforce – Qualification Techniques: https://www.salesforce.com/resources/articles/qualification-techniques/ – Qualification techniques