Strategic Salesperson vs. Tactical Salesperson (2024)

Strategic Salesperson vs. Tactical Salesperson (1)Too many salespeople are what I refer to as tactical salespeople. Opportunity, however, lies in being a strategic salesperson.

I believe the difference is huge! And it can be the difference between selling at a low margin short-term and selling at a high-margin long-term.

A tactical salesperson is focused on the features of what it is they sell. The questions they ask are all geared around getting the customer to think and see why they need what it is they’re selling.

The strategic salesperson is focused around the outcomes the customer is looking for. Their questions are focused on getting the customer to think about the outcomes they need to succeed.

Let me give you a couple of examples of questions a strategic salesperson would ask:

How do you see your competition changing in the next year?

How much information do you have as to how your customers like what you provide them?

Are the markets you service growing and, if so, are you growing with them?

How do you see your business changing in the next couple of years?

Each of these questions are focused on the customer and what it is they are dealing with or need to be dealing with.

When we ask a customer these types of questions, what we’re doing is becoming engaged in their business. These questions will in turn generate more questions and more discussion. The objective is for you to be seen as being different from other salespeople.

A tactical salesperson would never think of asking questions of this type. If they ask any questions at all, their goal is to get the customer thinking about what they need to buy from the salesperson right now. Yes, this strategy can and will create sales, but they will never be at the higher price point or for the longer duration that the strategic salesperson is achieving.

The other problem I see with being a tactical salesperson is the job they’re doing can be replaced by the internet. If all you’re doing is spitting out facts, then what makes you think you’re doing anything more than a website could be doing.

Your goal as a salesperson is to be seen strategic.

I’ll contend that in the long term, this is not only better job security but also better profits.

Copyright 2013, Mark Hunter “The Sales Hunter.” Sales Motivation Blog.

Strategic Salesperson vs. Tactical Salesperson (2)

Strategic Salesperson vs. Tactical Salesperson (2024)

FAQs

Strategic Salesperson vs. Tactical Salesperson? ›

The difference between strategy and tactics is relatively esoteric and superficial. Strategies are subjective and need to be more concrete. Typically, tactics are concrete. Salespeople engage in concrete actions to compel your prospect to take the move you want: buy the product or service.

Is it better to be strategic or tactical? ›

Strategic and tactical planning both play a critical role in enabling your business to reach short- and long-term goals. While strategic goals provide a clear, big-picture plan, the tactical counterpart provides the steps to achieving those strategic goals.

What is the difference between strategic and tactical role? ›

In short, strategic planning is used to set destination and how you are going to get there, and tactical planning outlines the specific actions you are going to take along the way.

What is the difference between strategic skills and tactical skills? ›

Tactical thinking centers on immediate actions and problem-solving, employing detailed plans for specific outcomes. It's the domain of engineers and project managers. Strategic thinking, conversely, focuses on the larger context, predicting future trends and decisions for enduring success.

What is the difference between strategic and tactical partners? ›

Some relationships are merely tactical while others are strategic. What's the difference? A tactical relationship can help both partners generate revenue, but little else. A strategic relationship can help both partners accomplish greater and longer-term objectives.

What is the difference between tactical and strategic sales? ›

The difference between strategy and tactics is relatively esoteric and superficial. Strategies are subjective and need to be more concrete. Typically, tactics are concrete. Salespeople engage in concrete actions to compel your prospect to take the move you want: buy the product or service.

How to be more strategic than tactical? ›

These five tips can help you transition from a tactical thinker to a strategic leader:
  1. Delegate the Small Stuff. ...
  2. Block Time for Strategizing. ...
  3. Elevate Your Staff. ...
  4. Evaluate Strategic Issues. ...
  5. Make a Plan. ...
  6. Traits of Good Strategic Leadership.
Oct 22, 2020

What does it mean if a person is tactical? ›

It is the commitment to a craft, a willingness to always be ready, that creates a tactical person. A common first thought when the word tactical gets used is the root word tactic which means a carefully planned strategy. Tactical is more about a strategic problem solving process than anything else.

What is strategic vs tactical in HR? ›

It anticipates talent needs and nurtures a culture supporting the company's vision. Tactical HR deals with daily operations like recruitment, onboarding, and benefits, ensuring immediate HR functions run smoothly. It focuses on short-term execution while strategic HR looks at the big picture.

Is being tactical a good thing? ›

Most important things are accomplished by taking tactical action, even without perfect information. If we wait too long to develop a perfect strategy, the world will pass us by. Let's check ourselves every time we think of criticizing someone for being tactical. Remember, tactics make things happen.

What is an example of a strategy vs tactic? ›

In business, your strategy will always tie your tactics to your bottom line. For example: Changing your brand perception is a strategy; putting your brand on a billboard is a tactic. Diversifying revenue is a strategy; launching a new product is a tactic.

What is strategic thinking vs. tactical thinking? ›

Tactical Thinking emphasises short-term goals, immediate actions, and reactive decision-making, while Strategic Thinking takes a long-term perspective, aligning actions with overall objectives through proactive decision-making.

What is a tactical job description? ›

Tactical work strives to produce and maintain operations, products and services for both internal and external stakeholders. The processes and goals of tactical procedures use practical daily operations to match and achieve the values and objectives of the organization's strategic framework.

What is the difference between strategy and tactics in sales? ›

Sales tactics are actions you take to increase your chances of making an individual sale, while sales strategies are the long-term plans you put in place to reach your ultimate goals of increasing revenue and market share. Your business should have both sales tactics and sales strategies.

Which is more important, strategic or tactical decision making? ›

While strategic decisions engender long-term success, tactical decisions live and die in the moment.

Can something be both strategic and tactical? ›

Just like decision making in chess, you can use both strategy and tactics to build and execute your business strategy. Here's how these two techniques can help you achieve your strategic goals.

Which is more important, tactics or strategy? ›

As Sun Tzu states in the art of War “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before the defeat”. One cannot exist without the other. With a clear strategy, prioritization of the necessary steps to take toward achieving your goals is simple and straightforward.

What are the advantages of tactical? ›

Advantages of Tactical Planning

It is flexible and can be changed according to the need of time. It acts as a pedestal to achieve long-term goals in the short term. It provides an action plan to the team.

Is strategy easy but tactics hard? ›

Good execution and good management—in a word, good people—are rare. To put it another way, strategy is easy, but tactics—the day-to-day and month-to-month decisions required to manage a business—are hard. That's why I generally pay more attention to the people who prepare a business plan than to the proposal itself.

Are you a tactical or strategic thinker? ›

Tactical Thinking emphasises short-term goals, immediate actions, and reactive decision-making, while Strategic Thinking takes a long-term perspective, aligning actions with overall objectives through proactive decision-making.

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