Effective sales training can be the difference between closing deals and missing targets.
But let’s face it, if the training isn’t fun and engaging, sellers will dismiss it as unproductive drudgery. Enter AI role plays, which are transforming the training landscape by making it enjoyable, meaningful and effective.
Practice makes profit, unless sellers hate it.
Sellers need to practice what they’ve learned in ways that are not just informative but also fun. AI role plays should feel less like a drill and more like an interactive game. When training is engaging, sellers are more likely to immerse themselves in the process, leading to better retention and application of skills.
Enjoying the Conversation
If sellers don’t enjoy the role play conversations, they won’t engage with the content and will instead avoid it. The primary goal of AI role plays should be to create scenarios that are not only realistic and relevant but also enjoyable. When sellers look forward to training sessions, they’re more likely to participate actively and get the most out of each exercise.
Training Should Pull Sellers in not Push them Away
When training is fun and engaging, sellers naturally lean into it. They become more committed, more focused, and more willing to invest their time. Engaging AI role plays can transform training from a box-ticking exercise into a valuable and enjoyable experience.
When the training is not enjoyable, it does the opposite. It pushes sellers out and away from the learning.
When the seller gets distracted because:
- the AI bot has facial expressions or a tone that doesn’t match the context of the words that are spoken,
- the words that are spoken aren’t accurate,
- the system lags to get a response and,
- something just seems off,
the seller’s focus moves away from the learning.
Those elements that are “off” make the learning experience less enjoyable and often give the sellers an eerie feeling, see a review of the uncanny valley.
Quality Meaningful Feedback is Mandatory
Feedback is valuable when it’s timely, accurate and actionable. Just-in-time feedback that is specific and helpful is essential.. AI role plays should provide immediate, constructive feedback that helps sellers understand their strengths and areas for improvement.
This real-time meaningful guidance encourages continuous learning and development, and makes the experience more fun and more worthwhile to the seller.
Challenging Sellers to Take Risks
Great training pushes sellers out of their comfort zones.
AI role plays should present challenges that encourage sellers to think on their feet and take risks in a safe environment. This not only helps sellers develop and refine problem-solving skills but also builds confidence for real-world interactions.
This is true for both new sellers and more experienced sellers who are facing new challenges, moving into new markets, adjusting to new buyers and those who want to keep their conversational skills sharp.
Sellers engage when they aren’t sure of the right answer, but feel they can take risks to seek out improvements in performance, so adjusting to these levels of experience are critical.
The Power of Enjoyable Training
Fun training is effective training. When sellers enjoy their training, they are more likely to stay focused and less likely to get distracted. This means they absorb more information, practice more effectively, and ultimately perform better in their roles.
The Science of Learning
Harnessing the science of learning makes training irresistible. Incorporating elements of game-based learning and immediate feedback can significantly enhance the training experience. When training is designed with the principles of engaging learning, sellers are more motivated and committed to the process and experience increases in self-efficacy (link to Jose article).
Keeping Sellers Coming Back
Great training is like an addictive TV series – you keep coming back for more. When AI role plays are fun and engaging, sellers will not only complete their training but will also seek out additional practice sessions. This ongoing engagement ensures continuous improvement and long-term success.
Engaging training motivates sellers and enhances their commitment to learning. Investing in fun and engaging AI sales role plays is the key to unlocking higher performance and greater success in the sales world.