Sales Accelerator Workshop

In today’s crowded sales landscape, confidence isn’t about knowing everything, it’s about knowing how to respond.

On 4 September 2025, VLAN Asia hosted an internal Sales Accelerator Workshop led by master trainer George Aveling, focused on transforming how teams connect, communicate, and convert.

Forget sales scripts and canned pitches. This was a hands-on workshop where VLAN's sales, marketing, and leadership teams explored the art of meaningful conversations from the science of first impressions to the power of asking the right question at the right time.

What Made This Workshop Different?

Forget boring sales training. George’s approach blends neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and decades of leadership insight into one engaging, hands-on experience.

Here are the biggest lessons our team walked away with:

Key Takeaways from the Session

1. The Power of First Impressions

“If you can make someone smile in the first 30 seconds… you’ve already won.”

George reminded us that great selling starts before the pitch, it starts with presence. Body language, tone, and empathy all contribute to the first 30 seconds of a conversation. Whether you’re talking to a lead or a longtime client, how you show up matters.

2. Compliments Trigger Dopamine (Science-Backed!)

Genuine appreciation isn’t just nice, it’s neurochemical. A heartfelt compliment releases dopamine, the “feel-good” brain chemical, creating positive associations with you and your brand.

Compliment. Connect. Convert.

3. W.I.I.F.M. — What’s In It For Me?

Customers don't care about your solution until they understand how it benefits them.

George drilled this in through live exercises:

• Focus on benefits, not features
• Lead with empathy, not ego
• Ask yourself constantly: “What’s in it for them?”

This shift in mindset turns one-sided pitches into two-way conversations.

4. Sales Is a Conversation, Not a Script

One of the biggest mindset changes was around asking better questions — and then shutting up.

“Don’t sell the picture. Sell the better.”

• Use open-ended, benefit-oriented questions
• Listen with patience
• Create urgency by uncovering real pain points

One sticky phrase we loved from the workshop?
Z.I.P. – Zip It, please.

Once you ask the right question, stop talking. Let the customer speak.

5. Confidence Comes from Preparation

George introduced the 5P Principle:

Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

Sales confidence isn’t charisma — it’s doing your homework.
Before every meeting:

• Research the company
• Know the industry pain points
• Craft targeted questions (use ChatGPT or Google for fast insights)

You don't need all the answers, just better questions.

5. Personalisation = Loyalty

“Customer loyalty is earned by showing you care about what they care about.”

The session closed with a powerful discussion around customer love. It’s not just about servicing accounts; it’s about building relationships so strong, clients feel you’re in the trenches with them.

When customers feel understood, loyalty follows.

A Thoughtful Note from George Aveling

“Be the kind of sales person your customer actually wants to hear from.
When you lead with value, not pressure — sales becomes effortless.”

Final Reflection

Workshops like these aren't just about hitting sales targets. They’re about becoming better communicators, teammates, and humans.

Whether it’s a better first impression, a smarter question, or a genuine compliment, small things create big change.