Feb 20, 2024

Why Leverage OCs?

Colleen Kelly

Colleen Kelly

Sales training has traditionally been a static industry. While some of the content has evolved to meet market circumstances or an unforeseen pandemic that drove everyone online, delivery has remained largely the same.

We see traditional sales training falling into 3 buckets:

  1. Self-Study: Companies provide their salespeople with training materials that range from textbook-style manuals to isolated online learning modules. This method works great for the intrinsically motivated reps, but doesn’t yield predictable results.
  2. Outside Training: This is likely what most people think of when they hear “sales training.” A company hires an outside sales coach/consultant to come in and work with their team on a predetermined cadence, the most common being monthly. These quick-hit training sessions are helpful in the moment. However, the lack of consistent interaction with the coach means that reps aren’t receiving day-to-day reinforcement and coaching on what they learned.
  3. In-House Training: The final option is a hybrid of the above. A company elects one person in the organization (usually a sales or sales enablement leader) to find and self-study a sales methodology and teach it to the rest of the sales team. Similarly to self-study, this approach is free from outside guidance, which makes accountability and predictability a challenge.

We’ve been around the block enough to realize that none of these options would work when it came to the Blind Zebra Sales Operating System (BZSOS™).

Enter BZSOS™ Operation Coaches, or as we call them “OCs.”

Operation Coaches are leaders from a company (typically sales or sales enablement leaders) that come to Indianapolis to get certified to install BZSOS™ with their team. 

You might be thinking to yourself, “how is this different than option #3 above?” 

Here’s what sets OC installation apart:

 

    1. 3-Day Live Certification: At least 2 leaders per company come to the Blind Zebra HQ in Indianapolis for a 3-day certification. During certification, the future OCs are taught the BZSOS™ Year 1 material. They learn what the tools are, how to use them, and most importantly how to teach them to their teams. Don’t get us wrong, these 3 days are a grind, but the results are highly trained coaches prepared to self-install BZSOS™.
    2. Monthly OC Training Sessions: After the OCs return home, they can’t get rid of us that easily. All OCs join a monthly coaching session facilitated by a Bind Zebra coach. These sessions are a time for OCs to learn new tools, ask questions about installation, and get help in areas they are stuck. Plus, it’s fun to keep up with your certification cohort!
    3. OC LMS Support: In addition to a robust binder received at training, all OCs have access to the BZSOS™ learning management system. The LMS features all the tools, instructions sheets, and accompanying videos. This allows OCs to brush up on tools prior to installing them with their team.

OC certification isn’t for anyone. It demands commitment, a coachable mindset, and patience. But, we know that this unique take on sales training delivers results.