This course introduces the core principles of challenger-style selling and insight-led communication that help sales professionals influence buyer thinking early in the sales process. You will learn how to communicate value clearly, build trust quickly and use behavioural psychology to guide productive sales conversations.

Sales Skills: Build Trust And Influence Buyers

Sales Skills: Build Trust And Influence Buyers
This course is part of Advanced Sales Training: Challenging, Coaching And Closing Specialization

Instructor: The Expert Academy
Included with
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
Intermediate level
Experience in B2B sales or account management and familiarity with sales fundamentals are recommended.
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
Intermediate level
Experience in B2B sales or account management and familiarity with sales fundamentals are recommended.
What you'll learn
Apply challenger-style insight to shape buyer perspectives
Use persuasion psychology and questioning to guide conversations
Navigate multi-stakeholder negotiations, procurement expectations and formal RFP processes with confidence.
Build trust and influence early B2B buying decisions
Details to know

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April 2026
20 assignments
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There are 10 modules in this course
In this module, you’ll develop the essential sales skills required to engage buyers confidently and create value early in the sales process. You’ll learn how to prepare for sales conversations, understand buyer motivations and communicate your value with clarity and credibility. Through practical techniques, you’ll strengthen your ability to build trust, guide discussions and maintain momentum through key stages of the deal. This module provides a strong foundation for running effective, professional sales interactions in modern selling environments.
What's included
18 videos2 readings2 assignments
18 videos•Total 57 minutes
- What You Will Learn On This Course•1 minute
- Who Is Philip Hesketh?•0 minutes
- The Number One Universal Killer Question In Selling•3 minutes
- The Importance Of Establishing The Client's Expectations•2 minutes
- How To Close The Sale Without Sounding Like A Salesman•4 minutes
- People Buy Emotionally And Justify Logically - What To Do About It•4 minutes
- Don’t Assume You Know The Buyer’s Priorities•5 minutes
- How To Unearth The Buyer’s Strategic Needs•3 minutes
- The Importance Of Implications•4 minutes
- Being Prepared For Objections•4 minutes
- The Most Common Objections And How To Handle Them•4 minutes
- How To Get People To Choose What You Want Them To•4 minutes
- What Buyers Say And What They Really Mean•3 minutes
- What Does Value For Money Really Mean?•3 minutes
- Five Proven Techniques To Save Money And Make Money•4 minutes
- The Words: ‘Typically’, ‘Realistically’, ‘Currently’, ‘Given’ And ‘Yet’•2 minutes
- Justifying Your Price - The Power Of One•4 minutes
- The Final ‘Killer Questions’ That Allow You To Negotiate More Successfully•4 minutes
2 readings•Total 25 minutes
- Lesson Descriptions: Value Creation, Buyer Confidence And Deal Momentum•15 minutes
- Project: Preparing And Leading Effective Sales Conversations•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 45 minutes
- Value Creation And Buyer Confidence Knowledge Check•30 minutes
- Applying Value Creation And Buyer Confidence Techniques•15 minutes
In this module, you’ll focus on executing sales conversations with greater commercial impact and strategic intent. You’ll learn how to influence decision-making, manage objections and create outcomes that support long-term value and growth. By applying structured approaches to negotiation, pricing and deal progression, you’ll strengthen your ability to close effectively while protecting relationships and commercial outcomes. This module supports confident sales execution and helps you drive sustainable results across a range of sales scenarios.
What's included
13 videos2 readings2 assignments
13 videos•Total 49 minutes
- The Real Meaning Of ‘Win-Win’•4 minutes
- The Rules For Discounting•3 minutes
- How To Hold A High Price•4 minutes
- How To Increase Average Order•3 minutes
- The Compromise Effect•3 minutes
- All You Need To Know About Time Management•3 minutes
- Recognising The Moment That Matters And The Role Of ‘Enough’•6 minutes
- What To Do When It Starts Going Wrong•5 minutes
- How To Understand Other People - Can You Clarify?•4 minutes
- How To Build Your Reputation And Get Your Client To Feel Indebted To You•4 minutes
- Selling In The Long Term And Being Recommended•4 minutes
- How To Deliver A Great Presentation•3 minutes
- Why PowerPoint Doesn’t Work And What To Do With It•3 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
- Lesson Descriptions: Influence And Commercial Value•10 minutes
- Project: Recognising And Acting On Moments That Matter•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 45 minutes
- Sales Influence And Commercial Value Knowledge Check•15 minutes
- Applying Sales Influence And Commercial Value Techniques•30 minutes
This module expands your foundational skills by introducing practical, repeatable techniques you can apply during live sales conversations. You’ll learn how to guide buyers through their decision-making process, reframe resistance without pressure and use confidence-based communication to strengthen commitment. The module also focuses on behavioural techniques that increase momentum, reduce hesitation and help prospects feel secure moving forward. By building on the fundamentals from Module 1, this module equips you to handle real-time challenges and positions you for deeper trust-building work in the next stage of the course.
What's included
19 videos2 readings2 assignments
19 videos•Total 40 minutes
- Introduction•2 minutes
- Everybody Sells•3 minutes
- Taking The Fear Out Of Selling•2 minutes
- Thought Exercise: Gut Feel•1 minute
- You Need To Believe•2 minutes
- Exercise: Jumping In The Customer’s Shoes•3 minutes
- Don't Focus On Closing•2 minutes
- ABC (Attunement, Buoyancy And Clarity)•1 minute
- Did You Always Dream of Being in Sales?•2 minutes
- Exercise: The Notebook•1 minute
- Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs•2 minutes
- Learning From Coca-Cola•2 minutes
- Why The Buyer's State Of Mind Matters•1 minute
- Why Your State Of Mind Matters•1 minute
- Mood Fluctuations•3 minutes
- The Customer's Decision-Making Process•3 minutes
- Exercise: What Is The Customer Thinking?•4 minutes
- Prepare, Connect, Probe, Match, Agree, Close•2 minutes
- Checklist•4 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
- Lesson Descriptions: Sales Techniques To Close More Deals•10 minutes
- Project: Mindful Sales Connection•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 25 minutes
- Sales Techniques And Deal Closing Knowledge Check•15 minutes
- Applying Sales Techniques And Closing Strategies•10 minutes
This module explores the psychology behind why customers make decisions — and how ethical persuasion can shape their buying choices. You’ll examine cognitive biases, emotional triggers and behavioural patterns that influence consumer responses. Using relatable examples, you’ll learn how to apply principles such as social proof, framing, scarcity and reciprocity to enhance your marketing and sales impact while maintaining trust. By the end, you’ll understand how to motivate action and design more compelling customer experiences.
What's included
7 videos3 readings2 assignments
7 videos•Total 47 minutes
- Influence And Decision-Making•8 minutes
- Behavioural Economics And Marketing•7 minutes
- Social Influence And Team Dynamics•7 minutes
- Neuroscience And Persuasion•9 minutes
- Ethical Persuasion And Business Ethics•6 minutes
- Customer Behaviour And User Experience•6 minutes
- Conclusion•2 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
- Lesson Descriptions: Persuasion And Buyer Decision-Making•10 minutes
- Worksheet: Persuasion Techniques And Consumer Behaviour•10 minutes
- Project: Persuasion In Action - Crafting An Effective And Ethical Marketing Strategy•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Persuasion Techniques Knowledge Check•30 minutes
- Applying Persuasion Techniques In Sales Conversations•30 minutes
In this module, you’ll discover how trust functions as a psychological catalyst in sales interactions. You’ll explore techniques for building credibility, strengthening rapport and reducing perceived risk for prospects. The module also reveals why emotional intelligence, authenticity and consistent communication are essential for long-term customer relationships. By applying these principles, you’ll learn to create an environment where prospects feel understood, supported and ready to move forward. This trust-based foundation prepares you for strategic negotiation and stakeholder-influence skills.
What's included
7 videos3 readings2 assignments
7 videos•Total 44 minutes
- Building Rapport And Trust In Sales Relationships•7 minutes
- Negotiation Psychology•8 minutes
- Understanding Buyer Behaviour•9 minutes
- Confidence And Resilience In Sales•6 minutes
- Neuroscience Of Decision Making•6 minutes
- Overcoming Objections•6 minutes
- Conclusion•3 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
- Lesson Descriptions: Applying Core Sales Techniques To Win Deals•10 minutes
- Worksheet: Trust And Influence In Sales•10 minutes
- Project: Craft Your Perfect Sales Pitch•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 40 minutes
- Trust And Influence In Sales Knowledge Check•30 minutes
- Applying Trust-Building Techniques In Sales•10 minutes
This module teaches you how to activate social channels to generate higher-quality leads and accelerate complex deal cycles. You’ll learn how to position your expertise online, initiate meaningful prospect conversations and create content that attracts the right buying groups. These techniques support the multi-stakeholder engagement frameworks introduced in C218, ensuring your pipeline aligns with the strategic opportunities you’re now able to manage. This sets the foundation for the structured proposal and procurement work covered next.
What's included
15 videos10 readings2 assignments
15 videos•Total 86 minutes
- Introduction•10 minutes
- What Has Changed? •8 minutes
- Why Social Selling Is An Essential Tool To Scale Your Relationships •4 minutes
- The Modern Sales Tools•5 minutes
- What Social Selling Is And Is Not•7 minutes
- Who Are Your Most Valued Customers? •5 minutes
- Understand Your Audience Better Through Social•3 minutes
- Optimise Your Personal Profile for Sales•4 minutes
- Build Your Personal Sales Ready Profile •4 minutes
- Engage And Connect With Personality•10 minutes
- Create Visibility Through Content That Educate •6 minutes
- Turn Social Conversations Into Sales Conversations •6 minutes
- Construct Your Scale Your Sales Social Sales Cadence•5 minutes
- Create Your Social Selling Customer Growth Plan•8 minutes
- Summary And Conclusion•2 minutes
10 readings•Total 95 minutes
- Lesson Descriptions: Leverage The Power Of Social Media To Engage Prospects And Generate More Leads•10 minutes
- Worksheet: Social Selling And Prospect Engagement•10 minutes
- Article: Harvard Business Review•5 minutes
- Article: Sales Tools•10 minutes
- Social Media Audience•10 minutes
- What Is Social Listening?•10 minutes
- Exercises: Target Audience And Social Listening•10 minutes
- Article: Leverage LinkedIn For Sales Development•10 minutes
- Article: Master The Art Of Social Selling•10 minutes
- Project: Build Your Social Selling Success Plan•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Social Selling And Prospect Engagement Knowledge Check•30 minutes
- Applying Social Selling And Prospect Engagement Techniques•30 minutes
What's included
9 videos7 readings2 assignments
9 videos•Total 54 minutes
- Introduction•10 minutes
- The Four Stages Of A Sales And Marketing Funnel•7 minutes
- Sales Metrics And The Fundamentals Of Funnel Optimisation •6 minutes
- Creating An Ideal Customer Profile•4 minutes
- Selling Value To Your Customer •6 minutes
- The Buyer’s Journey •7 minutes
- The Importance Of Customer Retention And Lifetime Value •5 minutes
- Customer Experience For Retention And Growth•6 minutes
- Conclusion•3 minutes
7 readings•Total 70 minutes
- Lesson Descriptions: Master The Sales Funnel To Optimise Your Winning Sales Process•10 minutes
- Article: Ultimate Guide To The Sales Funnel: Strategy And Resources•10 minutes
- Worksheet: Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)•10 minutes
- Worksheet: Sales Process Part 1•10 minutes
- Worksheet: Sales Process Part 2•10 minutes
- Worksheet: How To Calculate Customer Lifetime Value•10 minutes
- Project Title: Designing Your Sales Process Aligned To The Buyer’s Journey•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Sales Funnel Optimisation Knowledge Check•30 minutes
- Applying Sales Funnel Optimisation Techniques•30 minutes
In this module, you will build a strong strategic foundation for selling during periods of economic uncertainty and change. You’ll explore how sales thinking has evolved, why traditional approaches often fall short and the behaviours required to succeed in modern B2B environments. Through frameworks such as the Inspiring Challenger, PEST analysis and market-force analysis, you’ll learn how to create insight, position expertise and tailor your message to customer priorities. By the end of this module, you’ll understand how strategic insight and informed challenge enable sales professionals to inspire customers, shape thinking and prepare the ground for more complex buying decisions.
What's included
15 videos12 readings2 assignments
15 videos•Total 66 minutes
- Introduction•3 minutes
- Insight vs Information•3 minutes
- The History Of Sales Methodologies•6 minutes
- Understanding The 5 Different Selling Profiles•8 minutes
- Why Old Truths About Relationships & Consultative Sales Are No Longer Relevant•5 minutes
- What Are The Qualities Of The Inspiring Challenger?•3 minutes
- The 3 Rules Of The Inspiring Challenger Sale•4 minutes
- Inspiring Customers To Learn & The PEST Analysis•4 minutes
- Porters 5 Market Forces•4 minutes
- Building Your Expertise•5 minutes
- Optimal Tailoring•3 minutes
- The Inspiring Challenger Pitch Overview•4 minutes
- The Warmer: Introducing The Insight•3 minutes
- The Reframe & Rational Drowning•3 minutes
- Emotional Impact & A New Way•9 minutes
12 readings•Total 120 minutes
- Lesson Descriptions: Understanding Market Trends And Buyer Expectations•10 minutes
- Exercise: My Personal Objectives•10 minutes
- Exercise: My Previous Sales Learning•10 minutes
- Exercise: My Sales Profile•10 minutes
- Exercise: Adapting For Success•10 minutes
- Exercise: PEST Analysis•10 minutes
- Exercise: What Does A Better Pitch Deck Look Like?•10 minutes
- Exercise: Porter’s Five Forces•10 minutes
- Exercise: Sources Of Expertise•10 minutes
- Exercise: Tailoring Your Sales Collateral•10 minutes
- Exercise: Creating Your Warmer•10 minutes
- Exercise: Unique Selling Points•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 40 minutes
- Sales Strategy: Apply Modern Insight To Succeed In Changing Markets•30 minutes
- Sales Strategy: Apply Modern Insight To Succeed In Changing Markets•10 minutes
In this module, you will focus on navigating customer decision-making and taking greater control of complex sales opportunities. You’ll learn how buying decisions are made across multiple stakeholders, how to map and influence decision-making networks and how to align your approach across the wider account team. The module also develops your ability to manage sales momentum, assertiveness and commitment using structured control techniques. By the end, you’ll be equipped to guide opportunities forward with confidence, strengthen deal progression and apply practical control strategies that support success in later modules on enterprise engagement and pipeline management.
What's included
9 videos10 readings2 assignments
9 videos•Total 39 minutes
- Maximise Your Customer Decision Making Network•6 minutes
- Understanding The Decision Making Process & Who Is Influencing The Process•5 minutes
- Methods Of Customer Mapping•5 minutes
- Creating A Joined Up Approach•3 minutes
- Taking Control Of Your Sales Pipeline•7 minutes
- The Assertiveness Continuum•4 minutes
- Using The Agreement Staircase•5 minutes
- How To Get Anything You Want In Life•3 minutes
- Final Summary•2 minutes
10 readings•Total 100 minutes
- Lesson Descriptions: Managing Complex Buying Decisions•10 minutes
- Decision-Making Units•10 minutes
- Exercise: Influencing The Process•10 minutes
- Exercise: Creating Your Decision Makers Map•10 minutes
- Exercise: Enrolling Your Team•10 minutes
- Uncovering The Way Beneath The Way•10 minutes
- Exercise: The Assertiveness Continuum•10 minutes
- Exercise: The Agreement Staircase•10 minutes
- Exercise: Final Action Planning•10 minutes
- Project: Decision-Maker Mapping For Complex Sales•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Negotiation Techniques Knowledge Check•30 minutes
- Applying Negotiation Techniques In Sales•30 minutes
This module introduces the core negotiation strategies needed to influence outcomes while maintaining strong professional relationships. You’ll learn how to prepare effectively, identify interests, manage tension and structure proposals in a way that benefits both sides. Through psychological principles and practical negotiation frameworks, you’ll strengthen your ability to navigate difficult conversations and secure mutually beneficial agreements. Building on the trust and communication skills from earlier modules, this section prepares you to negotiate with confidence in more complex internal and cross-functional environments.
What's included
7 videos3 readings2 assignments
7 videos•Total 46 minutes
- Negotiation Styles And Strategies•9 minutes
- Cognitive Biases In Negotiation•9 minutes
- Emotional Intelligence In Negotiation•9 minutes
- Power Dynamics In Negotiation •6 minutes
- Cross-Cultural Negotiation•5 minutes
- Ethical Considerations In Negotiation •5 minutes
- Conclusion•2 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
- Lesson Descriptions: Negotiation Psychology And Strategic Preparation•10 minutes
- Worksheet: Negotiation Strategies And Techniques•10 minutes
- Project: Mastering Negotiation Skills•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 40 minutes
- Negotiation Techniques Knowledge Check•30 minutes
- Applying Negotiation Techniques In Sales Conversations•10 minutes
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The Expert Academy creates high-quality, expert-led online courses focused on practical business and professional skills. Working with respected industry specialists, we deliver concise, content-rich learning supported by real-world examples and exercises. Our cinematic production and structured design help learners apply skills confidently and achieve measurable impact at work worldwide today.
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