Selling with Empathy: The Underrated Superpower in Sales
Chinwendu Nwachukwu
DevOps & Cloud Engineering Specialist | Automation Expert (Airtable, Zapier, Make.com) | Building Scalable Systems | Cloud Security | Tech Content Creator & Mentor | Helping Tech Teams Scale
Because people don’t buy from scripts—they buy from people who truly get them.
Let’s be honest…
You can know all the tricks, all the frameworks, and all the tools—but if you don’t connect, you won’t convert. In today’s world, buyers are flooded with pitches. What sets you apart? Empathy.
Empathy isn’t soft. It’s strategic.
When you understand your prospect’s struggles, goals, and mindset, you create trust—and trust sells.
Why empathy is your edge in sales
Here’s how to sell with empathy (practically):
1. Start with curiosity, not assumptions Ask open-ended questions. “What’s been your biggest challenge with this lately?”
2. Listen to understand, not to reply Don’t rush to pitch. Slow down. Echo what you hear. “It sounds like timing and budget are both concerns right now, right?”
3. Acknowledge their feelings Sometimes people just want to be heard. A simple “That makes sense” or “You’re not alone in that” goes a long way.
4. Tailor your offer to their reality Avoid generic pitches. Frame your solution in the context of their situation. “Given that you’re growing fast but stretched thin, here’s how we can help you scale without hiring more people.”
Call to action
What’s one way you add empathy to your sales process? 👇 Share it in the comments. Let’s help each other grow better, more human sales habits.
Case Insight: The Day I Dropped the Script and Closed a Deal
I once had a discovery call that started cold. The prospect sounded distracted. Instead of pushing my agenda, I paused and asked: “Before we dive in, you sound like today’s been a lot. Everything all right?”
She sighed and said, “It’s just been back-to-back meetings. I’m exhausted.”
So we chatted for a minute about her workload and how chaotic her week had been. That small moment of humanity shifted everything. By the end of the call, she said: "I wasn’t even planning to make a decision today, but you actually listened. Let’s do it."
Lesson? The fastest way to sell is to stop selling and start understanding.
Digital Marketing || Social Media Marketing || SEM II Email Marketing
6moVery helpful
Creative Brand Storyteller & Content Writer | Blending Fiction with Strategy to Deliver 3X Results | Ghostwriter | SEO Blogs, Websites & Email Copywriting
6moWhen it comes to sales, empathy is a powerful tool. It helps to build connection Chinwendu Nwachukwu
Helping brands grow with eye-catching thumbnails and social media designs
6moInsightful post, Chinwendu! Empathy truly is a game-changer in building trust and meaningful connections in sales.
Executive Assistant l Helping Founders & CEOs Save 20+ hours/Week | Expert in Streamlining Operations, Project Coordination & Marketing Execution for Scaling l Workflow Optimization
6moSell with empathy And the way to go about it is to: Ask questions Be a good listener to understand their concern Be in control in that conversation Acknowledge their concerns Tailor your offer to their concerns Thank you Chinwendu Nwachukwu
Corporate Bull$hit Slayer | MBAinAction.com Creator – Intensive Program for Leaders and Managers | 20 Years in Business Trenches
6moYes! Most reps are busy perfecting pitches when they should be practicing presence. In sales, empathy isn’t fluff, it’s your most underutilized closing tool.