--- title: "The Edge: Why the Top 20 Percent Are Mostly Coachable | The Sales Blog" description: I have had a number of discussions lately about how much you can prescribe or direct salespeople that are already succeeding at a high level. The concern is that by prescribing or directing them, these salespeople will be offended by suggestions that they take some new action or try on some new belief. Nothing could […] image: https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2011-12-08-at-7_35_47-PM.png --- ### [Now booking SKO meetings for 2026/27! 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The concern is that by prescribing or directing them, these salespeople will be offended by suggestions that they take some new action or try on some new belief. Nothing could be further from the truth. #### Seeking the Edge It shouldn’t surprise anyone that [the top 20 percent](http://thesalesblog.com/2011/06/the-secret-of-the-top-20-of-sales-producers/) are [coachable](http://thesalesblog.com/2010/11/coachable-how-to-be-a-coachable-salesperson/). It only makes sense. If [the bottom 80 percent](http://thesalesblog.com/2010/03/11-ways-to-guarantee-your-spot-in-the-bottom-80-of-salespeople/) were coachable, they wouldn’t be in the bottom 80 percent for long. Almost all of the top producers that I know are always seeking an edge. They’re always looking for a new idea, a new approach, or a new way to create value for their clients. They want some edge that will allow them to produce even greater results, and they are open to trying new things to get those results. Because they are open to trying new things, including [trying on new beliefs](http://thesalesblog.com/2010/12/how-to-stop-entrenching-yourself-in-unhealthy-beliefs/), they are coachable. They are open to discussing what they do now, and they are open to discussing how they might be more effective. They can abandon some of the things they do to try new things. This group of top producers is interested in learning about what other people are doing that is succeeding for them. They want to learn. They are coachable because they continue to seek an edge, even when they are already doing well. They are paranoid about falling behind. They don’t want to miss something that might allow them keep their place atop the leader’s board. When you work with this group of salespeople, they are engaged, they ask questions, and they seek answers as to how to apply new thinking and new actions. They aren’t offended by ideas. The best salespeople will try a prescribed course of action, and they are very open to directive coaching—especially when they believe it will help them get an edge. Because this is true, they are coachable. Mostly. But there is a small subset of the top 20-percenters that isn’t coachable. #### The Other Side of Paranoid This small subset of uncoachable top 20-percenters is petrified of new ideas, new actions, and new beliefs. It’s not that they don’t believe that the new idea might be valid, or that they can’t take the new action, or that they don’t want to try on the new belief. Mostly, they are afraid that they won’t be as successful as they are now because they will be losing some part of the magic that is allowing them to succeed. They don’t want to lose what might be their edge. This small, paranoid group of top 20-percenters is superstitious and worries that they will lose ground if they make any changes. They think: “What I am doing is already working. Why would I risk not doing it anymore?” They worry: “What if I try something and it doesn’t work? I will have lost.” If you manage these salespeople, it’s important that you help them to understand how they can try new ideas in a way that eases their concerns about losing what already works. If you are one of these salespeople, it’s tough to consider trying new things when things work for you, but it’s important to remember that what allows you to succeed now [may not in the future](http://thesalesblog.com/2010/07/the-cost-of-change-is-doing-what-makes-you-uncomfortable/). That’s why it’s important to keep learning, and to keep pursuing whatever may give you an edge. #### Questions Is it your experience that the best salespeople are coachable and open to new ideas, or do you find that they are generally opposed to new ideas? Why do top producers continually look for an edge? What makes you coachable or uncoachable? Do you easily accept new ideas and new beliefs that might help you to succeed, or do you have to be persuaded? Is it worth taking some risks to continue to find ways to improve your sales results even if you are already doing well? ###### Tags: [Sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/sales) [2011](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/2011) Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino) on December 8, 2011 Written and edited by human brains and human hands. ![Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/ai-blog-profile-crop.jpg) Anthony Iannarino is an American writer. He has published daily at [thesalesblog.com](https://www.thesalesblog.com) for more than 14 years, amassing over 5,300 articles and making this platform a destination for salespeople and sales leaders. Anthony is also the author of four best-selling books documenting modern sales methodologies and a fifth book for sales leaders seeking revenue growth. His latest book for an even wider audience is titled, The Negativity Fast: Proven Techniques to Increase Positivity, Reduce Fear, and Boost Success. Anthony speaks to sales organizations worldwide, delivering cutting-edge sales strategies and tactics that work in this ever-evolving B2B landscape. He also provides workshops and seminars. Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn, X or Youtube. You can email Anthony at [iannarino@gmail.com](mailto:iannarino@gmail.com) [Follow me on my website](https://www.thesalesblog.com/anthony-iannarino) [Follow me on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/thesalesblog) [Follow me on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/iannarino/) [Follow me on Twitter ](http://www.twitter.com/iannarino) [![AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27.jpg?width=400&height=400&name=AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27.jpg)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/authority) [![ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1.jpg?width=318&height=179&name=ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1.jpg)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/free-cold-calling-video) ![salescall-planner-ebook-v3-1-cover (1)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/salescall-planner-ebook-v3-1-cover%20(1).jpg?width=768&height=994&name=salescall-planner-ebook-v3-1-cover%20(1).jpg) ### Free Sales eBook: Sales Call Planner Planning your sales call improves the likelihood of making a successful call, and it demonstrates to your dream client your professionalism. 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What we’re doing right now **is working**, even in this challenging economy. **Would you like some help?** [![Solve for Sales](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035) ### Join my Weekly Newsletter for Sales Tips Join 100,000+ sales professionals in my weekly newsletter and get my *Guide to Becoming a Sales Hustler* eBook for FREE! --- ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org/", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Anthony Iannarino" }, "dateModified" : "2022-06-16T3:27:40 PM", "datePublished" : "2011-12-08 20:15:54", "description" : "I have had a number of discussions lately about how much you can prescribe or direct salespeople that are already succeeding at a high level. 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