4 Ideas to Pull Yourself Out of a Sales Slump

Good Morning! Remember that viral guy who dunks his face in Saratoga ice water at 3am as part of his ‘wellness routine’? A BI journalist tried it for a week and discovered what we all suspected: it does absolutely nothing except make you dread waking up. I’ll stick to my morning routine of coffee, Redbull, and refreshing the email app like I don’t already know no one responded to my cold emails. 😃

Sponsor The Follow Up | Subscribe

We've all been there.

Your pipeline is drier than the Sahara. Your manager keeps "checking in" on your numbers (translation: where are your deals?).

And that quota? It feels about as reachable as Mars.

Sales slumps happen to everyone. Even the best reps who seem to close deals in their sleep.

The difference between top performers and everyone else isn't whether they hit slumps or not. It's how quickly they pull themselves out.

Today, I'm breaking down four battle-tested strategies to break free from your sales drought and get back to cashing commission checks.

The fastest way out of a slump usually isn't finding completely new prospects, it's revisiting the ones you’ve already talked to (or talked with someone at your company).

Those leads marked "closed-lost" in your CRM aren’t dead. They're just hibernating.

Here's why this works: These prospects already know who you are. They've already shown some interest. And half the time, the only reason they didn't buy was timing.

The secret sauce is looking for trigger events like new leadership, funding rounds, or market shifts, that might make your solution suddenly relevant again.

Try this: Block an hour tomorrow to find 10 interesting closed-lost opportunities. Send each a personalized note referencing your previous conversations and sharing something new or valuable.

When you're staring at a massive revenue target, it's easy to get overwhelmed.

So instead of obsessing over outcomes you can't control, focus on the inputs you can.

Instead of freaking out about closing that $50K deal, set ridiculously specific activity goals:

These are actions you can control, regardless of whether prospects ghost you or not.

The psychology works because small wins create momentum. Momentum builds confidence. And confidence is the boost you need to get out of a slump.

Try this: Set three stupidly specific activity goals for tomorrow. Make them realistic and obtainable. Then do the same the next day, and the next.

You’ll be surprised how quick things turn around.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is stop working.

No, seriously.

Your mental state dramatically impacts your sales performance. When you're in a slump, it’s easy to get stuck in a negative thought pattern, affecting everything from your tone to your persistence.

So how do you fix it? Switch up your state.

Not the actual state you live in, but the environment and mental state you’re in.

Try things like:

In sales, you don't have control over what a prospect is going to do.

Sure, there’s tactics you can use to persuade and help them make a decision.

But if they just had budget cuts and a zero-tolerance buying freeze, even the best follow up email in the world isn't going to get them to buy.

Instead of stressing about things you can't control, focus on what you can: Consistent prospecting and timely follow-up.

Need to follow up on a proposal? Chasing a client response? These 30 expertly crafted email templates cover every professional situation—from networking connections to sales follow-ups and team collaboration.

Stop staring at blank screens wondering what to write. Each template includes strategic prompts, real-world examples, and insider tips from communication experts. 

Whether you're building relationships, closing deals, or managing projects, these templates will help you communicate with clarity and confidence.

Download Now and transform your professional communication today!

Today’s newsletter was written by Nic Conley