Noah Loul Shares 6 Essential Skills for Sales Professionals in the AI Era

Sales have changed. A lot. AI tools are starting to dictate how deals are done and how customers communicate with brands. The sales world has changed so quickly that Noah Loul, a sales strategist who has spent several years practicing in a tech-driven space, claims the gap is widening between a high-performing sales professional, and everyone else. He said the only difference is having the skills that match the current tools, and customer expectations. If you are in sales, here are these six skills to consider, to keep you relevant.

1. Data Interpretation

You almost certainly have access to a ton of customer data—behaviors, preferences, history etc. But knowing how to analyze it, and then take action, is an entirely different matter. AI platforms can tell you what to look for, but they cannot identify trends and make substantive conclusions. If your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool shows that a segment's email open rates have dropped significantly, you have to drill down and see why this is happening. Did you misinterpret the messaging? Is it just the wrong timing? Sales isn't always just about instincts anymore. It is about analyzing the numbers and making quick decisions.

2. Personalization at Scale

AI technologies allow you to deliver personalized comms to dozens or even hundreds of leads. However, you still need a human touch. You need to be able to write emails in such a way that are clearly one-to-one communication, not automated. He regularly rewrites auto-generated emails to align their tone to the last conversation they had with the client. Noah doesn’t just rely on templates. You will be using AI to do the hardest work, but you will still want to be sure that it sounds like you throughout the communication process.

3. Tech Familiarity

You don't need a developer's skills, but having knowledge of the tools you utilize is essential. Learning how to use your CRM dashboards is a required skill. You should also become familiar with automation tools like Zapier or HubSpot sequences. If you're using AI-lead scoring to identify which leads are worth pursuing, you should understand how this process is completed and how any specific AI, be it CRMs or chatbots, derives its conclusions or attitudes. Don't ever assume its right; understand its logic.

4. Real-Time Adaptability

Sales calls are no longer scripted experiences. With AI tools today providing you real-time suggestions or sentiment analysis, it's up to you to react quicklyand with an intentional strategy. If the tool detects hesitance in your buyer's voice,​ alter your pitch. Noah Loul remembers a time that an AI tool flagged a drop in interest during a product demo halfway through. He paused and asked a clarifying question and saved the deal. That save came from directly acting off the AI input, not from ignoring the AI.

5. Strategic Questioning

Artificial Intelligence can assist you with preparation, but top performers will always have an advantage over their competitors when it comes to asking the right questions in a discussion. If you asked "Are you interested in this product?”, you might have missed the opportunity to ask, "What would make this product worth the money to you?" Open-ended questions will invite better discussions. AI cannot do this for you.

6. Follow-Up Discipline

AI can be a helpful aid when it comes to remembering to follow up. But sending a relevant and timely follow-up, is still going to be on you. Noah Loul always sets calendar reminders with small notes about what was discussed so he can follow up in a personal and very specific way. The tech can help, but it does not do the work for you.

According to Noah Loul, adaption with AI does not mean replacement. Rather, it is sharpening your specific skills to use AI more effectively. If you implement these six habits into your process, you will be ready for the next phase of sales that will be aided by human insight and machine judgment.