What is it that transcends across every effective sales training program and every great sales professional? Two types of skills are required: “Hard skills” and “Soft skills” Hard skills involve knowing and having a deep understanding of things like product knowledge, industry knowledge, sales applications/procedures, and other information directly related to sales. Then you have soft skills, which take into account the intangible “people skills” including things like the way you communicate, empathy, and likeability. The best sales training has a custom combination of both that is determined by the needs of the business, they are in.