Learn how to decode silence in sales and recruitment—plus the exact scripts and strategies to get closure without looking desperate.

In this episode of It's A Yes! Making It In Media, Jo Wood and Debra Sharron tackle one of the most frustrating experiences in both sales and recruitment: ghosting. Whether you've had a brilliant pitch meeting followed by radio silence, or you've sailed through three interview rounds only to be left hanging, ghosting is a demotivating reality that over half of UK employers admit to doing.

Jo and Debra decode what silence actually means—from "I'm too busy" to "I'm avoiding an awkward no" to "this was never happening." They share practical strategies for preventing ghosting before it happens, including next-step hygiene, trial closing techniques, and multi-channel follow-up approaches. You'll learn when persistence pays off and when it's time to walk away with dignity.

Listener questions tackle real scenarios: Tom's been waiting five weeks after three promising interviews, James has been ghosted after sending a detailed proposal, and Mel struggles with closing in person versus on video calls. Jo and Debra provide actionable scripts, timing guidance, and the all-important buying signals you need to recognize before you waste time on proposals that go nowhere.

1. Why over 50% of UK employers admit to ghosting candidates—and why silence isn't always personal
2. The three types of silence: genuinely busy, avoiding confrontation, or never happening
3. Next-step hygiene: how to build accountability into every meeting or call
4. Trial closing techniques that reveal true interest before you invest time in proposals
5. Multi-channel follow-up strategies—why WhatsApp often gets the fastest response
6. The "if they wanted to, they would" rule and when to walk away
7. Recognising buying signals: what they are and how to respond immediately
8. Why you should never offer to "send an email and call back" without locking in next steps
9. How to ask for commitment to a follow-up meeting before writing any proposal
10. Video vs. in-person closing—and why Mel closes better on calls
11. Professional etiquette: remembering how ghosting feels when you're on the other side

The Challenger Sale — Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson

Debra recommends this game-changing book that revolutionized her approach to selling and training business development teams. The research is fascinating: the authors studied thousands of sales reps and found that in complex B2B sales, one type dramatically outperformed all the others—the Challenger. Challengers teach clients something new about their own business, tailor their message to each stakeholder, and aren't afraid to challenge the client's thinking. This was transformational because the best salespeople create constructive tension. They bring insights clients haven't considered. It's not about being aggressive—it's about being assertively helpful.

Top takeout: Come to...