Blog/Sales & Enablement
Sales & Enablement
December 2, 2025· 3 min read

Bad Voice Mail Example - Lack of passion

TL;DR

In this eye-opening example from John Barrows' sales training library, he demonstrates one of the most common and fixable mistakes in B2B sales: leaving a voicemail with zero passion or energy. The example voicemail is painfully familiar to anyone who's spent time in sales---monotone delivery, generic script, no personality, and the unmistakable sound of someone just going through the motions. John breaks down exactly why this type of voicemail fails: prospects make split-second judgments about you and your company based on your tone and energy, and a flat delivery signals low confidence, low conviction, and low value. He contrasts this with the kind of energy and authentic enthusiasm that makes prospects curious enough to call back. The lesson is simple but powerful: before you worry about what to say, make sure how you say it communicates that you actually believe in what you're selling. This is part of a series where John uses negative examples to illustrate core sales principles.

Watch the video version of this article

About This Video

In this eye-opening example from John Barrows' sales training library, he demonstrates one of the most common and fixable mistakes in B2B sales: leaving a voicemail with zero passion or energy. The example voicemail is painfully familiar to anyone who's spent time in sales---monotone delivery, generic script, no personality, and the unmistakable sound of someone just going through the motions. John breaks down exactly why this type of voicemail fails: prospects make split-second judgments about you and your company based on your tone and energy, and a flat delivery signals low confidence, low conviction, and low value. He contrasts this with the kind of energy and authentic enthusiasm that makes prospects curious enough to call back. The lesson is simple but powerful: before you worry about what to say, make sure how you say it communicates that you actually believe in what you're selling. This is part of a series where John uses negative examples to illustrate core sales principles.

What You'll Learn

  • Why your tone and energy on a voicemail matter more than the exact words you use
  • How prospects make snap judgments about you and your company based on voicemail delivery alone
  • The specific characteristics of a low-energy voicemail that trigger immediate deletion
  • How to calibrate your energy level for voicemail---authentic enthusiasm vs. fake excitement
  • Why a flat delivery signals low confidence and low conviction to prospects
  • The relationship between your belief in the product and the energy you project
  • How to practice and self-audit your voicemail delivery for consistent improvement
sales
training
enablement