How to Get Past Gatekeepers Without Sounding Like a Sales Rep
How to Get Past Gatekeepers
If your sales reps are getting blocked by gatekeepers, the problem isn’t the gatekeeper. The problem is what your reps are saying—or not saying.
And it’s fixable.
Most reps have no real strategy when it comes to gatekeepers. They either:
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Try to bulldoze their way through with the “Can I speak to John, please?” approach.
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Go vague and evasive, hoping the gatekeeper will just shrug and transfer the call.
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Or worse, they over-explain the call and give the gatekeeper every reason to shut them down.
None of those work consistently. Here’s what does:
First, Understand the Gatekeeper’s Role
Contrary to what many believe, a gatekeeper’s job isn’t to block all calls.
It’s to disqualify the ones that don’t sound credible.
That means they’re listening for signals that tell them:
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Who you are.
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What company you’re with.
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And whether your reason for calling sounds relevant and legitimate.
And here’s the good news: You control all three of those signals.
What to Say When You Don’t Know the Decision Maker’s Name
You’ve done your two minutes of research. No luck on finding the right contact. Now what?
Here’s the script:
“Hi! This is [Your Name] with [Your Company].
I’m calling because I have an idea that might be able to help your [insert their type of business or clients] [insert benefit or outcome], but I’d need to get a little more information first before I can be sure.
Normally, I speak with someone in the [Title] role—I was hoping you could point me in the right direction?”
Why it works:
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You gave them your name and company up front—no evasion.
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You led with a soft idea, not a pitch.
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You made the benefit about them, not you.
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You asked for help (after earning it), not access.
And they’ll usually help.
What to Say When You Do Know the Decision Maker’s Name
Option A: You’re following up on a past conversation (even if it was someone else from your company)
“Hi! This is [Your Name] with [Company]. I’m getting back in touch with John — [brief pause] Smith.”
Option B: No prior contact, but you know who you’re calling
“Hi! This is [Your Name] with [Company].
Reason for my call is I have an idea that might be able to help [Prospect’s Name] [insert relevant outcome or pain point], but I’d need to ask a few questions first to be sure.”
Either version gives the gatekeeper what they need to feel comfortable transferring your call—without handing over control.
Key Takeaways to Coach Your Reps On
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Gatekeepers don’t block—reps disqualify themselves.
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Never sound evasive. Be clear, concise, and calm.
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Always give name, company, and reason for call up front.
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Make the reason benefit-focused (what’s in it for them).
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Practice all 3 scenarios:
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Know the name + past contact
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Know the name + no contact
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Don’t know the name
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If your reps wing it with gatekeepers, your pipeline will suffer.
Give them a simple formula, practice it, and watch your connect rate soar.
Want the full script templates and voicemail strategies? Get in touch—we train entire teams to handle this like pros.
– Michael Pedone / Founder/ SalesBuzz.com
Selling by Phone Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult
Online Sales Training Program from SalesBuzz.com
Give your sales team a repeatable talk track that builds real phone confidence — and helps them start better conversations, qualify faster, and close more deals by phone.
- Cold (and Warm) Call Openers – Learn how to grab attention and gain permission to continue the call
- Gatekeepers & Voicemail – Get past gatekeepers and leave voicemails that actually get callbacks
- Engagement Questions – Start conversations that lead to real sales discussions
- Qualifying – Ask the right questions to uncover opportunity size, authority, urgency and affordability
- Present, Handle Objections & Close – Deliver confident pitches and close without sounding pushy
- Follow-Up & Referrals – Stay top of mind and turn happy buyers into referral machines
- Time Management – Prioritize what actually moves the needle (without burning out)
- Goal Setting – Set smarter sales targets and stay accountable with a proven method
🛠️ How It Works
- Learn: Reps watch one on-demand lesson per week (about 60 minutes). Easy to fit into a normal sales schedule.
- Apply: Every module includes word-for-word talk tracks, real-call examples, and actionable tactics to use immediately.
- Track: Managers get dashboards, quizzes, and optional monthly coaching to reinforce progress and drive accountability.
Ready to get started?