How AEs handle: "We've always done it this way and it works for us."

Why this objection hits AEs differently

For an AE, an objection late in cycle is a signal that discovery missed something — the real move is often to go back one step, not forward.

Account Executives own the full sales cycle from discovery to close — the person with the number on their back. That framing changes what a strong response to "We've always done it this way" actually looks like — the underlying job is still to validate, but the surface behaviour is role-specific.

The tactical move for a AE

Reopen discovery with a mutual action plan review. Frame the objection as a shared problem to solve on the way to a decision, not a wall to climb.

Sample response tuned for AEs

Common trap for AEs

Discounting or product-answering an objection that is really about internal politics or authority.

Key points a strong response covers

• Respect tradition while exploring innovation
• Ask about changing market conditions
• Discuss what competitors are doing
• Explore new opportunities with better approach

Follow-up cadence

Written mutual action plan update within 24 hours plus a scheduled follow-up meeting on the calendar before the current call ends.

Want to rehearse this as a AE? Run a roleplay where the AI buyer says "we've always done it this way" verbatim, then grades your response against the aes rubric.