Almost everyone knows the feeling of hitting a wall in their craft—whether you’re a pianist, an athlete, or a seasoned sales professional. You practice, you try, but eventually progress just seems to grind to a halt. This stubborn pause in growth isn’t about lacking motivation or effort; it’s just a story as old as human learning. Moving forward usually asks for more than just repeating the same action—sometimes, it demands a new perspective, or even a new tool.
Dr. Shinichi Furuya of Sony Computer Science Laboratories understands this dilemma on a personal level. As a pianist and a scientist, he wanted to see if technology could unlock new possibilities where routine practice fell short. In a recent study, Furuya invited skilled pianists to wear a robotic exoskeleton glove. Picture this: a device that gently moves their fingers through challenging, high-speed patterns—faster than they could manage on their own. After just half an hour of this guided movement, these accomplished musicians played with newfound agility and speed, and, interestingly, the improvements stuck even after removing the glove.
The real story here isn’t just about faster fingers. The glove was a gateway into what’s possible when our experience outpaces our self-imposed limits. It’s reminiscent of that moment in 1954 when Roger Bannister ran the four-minute mile. Once he’d done it, a flurry of runners quickly followed suit. The ceiling, it turned out, existed mostly in the mind.
This idea isn’t confined to musical mastery. In sales, the same plateau occurs: calls are made, emails go out, but eventually the results flatten. It’s rarely due to lack of effort. Often, it’s about the systems—or lack thereof—around the people involved. Over the years, sales techniques have evolved from the consultative approaches of the 1970s to today’s conversation analytics. Still, more often than not, it’s left up to the salesperson to piece together how and when to apply what they’ve learned. That gap, between knowledge and execution, is a prime place for progress to stall.
So what actually moves the needle? For real change, belief is crucial, but it helps to have the right support system too—something that shows progress as it happens. Enter “agentic AI,” a new technology designed to offer real-time guidance. Instead of making people figure out every step, agentic AI acts as a copilot. It considers the buyer’s perspective, nudges the salesperson toward better choices in the moment, and fills in gaps in technique right when they need it—like a robotic glove for your sales instincts.
The advantages add up quickly. Agentic AI can jump in to handle background work—researching clients, prioritizing leads, personalizing messages—so sales reps spend less time on repetitive chores and more time connecting with people. It can also identify patterns from top sellers and make these insights practical, right there in the middle of a live deal. Real-time coaching means reps can pivot and adapt while the stakes are still high. All this automation frees up time for building relationships, helping new hires learn faster, grow in confidence, and, ultimately, leading to bigger wins. The whole environment shifts from a grind to supportive growth.
In the end, reaching top performance is never just about talent or effort alone. The best results come when strong systems shape daily behavior, reinforce proven practices, and keep the learning loop alive. Agentic AI connects the dots between what sellers see, do, and absorb—turning professional growth into an organizational asset. It’s not just another tool—it’s a trusted guide. As the pace of business accelerates and expectations rise, it’s clear that winging it or relying solely on manual training won’t get you very far. With the right mix of belief and modern systems, what once looked like a dead end starts to look more like a launch pad.
Read the original article at Unite.AI.
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