Here a few of my “top tips” Bonus content for brazil email list both salespeople and sales managers – salespeople first:
Sales Tips 101: Making a Career of Sales
1: Take responsibility for your own self-development
You may be fortunate enough to work for a company that has an affective sales training program – but not matter how good that is, you still need to take responsibility for your own personal development by following leading experts on social media and keeping up to date with the latest books and articles.
2: Prepare for your next career move
Think about where your career in sales might take you. What sort of roles best suit your talents and your temperament? How might you need to develop as an individual to prepare yourself for those roles? What skills or experiences might you need to acquire?
3: Work for people and organisations you can respect
A salesperson’s life is challenging technological innovation in business enough without compounding that by having to work for a manager or an organisation who you cannot respect, or in an environment that supresses you rather than supports you. If you find yourself in that situation, move on before it corrupts you.
4: Seek out role models you can learn from
In any sales organisation, there will always be salespeople who seem to have mastered the art better than their colleagues. Seek them out, develop friendly relations with them, and learn what you can from their success.
5: Be prepared to give back
As you advance in your sales career, never forget what it felt like to be a newcomer to the profession. Be prepared to help out and to share your experience and wisdom – but also be ready to learn from the fresh perspectives that newcomers can often bring.
Sales Management Tips 101: Making a Career of Sales
1: Are you really sure you want to be a manager?
Moving into sales management fans data is the most obvious career path for successful salespeople, but not always the best one. Before accepting a management role, be sure that you are ready to accept the responsibilities that go with it.
2: Invest time in coaching
Coaching your salespeople is one of the most effective ways of driving performance improvement over both the short- and the long-term. Make sure that you devote enough time to this critical responsibility, and make sure you are teaching them how to think rather than telling them what to do.
3: Respect is more important than friendship
One of the mistakes that newly promoted managers sometimes make is to behave as if former colleagues are still their “mates”. Friendly relations are, of course, important, but the most important thing you need to earn is their respect – and sometimes this means having tough and honest conversations.
4: Be prepared to constructively confront negative behaviours
Respect is earned through a willingness to constructively confront negative. Attitudes or behaviours, even if the individual concerned is “delivering the numbers”. Ignoring such behaviours simply stores up trouble for the future. You need to confront it now and not put it off.
5: Leave a legacy
One of the most satisfying aspects of sales management is the feeling that you have helped others to succeed, and to become better salespeople themselves. That is perhaps the greatest legacy you can leave when you move on.
