We come across many styles of sales managers when we work in a staffing agency. Most sales professionals have worked in business development. However, there are some management traits that can help you form a cohesive team.
You will find here both positive and negative management styles.
Positive Techniques for Running a Sales Team:
Hire people from different backgrounds – Hiring sales reps from the same industry as the sales manager reduces ramp-up times and provides faster ROI. It is also a good idea to look for potential sales stars with different backgrounds, such as those from different cultural or educational backgrounds.
This format is great for hiring. It gives potential clients and existing clients more options to choose the type of person they want to deal with.
If you have clients in Europe, it can be an advantage to hiring sales reps who speak Spanish and French.
Micromanaging is a problem in many companies that makes it difficult to give employees the autonomy they need. This is due to the fact that it is expensive to get rid of a business leader who is engaged in this type of management. It leaves an open management slot that many representatives will pursue.
The new management hire will allow the sales reps who did not get promoted to look for a sales or management job elsewhere.
You must train your employees and keep them engaged. As a sales manager, you must allow your sales team to come up with new ideas and help improve the company. Don’t let the sales team go to sleep after all is said and done.
You can increase your chances of success in business development by keeping an eye on your P & L.
Negative Sales Management Techniques:
You will be in trouble if you don’t recognize and adequately appreciate your employees as a sales manager. Recognize and show appreciation to sales representatives who go above and beyond.
This includes going to bat for employees in need of raises.
It is easy to create a bureaucracy. Employee recognition should be based solely on performance. It is difficult not to play favorites, no matter what professional position you hold. As the leader of a business development team, however, you cannot avoid the consequences.
Do not keep on employees who don’t produce. As a sales manager, you need to create an environment that encourages hard work. Although it may seem difficult to let go of sales reps you don’t like, it is necessary to be a successful sales manager.
Fear of hiring people more intelligent than yourself – The whole point of hiring, regardless of the industry or employee level, is to find those with more talent than you. Most business development managers and VPs are aware of this fact, but sales managers who don’t know it can hurt their revenue.
