Recognizing you have a problem is the first step to fix it. The sales problem you may have is your sales team not making its sales goals. Start with examining these areas to fix your sales problem. A sales problem starts when you haven’t provided a sales process. I just heard about a salesperson who is finally selling. Why? Management just observed that she … [Read more...]
Sales Manager Problems: Why is this person on my sales team?
What do you do when a member of your sales team misses a sales objective…again? You might scratch your head in disbelief. Perhaps you thought, “Why is this person even on my sales team?” Here are some strategies for you to avoid these sales manager problems. They don’t take risks. Selling is a job that requires risk taking. You call on customers without certainty they … [Read more...]
How to Survive a Bad Boss
You have Covid fears. The economy is weird. You’ve got sales goals to meet. On top of that you work for a bad boss. I’ve worked for great managers and some very, very terrible ones. I’ve survived them all. Here’s how you can survive if you have to work for a bad boss. Set expectations early and meet them. The best strategy to survive working for a bad boss is to avoid … [Read more...]
Sales Managers that Get More Sales
There’s an interesting proverb that says, “An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep. Sales managers that get more sales are like those lions. Hopefully your team of salespeople are more than just metaphorical sheep. Here’s what a lion leading a successful sales team looks like to ensure your sales team’s success. Find the spark that you … [Read more...]
A Sales Manager’s Guide to Hold Productive Sales Meetings
I’ve been consulting at many sales meetings where sales professionals report the status of their prospects. What I hear too many times is, “This deal is going to close. Soon.” Instead of a discussion of what “soon” means and why, the sales manager accepts this report as an indication of future success. Nothing could be further from … [Read more...]
Don’t Make Yourself Crazy When You Sell
You may have noticed that sales can be a stressful occupation. You don’t know what mood a customer might be in before you present. You might have to deal with an unfair situation. It’s unfair when the brother-in-law of the buyer sells what you sell. Yet salespeople often make their own stressful situations. Here’s what you can do to avoid making yourself crazy when you … [Read more...]
Do you work for a great sales manager?
Business scorecards are useful to improve performance. These scorecards set the criteria that are important to determine success in business. You may intuitively know that you work for a great sales manager. Here’s what you can evaluate if you want to be sure that you do. You’re paid fairly. Your manager has a big role in determining … [Read more...]
Selling Is Really Common Sense
“Well, that’s common sense.” Have you heard someone tell you that about something that’s so obvious to them? I hear it a lot. Selling is really common sense. Unfortunately, I notice that common sense is not all that common. That’s why some salespeople aren’t making their sales numbers. They need more common sense. You can only sell when a customer needs to buy. My definition … [Read more...]
Sell All Alone? No way. Management Should Help You Sell
You may make sales calls all by yourself. That may be the reason why you think you work all alone. You really don’t. Your management has a role to play in your selling. They also have a responsibility to help you sell. How should you sell? Some managers think that when they hire a salesman he should know how to sell. It’s almost like thinking someone will figure out how to … [Read more...]
Really Good Idea for Time Crunched Salespeople
Do you ever wonder how some people look well-rested and relaxed? They seem to have more time for their work. It's not that they have other people do their work for them either. It's that they avoid the distractions and needless work that keeps them from being productive. I just read a book review of Deep Work by Cal Newport. Newport is a computer science professor at … [Read more...]