| Intro | | | | employees |
| If you want to make sure that you're the best | | | | When was the last time you rewarded your |
| sales manager you can possibly be, why not | | | | top-notch sales members? Was it today? Was it |
| check out these helpful sales manager hints | | | | last week? Or would you have to look through |
| below? By employing some of these sales | | | | your Palm Pilot to estimate when you last gave |
| manager tactics, you'll soon be able to motivate | | | | your team some "kudos"? As a sales manager, |
| and direct your team better than ever before. | | | | you should be giving your employees constant |
| Sales Manager Strategy #1: Learn as much as | | | | positive feedback in the form of rewards. And |
| you can | | | | you don't have to break the bank to do this, |
| To become the best sales manager you can, you | | | | either. Offer top performers the option of coming |
| really need to stay up to date on sales topics and | | | | in an hour late or leaving an hour early; pay for a |
| trends. This means you must read books and | | | | team luncheon of pizza and soda when your |
| articles on the topic of sales, even when you're | | | | department scores a huge account; or offer small |
| not on the job as a sales manager. Keeping | | | | trinkets as tokens of your appreciation as their |
| yourself informed should always be in the back of | | | | proud sales manager. Just make sure that they |
| your mind, so the next time a brochure for a | | | | realize their sales manager is watching and he or |
| sales manager training comes across your desk, | | | | she appreciates what they do. |
| don't put it in the "circular file." Instead, look it | | | | Sales Manager Strategy #7: Try not to keep |
| over. You just might benefit from attending this | | | | sales manager secrets from your staff |
| kind of sales manager seminar. | | | | As a sales manager, you'll probably learn some |
| Sales Manager Strategy #2: Get a sales manager | | | | things (maybe from your sales manager) that |
| mentor | | | | your staff doesn't need to know. In fact, your |
| One of the greatest ways you can improve as a | | | | bosses may tell you specifically not to pass |
| sales manager is to learn from someone who is | | | | information down to your team. However, it's |
| already a successful sales manager. If you don't | | | | important as a sales manager that you |
| currently know someone who fits this bill, ask | | | | understand when to let your colleagues know that |
| around at your local Chamber of Commerce. | | | | there's something afoot. Again, this can be a very |
| They might be able to hook you up with a | | | | tricky spot to be in… but that's why you |
| professional sales manager who can assist you in | | | | were given the sales manager position! You're up |
| becoming a terrific sales manager. And who | | | | for it; just be cautious and maintain confidentiality |
| knows? You may just become such a | | | | where required. |
| sought-after sales manager that someone asks | | | | Sales Manager Strategy #8: Don't blame your |
| you to mentor them! | | | | team for negative outcomes |
| Sales Manager Strategy #3: Give your employees | | | | If your sales were down last month, you probably |
| the tools for success | | | | wanted to blame your lackluster sales staff for |
| It's tough for sales staff to perform at their | | | | the low figures. However, as a good sales |
| highest levels if they haven't been given the tools | | | | manager, you have to realize that the buck |
| necessary to succeed. One of the best items you | | | | actually stops with you. This means that if your |
| can offer your employees as their sales manager | | | | team didn't perform well, you have to take |
| is a sales management software program. There | | | | responsibility for any failure on their part. Is this |
| are some terrific ones on the market, such as | | | | difficult for a sales manager to accept? Absolutely. |
| Prophet, a program that works with your current | | | | But if you stop blaming others, you'll be in a much |
| MS Outlook system. (You can find out more | | | | more powerful position because you'll begin to |
| about Prophet at ) By enabling your colleagues to | | | | take action when you see things starting to head |
| become lucrative sellers of your products or | | | | south. |
| services, you'll be doing them a huge service as | | | | Sales Manager Strategy #9: Learn from your |
| their sales manager. | | | | team |
| Sales Manager Strategy #4: Provide consistent, | | | | A great sales manager is a coach who listens to |
| measurable feedback | | | | his or her players. When was the last time you |
| It can be very tough to offer feedback as a | | | | asked for one of your employees' advice? |
| sales manager, because you'll sometimes be seen | | | | Chances are, if you're like most sales managers, |
| as the sales manager "bad guy" (or gal). However, | | | | you've simply made decisions on your own. |
| every sales manager must be willing to sit down | | | | Instead of continuing on this dictatorial path, allow |
| with his or her employees to provide ideas and | | | | your people to help in some of the managing of |
| suggestions. If you've been avoiding this task, it's | | | | your department. Give them a voice, and you'll |
| time to start. After you institute regular feedback | | | | actually be strengthening your position as a sales |
| sessions, they'll become much easier for you. Just | | | | manager. |
| remember to focus these sales manager/sales | | | | Sales Manager Strategy #10: Have an open-door |
| staff pow-wows on measurable data and leave | | | | policy |
| emotions at the door for maximum benefit. | | | | If you want to be known as the "best" sales |
| Sales Manager Strategy #5: Be a hands-on sales | | | | manager your employees ever had, you'll need to |
| manager | | | | implement an "open door" sales manager policy. |
| Don't sequester yourself in your office. Instead, | | | | This means that your staff can come to you with |
| be out and about. Show your sales team that | | | | questions or concerns any time. Formerly, a sales |
| you're not just the sales manager; you're also a | | | | manager was not encouraged to have such open |
| sales person just like they. If you're afraid to | | | | dialogue with team members, but times have |
| make cold calls, don't let them know it; go ahead | | | | changed. If you want to be known as a 21st |
| and fight past any of your personal fears. If you | | | | century sales manager and leader, you need to |
| do this, you'll be showing everyone that you're | | | | start welcoming your colleagues, even if you're |
| willing to jump in the fray, and they'll respect you | | | | busy. That's what separates a so-so sales |
| more as their sales manager and leader. | | | | manager from a phenomenal sales manager. |
| Sales Manager Strategy #6: Reward your | | | | |