In working with many sales managers, the topic of keeping the sales team motivated frequently comes up. Sales coaching provides a tremendous opportunity to address this, but only if the coaching leaves the team member feeling more committed, excited and determined after the coaching session ends. We have all experienced coaching in our lives whether it be professional, personal, athletic or some other endeavor.
As a sales manager, you have probably heard that your sales reps should be using social media for prospecting. In fact, at a recent Board Luncheon for the Atlanta Chapter of the Sales Management Association, using social media for selling was the #1 topic of interest. Here are 6 tips that you can use to more effectively coach your teams to use Social Media when prospecting:
As a salesperson, sales manager, or sales leader, you are probably well aware of your company’s formal structure for recognition. Top sales people receive plaques, mention in newsletters, and trips to the beach. Recognition in this form is an effective motivator, but it fails to do one key thing. It fails to motivate middle performers.
Does anyone following the NFL ever wonder what a team is doing with a draft pick? Often times, teams with established quarterbacks will use a high draft pick on a rookie quarterback, even if the established quarterback has several good playing years left. Their philosophy is simple: Let the rookie quarterback learn from the experienced quarterback and when it is the rookie’s turn to assume the starting job, he is more prepared and ready to lead his team to victory.
Organizations follow this same logic, by establishing mentor/mentee programs, when they determine it is time to groom new leaders one day capable of leading the business. Mentors discuss mentees ambitions, suggest activities to help get experience, or provide ways for the mentee to learn the ins-and-outs of the business in an accelerated fashion.
Most conversations about effective motivation with your sales force turn immediately to compensation. While fairly and effectively compensating your sales team is critical for success, it is only one of the “levers” that the sales leader can pull to drive increased team performance. Companies, sales forces, and sales leaders are all unique. Having a motivation strategy that fits your sales force and utilizes the right mix of motivational approaches will be more effective and can drive your sales organization to achieve greater results. At a recent Atlanta Chapter of the Sales Management Association meeting, a group discussion was held on the topic: “Motivating Your Sales Force: A motivated sales force creates momentum, momentum drives results. How can sales leaders motivate their sales force to create momentum?” Topic experts for the discussion included sales leaders from AT&T, Groupon, LexisNexis, Ricoh, Dell Secure Works, Aon Hewitt, Talent Quest, and Georgia State University. The following are key takeaways from what resulted in an expert discussion on sales leadership.
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