5 Rookie Mistakes New Sales Managers Should Avoid
Becoming a successful sales manager is not a process that unfolds overnight. Top sales managers earn their stripes by taking strategic steps to combat the sales challenges that face them every day. During their formative years in their new role, they resist the urge to become rigid enforcers of a one-size-fits-all approach. Most important, they rise to the top by learning from the mistakes of their colleagues. Below are five rookie mistakes and the strategies new sales managers can take to avoid them.
Prevention Strategy: View yourself as a sales coach rather than a hall monitor. Resist the urge to monitor every move of your sales representatives. Instead, focus your energies on developing the skills of your team through effective coaching sessions.
Prevention Strategy: Strive to empower your sales representatives. Avoid the “My way or the highway” approach in favor of a supportive approach. Give them the tools to help them make their own decisions so they can grow and prosper.
Prevention Strategy: Brush up on your active listening skills. Resist the urge to dominate the conversation during sales meetings and encourage open communication between members of your team.
Prevention Strategy: Get to know each sales representative on your team. Managers should take the time to get to know the strengths and weaknesses of everyone on their team, paying special attention to differences in motivations and desires.
Prevention Strategy: Establish an open-door policy. By making accessibility one of your top goals, you can help make sure that sales representatives feel comfortable coming to you for the guidance and support that they need.
Remember the Big Picture as You Lead Your Sales Team
The best way to ensure that you do not make common rookie mistakes as a sales manager is to always keep the big picture in mind. Remembering the key strategies outlined above will help you establish yourself as a trusted leader for your sales team. Displaying empathy, openness, active listening skills, and an empowering approach will help you develop the champion caliber sales team that will take your company to the next level of success.
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