any sales managers out there?

[InTime]

whats some good advice to becoming a successful sales manager?

thanks

[MonBK]

Sell a lot.

[whiskyguy]

Yep

Set clear, measurable goals and expectations and then hold your people accountable...

[Brenngun]

First quantify and understand your pipeline of future business. I hope your organization has a measurable pipeline that is updated by the sales people realtime or as close to it as you can get. If not develop one quickly. This tool will give you a starting point and allow you to track your team's progress. You can use it to set specific goals designed to convert this pipeline into real revenue. You will also be able to see if your pipeline is dropping or growing. Dropping means potential revenue drops in the future. Growing means potential increasing revenue in the future. This of course is reliant on your conversion rate and the factors that contribute to successful conversion but it will at least give you some initial rough data to start with. The more you can manage your business forward the better. It will help you to see problems before they arrive. Good Luck

[East Bay Rider]

Warning - language.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Lf8...e_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO_t7...e_gdata_player

[Mickey®]

Customer Relations...if they don't like you...they won't be buying for long.

[kilyung]

Your sales people are not your friends - you are their boss, not their buddy. Do not hesitate to take corrective action if necessary. Otherwise YOUR boss will do so.

[htc8p]

interpersonal skills

not everybody has it that's why not everybody makes good sales managers.

of course you gotta back up your word and not just hot air.

[Passionata]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Sell a lot.

exactly

[Boothroyd]

3 times to 4 times pipeline for every $ you expect to sell in a given period of time!

[Boothroyd]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Your sales people are not your friends - you are their boss, not their buddy. Do not hesitate to take corrective action if necessary. Otherwise YOUR boss will do so.

What he said.

[TattooedGQ]

Originally Posted by Brenngun

First quantify and understand your pipeline of future business. I hope your organization has a measurable pipeline that is updated by the sales people realtime or as close to it as you can get. If not develop one quickly. This tool will give you a starting point and allow you to track your team's progress. You can use it to set specific goals designed to convert this pipeline into real revenue. You will also be able to see if your pipeline is dropping or growing. Dropping means potential revenue drops in the future. Growing means potential increasing revenue in the future. This of course is reliant on your conversion rate and the factors that contribute to successful conversion but it will at least give you some initial rough data to start with. The more you can manage your business forward the better. It will help you to see problems before they arrive. Good Luck

Dead On

Originally Posted by Mickey®

Customer Relations...if they don't like you...they won't be buying for long.

Absolutely

Originally Posted by kilyung

Your sales people are not your friends - you are their boss, not their buddy. Do not hesitate to take corrective action if necessary. Otherwise YOUR boss will do so.

Eh....buddy no, but if you start toting that "You're the BOSS" they're going to hate you for it, undermine you, and produce less. I've seen it happen over and over in my organization.

Just remember, You probably can't REALLY motivate your team, however you can certainly ruin their day.

[rr-nyc]

A successful sales person doesn't always make a successful sales manager. Unfortunately, not all companies understand that.

It's about coaching and mentoring your people and developing their careers. Lead through motivation and not intimidation. In my opinion, its about leading them to meet goals and exceed your expectations not the other way around. Ah, last but not least, inspect what you expect (or so said a mentor of mine who really made things happen for me as a manager)

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Your sales people are not your friends - you are their boss, not their buddy. Do not hesitate to take corrective action if necessary. Otherwise YOUR boss will do so.

Funny, I'm friends with almost all my people and they produce big time. Not only for themselves but for me and the company. There's no secret who their boss is but I would never hang it over their heads. That's not the kind of manager who succeeds

[seand442]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

It's about coaching and mentoring your people and developing their careers. Lead through motivation and not intimidation. In my opinion, its about leading them to meet goals and exceed your expectations not the other way around. Ah, last but not least, inspect what you expect (or so said a mentor of mine who really made things happen for me as a manager)

Wiser words have never been spoken regarding supervision/management.