If you’ve ever worked in sales, you know that these professionals are ambitious, driven, hard working, and competitive. Because of their unique dynamic, sales teams require a subtly different leadership approach from other professionals.
For instance, in most cases this group will resent any micromanagement. Sales professionals are often fiercely independent; much of the time, they want and need autonomy to do their work. Your best bet is to take a step back – you’ll earn their respect by showing you trust them to do their jobs.
Another issue you need to watch is their competitiveness. Some sales managers set up in-team competitions to meet performance goals. While this can be effective, a lack of foresight here can damage relationships between team members and their potential clients.
Find out more about managing a sales team in our new article, Managing Salespeople.
Question: Do you work in or manage a sales team? If so, what techniques or strategies have you found work best? Join the discussion below!
