In order for your business to grow, you need to have a great sales team by your side. The sales department is perhaps the most important part of any business because they’re responsible for bringing in new customers and keeping current customers happy. So how do you build an unstoppable sales team? Let’s take a look at a few essential tips to keep in mind.
Set clear and attainable goals
Having clear expectations from you will help your sales team thrive. After all, they can’t do their job well if they don’t know what’s expected of them. So it’s important to set clear goals, continuously update goals, and check in with the team regularly—and fortunately, there are plenty of tools to help you tackle these tasks. Using an OKR software, which stands for objectives and key results, will help keep everyone on the same page. The OKR process involves establishing objectives, determining deadlines, and figuring out how to measure success. OKR methodology can help keep team members focused on the same goals and ensure it’s easy to keep track of key performance indicators.
Don’t be afraid to take risks
You’re probably looking for a specific type of person to add to your sales team—but don’t let your vision of the ideal candidate stop you from taking a risk on someone. If a person doesn’t have the experience or education you think is needed for the job, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t be able to do well in the position. Some people have skills and talents that go beyond having experience, and it could pay off to take a risk by hiring someone who doesn’t technically qualify for the position. You’d be surprised at how far some basic training and natural skill can take someone.
And taking risks should be a part of every business aspect, not just when it comes to hiring employees. While it’s certainly important to have a long-term plan in place, knowing how much you’re willing to risk is important on a daily basis. And according to global investment manager and business executive Mark Wiseman, it’s important to think long-term and keep your long-term risk appetite in mind. On the current pandemic and businesses fearing to make investments right now, Wiseman comments, “That is the time when everyone else capitulates and thinks the world will never come back, that’s the time you want to be the buyer because it will. Stick to your long-term course, and be the buyer when no one else is. If you retain your risk appetite you understand you can still take risk.”
Invest in the right resources
You can’t expect your sales team to do well if they aren’t given what they need to do their job. There are endless resources and tools available to help make the sales process seamless—a Customer Relationship Management system can keep your sales employees connected with consumers and automation processes can help your team reach their personal goals and the goals at the company level. Investing in these tools will pay off in the long run because the job will be easier for your sales team, meaning they can make more sales. Continue to check in with your team members on a quarterly basis and consider frequent check-ins to see if they can think of any other resources that could help make them more efficient.
Building the right sales team can take time and patience. But if you hire people you trust, work with them, and give them the tools they need to succeed, you’ll have an all-star sales team to help your company grow in no time.
