7 Signs You May Be Ready for Sales Management
For most of us, we don’t have an “aha moment” when we know a career in sales is right for us.
But, if you look back now, I bet there were some signs that led you to believe you’d be pretty good at selling stuff.
That’s because certain qualities and characteristics are necessary to excel at certain jobs. You’re probably in sales because you are a good listener, and are great with people.
But, should you always stay in the role of a salesperson? Or maybe there are signs that you’d succeed as a sales manager.
Here are 7 signs that YOU may be ready for sales management:
1. You’re a natural born coach
Do you find yourself cheering on random people walking down the street? “Yes, nice job crossing in the crosswalk! I bet you can do it faster next time. And even stay in a straight line!” Some say that management is 80% coaching. Your team needs direction, positive reinforcement, and someone who can keep them focused on the right deals. If you have the urge to coach and cheer on everyone around you, then perhaps you are ready for a role as a sales manager.
2. You’re always available
Do you find yourself telling friends “call me whenever”, and you actually mean it? If you’re the person that will pick up the phone when someone needs you (3 AM, during Sunday football, at a funeral…) then you may be ready for sales management. Managers need to be accessible to their team – showing their face in the office, taking the time to mentor, and being reachable even when they’re away.
3. Motivation comes easy
Get up at 5 AM to squeeze in a run? No problem! Push yourself to do one last push-up after the breaking point. Yes, please! In a management role, you will have to get creative to keep your reps driven to make their calls and succeed. So if you find it easy to dig deep, and self-motivation isn’t an issue, then motivating a whole team will be a breeze.
4. You’re loyal, almost to a fault
Have you been wronged in the past, or had someone let you down, but will still defend them to the end and take the blame for them? This is a trait of managers. You have to have faith – almost blinding faith – in your reps. Teams that know you have their back work harder to live up to your expectations. Show them you trust they can do the job, and they will do everything they can to prove you right.
5. You are always willing to pitch in
If recently you have found yourself landing a hand to others – helping a sick neighbor water their lawn, or taking the initiative to pick up milk without being asked – then perhaps you’re ready to jump into sales management. Successful sales managers know when to roll up their sleeves and help out their reps. It may be making sales calls alongside of them, or joining them on a few meetings for morale support. Whatever it takes to get the job done, managers are there to pitch in.
6. You’re curious
Are you always wondering “what else could make this better/faster/more awesome”? Great sales managers not only listen well to their reps, but then also take their sales team’s concerns and questions to heart and are self-driven to seek out the answers they need. Their curiosity helps problem solve and to be open to out of the box solutions. If you’re the guy always curious about the latest and greatest everything, then you may shine in a manager role.
7. You like to laugh
Let’s face it, being in sales is a tough job. And managing a team of salespeople is even tougher! When the going gets tough, a great manager knows how to lighten things up a bit. If you find yourself cracking jokes to make people smile through the bad times, then this may be a sign that you are ready for a role in management.
Are you ready for sales management?
If you notice any of these 7 signs, then it may be time for you to make the leap into sales management. If you do become a manager – or currently are one – be sure to provide yourself and your team with the proper tools to make them successful, like Spiro.
