I am privy to the secrets of many sales leaders who have reasonable expectations for the performance of their team (aka results) and face the reality of underperforming team members (aka relationships)
What to do?
When you consider one of the key functions of a sales leaderโs role is to build relationships that achieve results, then one of the key competencies must be to have the tough conversations.
And this is where the difference between a sales manager and a sales leader becomes crystal clear.
We spoke last week about the 3 fears of a sales manager, being: 1. Fear of making a decision, 2. Having the tough conversations and 3. Asking for help and if those 3 fears arenโt addressed, then your team will continue to underperform and you become part of the problem.
And when teams consistently underperform the Micro-Manager shows their cards or the Glorified Seller shows up. (Refer our Sales Leader Income and Impact Scale).
The Courageous Sales Leader does what they expect their salespeople to do:
๐ญ Think through strategy
โ๏ธ Continually be curious and ask questions
๐ฉ Do the things they might not like doing themselves!
As a startโฆhave you:
โ๏ธ Identified what the ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐ stands for because values and standards vary across different organisations?
โ๏ธ Identified what ๐๐ผ๐ stand for as a leader and know what you are prepared to put up with and not put up with? Understanding there must be enough wriggle room to give your team space to be themselves.
โ๏ธ Identify what your ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ stand for (they may not know) and what they see as high performing behaviours and what they see as examples of low performing behaviours? And have you agreed on accountability toward those behaviours?
To be a high performing sales leader, it is not just about action plans and numbersโฆ itโs also about creating an experience for your team members.
And if one of your members continues to be toxic and undermines all the above, then:
๐ช Have the courage to make a decision to do something about it keeping in mind that this change is a process not an event.
๐ช Call them out and have the awkward conversations with confidence because the longer you wait, the worse it gets.
๐ช Ask for outside assistance because whilst accountability is your responsibility, next steps may not be in your wheelhouse.
Remember, itโs about accountability and not indulgent behaviours.
If taking action is something you wish to do to set yourself up for a super successful and respected 2022, then schedule a FREE 15 minute confidential conversation with me personally.
#3RedFoldersย #Transformationalย #Salesย #Leadership
My Pic: Silent Breakfast,Le Monastere Des Augustines, Quebec