There is no denying that your sales team can either make or break your business. If the members of the team hit their marks, then success is going to be in abundance for the entire team. But if one team member is unable to uphold their responsibilities, that requires everyone else to work even harder.
While this competitive drive can sometimes be exactly what a business needs to grow, the fierce competition that comes with working in sales can sometimes lead to a loss in motivation among its team members. Seeing the same person always surpass their sales goals can be disheartening to other members who are having a hard time hitting the mark. That is why keeping your entire sales team motivated matters so that everyone can continue to do their best and keep the company moving forward.
Create a Positive Team Atmosphere
Sales can often be perceived as a dog eat dog world where it’s every man, or woman, for themselves. While this tactic may work for some to thrive in, it doesn’t work for everyone. A great way to keep all of your sales members motivated is by implementing a solid team atmosphere where everyone knows their role and what they can bring to the team. Keep it friendly with plenty of feedback provided. Even on the best sports teams, the star players can’t win every time without the input of other members. The more that the team can be cohesive, the more likely your business will be successful.
Be Willing To Listen
Some teams work great with very little micromanagement. Others, however, still need input, whether it’s accolades or feedback. Even if your preferred management style differs from your team, it’s important that you are able to listen and find out exactly what makes them strive to their best. You can also utilize the team as a whole for better conversation and listening practices. For example, the leaders of the team can give pointers on how to succeed, and those still training can learn from their tutelage. Sales teams that communicate and listen to one another are the ones that work well as a whole and find ways to make things work better for everyone involved.
Give Them the Right Tools
Nobody likes working in an atmosphere where they feel as if they are destined to fail, no matter how well they do. That is why it is your responsibility to give your sales team the right tools that they need to succeed. Be sure to utilize a variety of tools that will help with sales and offer training courses and other resources that people can partake in if they want to increase their individual skill sets.Reward Them Well No matter what resources you offer, for some people it’s simply going to come down to the brass tacks: compensation and incentives. If you want your sales team to stay motivated and competitive, you need to provide them rewards – whether its money or bonuses – and recognize their efforts. Give your team a goal with an incentive included for reaching it and they will stay motivated to get there.
Be Consistent
Not only should your rewards be worth the time that your team puts in, but they should also remain consistent. Nobody wants to work for a sales competition that they don’t know if they’ll be rewarded the same every time. Employees will be hesitant to push themselves harder if they don’t think the reward is worth it, or if they simply are uncertain of what the reward is all together.
With enough time and the right practices, you can keep your sales team motivated and continuing to aid to the success of your company in the long run.
Robert Cordray is a freelance writer for Income.com and expert in business and finances. With over 20 years of business experience, Robert is now retired and hopes others can benefit from his writing.