Driving successful initiatives in any sales organization begins with first- line manager. The performance of sales reps is directly tied to the ability of these managers to play multiple roles effectively. This SiriusDecisions research brief explores the importance of first-line managers in executing sales initiatives and the roles they must play in today’s b-to-b environment.
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Research Brief
role and provides a vehicle to reinforce expectations and standards. In
addition to quota achievement, recognizing managers and their teams for
milestones such as training completion, new product certification or sales
force automation adoption draws positive attention to each initiative and
reinforces its benefits.
• Communication. Although they are one level away from the field, first-line
sales managers are – and should be treated as – part of the management
team. Developing a specific set of communication tools to reinforce the sales
strategy, share results, recognize performance and drive home key messages
gives sales leaders the ability to reach their reps through their managers.
Remember, it is much easier to target 100 managers than it is 800 sales reps.
The Sirius Decision
It is our belief that first-line sales managers play the most influential role in
improving the performance and productivity of the sales organization. Focusing
on their development through a sales management process, specific training,
focused recognition and a unique communication strategy not only will
improve the performance of these managers, it will improve the performance
of tens, hundreds or thousands of field reps under their direct control every
day. Think about it: How many of your first-line sales managers made their
plan last year?