Typically, sales managers are former salespeople. They are familiar with the sales job, and their staff feels comfortable because their manager has done the same job before as they are doing now. Remember, leadership is a balancing act.

A sales person’s mission is to serve the clients and the company, but a sales manager’s mission is more complex. They must serve the clients, the company, and the salesperson. In addition, a sales manager’s job consists of four key domains: hiring the salespeople, training the salespeople, evaluating the salespeople, and growing the business.

But, should sales managers also continue to play the role of a sales person as well? Absolutely!

Here are four reasons why sales managers should sell to key accounts (15-30):

1. Industry Awareness: Sales managers will be able to recognize the industry trend and better understand the clients’ needs by talking to them directly.
2. Higher Income – Sales managers will be able to increase their income since it will introduce a separate income source beside higher base and bonus.
3. Lead by Example – Sales managers should set an example by occasionally showing the sales team how to close a few deals and grow some existing accounts.
4. Improved ROI – The sales manager will become a profit center instead of cost burden for the organization if they contribute to the team sales quota.

Although it is a good idea for sales managers to also be salespeople, they must do it right if they are going to do it at all. It is very important for sales managers to follow a time management tool if they chose to play a dual role: sales and sales management. Another word of warning—sales managers could be perceived as “self-fish” if they use their authority to take good accounts from their team members unfairly.

Above all, sales managers must possess high integrity and practice fairness in order to manage the team effectively.

I had a meeting with my sales management team earlier today to discuss if we should focus on hiring experienced or non-experienced sales people.

It is our finding that non-experienced people are comparatively loyal, adapts to the organization culture easily. On the other hand, the experience produce result immediately, requires lesser training and quickly adapts to the selling process. Read more »