Introduction:

Sales development managers are critical to the success of any organization in the tech industry, but they’re also some of the least understood roles on the team. This can make it challenging to succeed as one; here are five tips to help you do just that.

1) Take the time to learn

It’s natural for anyone, in any industry, to feel overwhelmed by uncertainty. In fact, it’s often part of what makes us so driven and ambitious. This can be true for someone entering a new position, such as becoming a sales development manager. There is uncertainty about what that means and how you’ll succeed at it—but there are methods for overcoming these feelings of uncertainty and learning how to excel in your role. Here are three strategies that can help you do just that

a.        a. Learn from others: The best way to figure out what success looks like is to learn from those who have already achieved it. Get access to mentors who have been where you want to go, or reach out directly and ask them for advice on career growth or business strategies. Even if they don’t have direct experience with your specific job title, they might still have insights into how they succeeded in their own roles—and be able to share wisdom that will apply across industries.

b.      b.  Look inward: If you’re feeling uncertain because you don’t know exactly what your new role entails, look inward and find ways to define it yourself. What does success look like? How would you measure that? What kind of support do you need? These questions should help clarify your goals and expectations for yourself within your new position.

c.        c. Find common ground: When working with clients or colleagues, try identifying commonalities between both parties before diving into business specifics.

2) Understand your territory

Even if you’re new to a territory, it’s critical that you take time at the beginning of your role to understand who your customers are and how they buy. It might seem obvious, but most companies don’t get that basic concept right. To succeed, you need to make sure you have a good handle on what differentiates your company from competitors—and why potential clients should choose you over them. The best way to do that is by getting out in front of people and listening closely to their needs and wants. Find out what matters most when making purchasing decisions: price? quality? service? convenience? If it helps, write down what makes each prospect unique before meeting with them so you can tailor your approach accordingly. And be sure to follow up! Most sales reps fail because they don’t stay in touch with prospects after an initial meeting. But without regular contact, there will be no second meetings. So get into a routine of sending updates about your product or service every week or two for several months; even if you aren’t selling anything during that period, stay top-of-mind for buyers and keep yourself fresh in their minds for future purchases.

 

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3) Figure out how to build rapport quickly

As a sales development manager, your job is to make sales reps’ lives easier. That means you need to build rapport quickly so they like working with you. The easiest way? Do what they do: Develop relationships using social media, make cold calls (it can be fun once you get used to it), and have lunch or drinks with people outside of work. Before long, you’ll find yourself having more conversations about business than personal matters—and that will lead to more deals for everyone involved.

Rushing into business talks too soon isn’t helpful because you haven’t built any trust yet. You need to know how trustworthy each other are before going in for that big ask.

4) Make your role clear

Every company has distinct management styles and processes, but when you’re first starting out in sales development, it can be hard to tell how your work fits into your company’s larger operation. Make sure you know what responsibilities are yours and what tasks need help—for example, if part of your job is prospecting, make sure you understand who will take over that responsibility once an opportunity becomes an account. And if you don’t have any prospects, figure out why not. If you find yourself with no prospects or accounts to manage, talk with your manager about ways to improve or strategize about alternative career paths within your organization.

5) Build your network inside and outside of the company

Start now by reaching out to your company’s sales, customer service, and marketing teams. These groups are likely already responsible for selling your company’s products and services—and they’re good people to know. They may be able to put you in touch with decision makers or offer tips on how your organization operates. Likewise, you should also be networking outside of work. Join professional organizations related to your field and connect with industry contacts on social media. Finally, keep an eye out for job postings at other companies that might interest you. You never know where your next opportunity will come from!

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you! All questions and comments are welcome. If you enjoyed reading this post please share it with others using one of those social media sharing buttons below or leave me a comment down below! Thanks again for reading and have an awesome day.