Becoming a sales manager for the first time can be a daunting experience, even for the most talented professionals. As an employer, it’s crucial to have an effective onboarding process in place for new managers, ensuring they have all the tools and skills needed to succeed in their new role. In the fast-paced world of sales, managing expectations and creating a roadmap are particularly vital, enabling your new manager to build strong relationships with their team. Whilst many businesses focus heavily on technical training, it’s essential to look at the bigger picture and develop comprehensive strategies and plans. So, how do you make sure the onboarding process goes smoothly?
Management training
To set your sales manager up for success, consider providing dedicated sales management training during the onboarding process to support their learning and development. This approach helps ease the new manager into their position whilst creating a collaborative partnership. When employers provide hands-on-training to new managerial hires, they will learn their role more quickly and integrate seamlessly into the culture. The training should focus on crucial skills such as successful delegation, setting winning strategies, and inspiring a team of sales executives through clear and concise communication. This approach, will make your new sales manager feel more confident in their abilities and increase their likelihood of success.
Set clear goals
Setting clear and achievable goals doesn’t just benefit managers but their entire team too, with research demonstrating that establishing such goals can lead to 90% better employee performance. Providing your sales managers with well-defined goals and expectations is critical for maintaining motivation. During the onboarding, employers should outline both the overarching objectives and specific steps needed for improving the performance of their sales executives. Sales managers must focus on improving productivity whilst working to get the best out of their team. Much like the process of onboarding talent into any sales role, the experience shouldn’t be transactional but treated as a process that builds a stronger relationship with the new manager and the team.
Integration process
A proper integration process is vital when onboarding a new manager, as it provides an excellent opportunity for team building. Ensure you have a member of HR or a trainer to conduct this process, which could include the sales manager meeting individual members of their team to discuss expectations. Additionally, arrange meetings between the sales manager and executive members of the company to review targets and goals. This integration process is essential for building trust and establishing mutual expectations across all levels.
Implement feedback sessions
Regular feedback sessions are essential for helping your sales manager improve and develop problem-solving strategies. Given that sales managers must balance reaching their own targets whilst managing their teams, these professionals need careful nurturing and development. Providing consistent feedback demonstrates that your sales manager is a valued member of the leadership team whilst allowing you to support them in challenging areas. Maintaining constant communication is the key to developing and onboarding leaders effectively, ensuring they remain on the path to success.
Are you looking for your next sales manager?
If you’re looking to recruit your next sales manager, BMS is here to help. We have a committed team of specialist consultants with years of experience in recruiting the best salespeople. We’re passionate about providing great opportunities for our clients and candidates, and we consistently build excellent relationships with those we work with. Contact us today to find out more about how we can assist with your recruitment.
