You’ve heard it all before: A good mentor is critical for a successful career in sales. But how do you identify the qualities that make someone an exceptional mentor? When selecting a mentor, try to find someone who embodies these eleven qualities: 1. Dedication to mentoring, and availability to provide mentorship An unavailable mentor can’t …
Goal setting is critical for success in sales. Most of us have goals personally and professionally, but it’s not always easy to know how to act on them once they’re set. The key to figuring out how to turn your goals into real career achievements is to develop habits that will set you up to …
A salary negotiation can seem tricky and even unpleasant. This perception is often more acute among women, since they’re statistically less likely to negotiate for a raise than men.. Salary negotiations are an important part of taking ownership of your career, and tap directly into the hard skills you need to succeed in sales. In …
Words and Phrases to Avoid During Salary NegotiationsRead More »
Having a strong support system can make a big difference when it comes to long-term career development in sales. A support system isn’t just one or two confidants, but a whole network of people who can provide guidance from diverse perspectives. As valuable as a support system is, you can’t just expect that one will …
Women may be increasingly present in sales, but they’re underrepresented in leadership positions relative to their overall presence. According to analysis from LinkedIn, while women hold 47% of entry-level sales positions, yet only 21% of sales VPs are women. In some industries, it’s even lower. The paucity of women in leadership positions nevertheless has a …
How to Empower Women to Reach Sales Leadership PositionsRead More »
If you’ve spent any time in sales, you know that selling is a complex process. New sales representatives make mistakes in the process of learning to sell, which can mean the difference between closing a deal and failing to close. The good news is that it’s possible to sidestep these pitfalls through careful planning and …
10 Mistakes First-time Sales Reps Make and How to Avoid ThemRead More »
Personal branding has become increasingly important for sales professionals. During the hiring process, it’s a given that recruiters will look up your profile on LinkedIn and other platforms. But the importance of branding doesn’t end there. Social selling is a highly effective sales tactic that can no longer be ignored. 78% of sales professionals who …
A good leader is a thermostat. When I say that, I mean that good leaders set the temperature for the entire room. This is very different from being a thermometer, which just passively reacts to the temperature. Those who do this well, as leaders and as individual contributors, are the ones who really make a …
In the business world, it’s common to conflate leadership with people management, but they are two very different things. While people management is a great path for some individuals when the time is right, it is not the only way to showcase leadership, and it’s certainly not for everyone. I recall an article I read …
Leadership is So Much More than People ManagementRead More »
There’s a popular idea that leadership is something you do alone. But in my experience, it’s just not true. Sure, I learned how to be a leader in sales by developing my own skills. But just as crucial was cultivating a support system. Once that network is in place, it’s easier to be an effective …