The Massive Transition from Salesperson to Sales Manager Poses Similar Challenges to What Selling-Sales Leaders Face Every Day
Sep 25, 2023
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Exploring the challenges and mindset shifts when transitioning from salesperson to sales manager, including learning to win through others, moving from a selfish to a selfless mentality, and balancing individual production with leading a team. The host expresses gratitude for the success of his book, The First Time Manager Sales, and discusses the importance of proactive developmental coaching for sales managers.
Transitioning to sales management requires adjusting from individual contributor to team leader mindset.
Sales managers must balance their own sales targets with effectively leading their team.
Deep dives
The Success of Book Launch: Audience Contribution
The podcast episode celebrates the successful launch of the host's new book, attributing its success to the audience's support and efforts. The host acknowledges the contributions of loyal clients who purchased bulk orders and shared the book individually within their organizations to boost its rankings on Amazon. A passionate launch team, comprised of clients, event attendees, and podcast listeners, further contributed to the book's success on its release day, achieving a number one bestseller rank in multiple Amazon categories.
Transition from Individual Contributor to Manager
The episode discusses the significant challenges and shifts involved in transitioning from an individual contributor to a sales manager. It emphasizes the substantial differences between these roles, highlighting that the sole similarity is 'sales.' The host introduces the idea that what made someone successful as an individual contributor might not be as effective in a management role. The episode refers to Marshall Goldsmith's book title, 'What Got You Here Won't Get You There,' to underscore the need for a different skill set and mindset when transitioning to management.
The Challenges of the Selling Sales Leader Model
The episode explores the complexities and difficulties of the selling sales leader model, where sales leaders are also top producers. It discusses the inherent conflicts and challenges faced by individuals who have to balance both roles simultaneously. The episode acknowledges the conflict between managerial responsibilities and maintaining personal production and highlights the need for compartmentalization and effective time-blocking. It suggests dedicating specific days or segments of time to focus solely on either selling or leadership to mitigate challenges and maximize productivity in each role.
Shifting from Selfish to Selfless Leadership
The episode emphasizes the crucial shift from a selfish mindset to a selfless mindset required for effective sales leadership. The host describes how successful salespeople often focus solely on their own productivity and income, but managers need to shift their focus to their team's success. The episode recommends implementing office hours sessions to make oneself available for team members, promoting an open-door policy and fostering a supportive environment. Additionally, proactive coaching sessions are encouraged to actively invest in the development and improvement of individual team members, demonstrating a commitment to their growth and success.
While preparing to kick off a new engagement to help selling-sales leaders (player/coaches who are both producers and team leaders) increase sales management effectiveness, it hit Mike that the challenges these leaders face on a daily basis are almost identical to what new managers face when transitioning from individual contributor roles into team leaders.
In this episode, Mike unpacks three big adjustments that first-time managers must successfully navigate…
Shifting from being “responsible for one to being responsible for many”
Learning to “win through others vs. winning on your own”
Moving from a “selfish/individual mentality to a selfless/leader mindset”
…and how those who are charged with driving both their own production/sales numbers AND leading the team must learn how to artfully bounce back and forth between these two very different (and sometimes competing) responsibilities.
Mike also offers an enormous THANK YOU to podcast listeners for helping to make the launch of his new book, The First-Time Manager: Sales, even more successful than he even dared hope as it achieved Amazon #1 Best Seller status in three categories!
Fast Foundations Virtual Workshop Series - A new offering to help new sales managers (or experienced managers seeking a powerful refresher on the fundamentals) quickly master the critical key concepts from The First-Time Manager: Sales - accountability, coaching, smart talent management, and NOT playing sales team hero! This three-month fast-track series is limited to 25 participants and will include live virtual workshop and office hours sessions with Mike. Contact our team for more info.
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