Sales managers are responsible for leading sales teams to reach sales targets. Sales managers are primarily tasked with hiring and training team members, setting quotas, evaluating and adjusting performance, and developing processes that drive sales. Sales managers are oftentimes expected to travel.
Sales managers usually need a Bachelor's degree in business or a related field. Additionally, sales managers typically need to have several years of experience in sales prior to becoming a manager. Oftentimes, sales managers are promoted into sales director positions. The best sales managers have strong analytical skills, excellent leadership abilities, and exceptional customer service skills.
- Recruit, hire, and train sales team
- Set sales goals, compare performance to goals, and adjust goals as needed
- Assess current team processes and procedures, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement them
- Develop individual quotas and assign territories for team members
- Provide detailed and accurate sales forecasts
- Coach, mentor, and provide feedback to team members
- Foster a competitive yet collaborative team environment
- Assess individual performance through observation and measurement, and suggest corrective actions as needed
