If you own a small business, sometimes you have to do things you don’t necessarily want to do. One of those may be letting someone go who isn’t doing what you need them to. When do you know if you should let your sales manager go, and what should you look for in a new one?
When it’s time to let go…
Nobody likes firing an employee but, unfortunately, sometimes you need to. If you are thinking it may be time to let your sales manager go, but wondering if you really should, take a look for some of these signs as it may help your decision.
- If you see that things have stagnated and nothing new is brewing because your sales manager has become lackadaisical, it may be time for a new one. Those in this position can’t really ever rest, even when a project is complete, they need to stay in touch with it. If you see your sales manager letting things go, it could be a red flag.
- You are getting calls from customers that he’s not doing what he should. If the customers are expressing concern or dissatisfaction, you need to think about replacement.
- The rest of the team are suffering. Your manager should hold everyone together, and if the team is falling apart, well…
- You are spending a lot of time wondering if you should let him go. If this is a thought that keeps coming into your mind, it’s probably what you need to do. Look at in a professional not personal way, and do what needs to be done.
What you should look for in your new sales manager…
- Enthusiasm and follow through. You want an employee, especially one in sales, who will be excited about the company and/or product and express that enthusiasm to the customer. You also want someone who will follow through on every aspect, from the beginning to well past the end of the deal.
- A positive attitude. Sometimes things get rough in the sales world, but a great manager will keep his or her team upbeat through setbacks and rejection. You want someone who will keep the team motivated and ready to work.
- Skip the micromanager. If your sales manager has a team, you should trust that the team is efficient as well. Your manager should keep them abreast of what needs to be done, and be there to help, advise and guide, but keep the micromanaging out. It only insults and frustrates the rest of the team.
- Look for someone who will stick up for his or her team. Sometimes customers can get irate and go on the attack. You want a manager who will handle things calmly, represent the team and find a solution at the same time.
It’s a tough job to find the right team, and managers are a huge part of that. You want someone loyal, trustworthy, approachable and motivated and that person should also be enthusiastic and well versed in not only your product, but also in personal relations. Not everyone is cut out for that, he or she has to wear a lot of different hats, but the right manager will be a huge asset to your company.
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