Foot in the Door’s Post

Not only in sales. It’s life.

We always discuss sales strategies during our weekly team calls, but as a growing and evolving company, we're constantly exploring new tactics to help us all improve as a sales team. Last week, we introduced our first "sales pod," which was a hit and something we'll definitely continue doing. These are small, three-person meetings focused on one key sales topic for 30 minutes of geeked out discussions. The smaller group keeps the conversation more focused, engaging, and productive. It's still early days, but everyone left the session feeling energized and with more clarity after diving into different ideas, questions, and nuances within the topic. What do other folks do outside of full team meetings that helps your sales team grow?

There’s something special about a sales team in an office together. -The energy it brings. -People on the phones. -Meetings being booked. -Deals being won (or lost). It's infectious. And will spread across the entire office. Especially when you’re new to a sales role. It’s so important to be around like-minded people. -To give and receive feedback easily. -To bounce ideas off one another.  -To help you deal with rejection. -To stop procrastination. It can make such a big difference to your learning and development. I saw this first hand yesterday visiting customers in person. It reminded me of how important it was for me when I first started in sales. And when I was building out my first sales team. Granted, you don’t need to be in every day. But a few times a week is going to help progress your junior salespeople quicker. And it's great for team morale. #sales #salescareers #salesteams #salesfloor  P.S. How often do you have your sales team in the office?

If you’ve been promoted to manage a team you were previously a part of, the transition can be pretty uncomfortable. There’s often some ruffled feathers and it takes a bit of time to regroup. But when Alexandra Reiner was first promoted to lead a sales team her experience sounded like something from a bad dream. Within three months of being promoted every person in her team had quit.  In this article we explore what went wrong and how Ali now approaches managing change. https://lnkd.in/de6i_9gG

It's #NationalSalespersonDay, and I'm just filled with pride thinking about our incredible sales team. Watching them grow, take on challenges, and shine in their roles has been an absolute highlight. You know what's special about our team? They're all about making connections that count. Sure, they close deals – but what they're really doing is opening doors for people and making a lasting difference in our community. It's way more than just sales; it's about creating positive change. One thing that always comes up in client feedback is just how pivotal our team has been for them. They really try to explore and understand our client's needs, even uncovering new opportunities within their own businesses. It's this level of care and insight that sets our team apart. So here's a big shoutout to our SlingShot ConnectionS sales team: Thanks for being awesome, for growing with us, and for making such a meaningful impact. You guys are the real MVPs! #appreciationpost #sales #team #community

I was the top performing AE at the software company. And at the sales training company. Held that #1 streak across both of those companies for 16 straight years. Although there was one year where I got nudged out of first place by like $13k in sales on or around the last day of the year. LOL, that still pisses me off.🤣 Stay competitive sellers. It's great fuel for the fire. Even when you're making lots of money. And driving fancy cars. And living in big houses. And enjoying country club memberships. And beach vacations. Your competitive drive will help you... -develop key skills -work harder -work smarter -learn more about your product -learn more about your customers -learn how to talk about your products in ways customer understand -learn how to ask good questions -learn how to listen -learn from your mistakes -learn the importance of relationships -and partnerships -and doing the right thing by customers Because if you do those things, you'll end up on top. At least 15 out of 16 years.🤣

"🚀 Let's talk real about sales people! It's not just about beating external competitors; the battlefield also exist within our own team. Whether it's internal competition or the friendly communication between seniors and juniors, the sales journey is no walk in the park. 🤼♂️ Embrace the truth: the pursuit of success in sales often means facing challenges from within. It's not just a job; it's a constant battle to rise above. 💪 #Salesreality #teamchallenge #salesjourney

Keep the lone wolves in your sales team from going rogue We all know them. The high-performing sales rep who prefers to do things their own way—the lone wolf. But as impressive as they may seem, lone wolves can sometimes do more harm than good, disrupting team dynamics and hindering future growth. When one person starts bending the rules, it doesn’t take long for others to follow suit—and before you know it, your entire team’s culture is at risk. The challenge isn’t just keeping lone wolves in check; it’s recognizing when they’ve become a problem. As Steve Waters put it, "When things change, and they're still stuck in their old ways, that's a big, big problem." Whether it’s failing to adapt to new processes or resisting collaboration, they can hold your team back. The good news? Radical candor and mutual respect can help channel their energy in the right direction. It’s about building a culture where collaboration is valued over individual heroics—because in sales, no one wins alone. Does your team have a lone wolf? Now might be the perfect time to bring them back into the pack.

Why do some sales teams consistently outperform others? It's not just about the individual talent within the team, but rather how each member's strengths are harnessed and aligned towards a common goal. High-performing sales teams have a few things in common: unparalleled product knowledge, a keen understanding of their customer's needs, and an unbreakable team dynamic. But here's the kicker - these attributes don't develop overnight. They're cultivated through strategic hiring, ongoing training, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. So, when you're building your next sales team, remember that the magic isn’t just in recruiting top talent, but in how you bring out the best in them together.

Consistent SaaS Sales Valentine's Day Edition: building champions builds careers in Sales. With the dramatic conclusion to the Big Game on Sunday which included a star-crossed couple (I'm talking about Coach Reid and Pacheco. Who are you thinking of?) and it being Valentine's Day; I thought it fitting to talk about how much I love building champions... in my deals. While it's true you don't have to be liked to be selected, it's also true that you almost always need a champion in every department involved in your SaaS solution's remedy to an organizations problems. You build champions by showing them that you're human and getting them to care about you so take opportunities to learn about the person you're meeting with (sports teams, pets, hobbies, etc.) as well as share about yours. Focus establishing a relationship and you can't help but build a champions and create new customers. #sales #selling #enterprisesales