While salespeople have their tricks of the trade, how they start and structure their day could determine their success. Here are 10 things salespeople can do every day to improve their performance:
1. Create a to-do list
When workers begin their work day, they should have a game plan for what needs to get done and how they’ll do it to avoid falling behind on the job. Writing a to-do list of tasks, meetings and other events is crucial to starting the day off right.
2. Review key performance indicators
Although workers most likely know how well they’re performing, it doesn’t hurt to review key performance indicators. By evaluating their current sales numbers and metrics, salespeople are more likely to understand what they need to do to increase their performance or maintain a good pace of sales.
3. Visualize their goals for the day
Whether salespeople have monthly, quarterly or yearly sales targets, they should break down these quotas by what they have to do each day. This makes lofty goals more doable because they are not as daunting when they are divided into smaller, daily objectives. Visualizing the goals for the day helps drive workers’ motivation for getting through the day and achieving business objectives. These goals could include checking off 40 calls before lunch, according to Eye on Sales, or spending one hour to work on a personal project.
4. Stay flexible
Even the most prepared salespeople could have their plans for the day completely changed by one unscheduled meeting. Salespeople should leave some room in their schedules to prepare for the unexpected, whether calls from clients, meetings or other events. Workers could make themselves a promise to remain flexible when things are not going as they had hoped, according to Inc. magazine.
5. Build relationships
To help enhance their productivity and satisfaction at work, salespeople should focus on building relationships with both customers and their co-workers. Whether salespeople are contacting a new lead or want to get to know their colleagues, they should build relationships that could increase their engagement at work.
6. Dress to impress
Although salespeople might primarily work over the phones, it’s important to have the appearance of professionalism when on the job. Sales representatives should look presentable at all times because it positively affects how they conduct themselves at work and when working with clients.
7. Check their calendars
Before picking up the phone or sending emails, some salespeople prefer to check their calendars in the morning to make sure their schedules look in order and to never miss an important call or meeting.
8. Set priorities
When salespeople have limited time to do everything they have on their to-do lists and are under pressure, they should prioritize their tasks. Prioritizing is critical to making sure they do the most important things before moving on to less significant times. For example, workers could decide to cut their number of follow-up calls with leads to contact bigger, high-risk clients.
9. Leave time for breaks
While salespeople feel they often do not have enough time for all of their responsibilities, they should leave time to take breaks away from their desks. They could get up to have a drink of water or walk around the office to stretch their legs. Not only is this a healthy way to get away from the glare of the computer to reduce eye strain, but it’s also a great method for reducing stress and refocusing.
10. Have a list of questions prepared
Salespeople often have plenty of questions they want to ask supervisors or colleagues. Before any pressing items escape their memory, salespeople should write down any questions they think up before they go about their day.
