Sismai Roman Vazquez empathizes with any new sales manager. Having previously accepted roles to lead sales teams, Sismai R Vazquez understands that every group brings new challenges. Some are excited about the opportunity to learn from a new leader, while others are angry that they weren’t the ones selected to lead the team. Today, Sismai Roman Vazquez will advise anyone looking to hit the ground running in their new managerial role.

Sismai R Vazquez on the Importance of a First Impression

Whether a leader is coming over from a new company or has been moved up the ranks in an organization, it is critical that they set the tone during the first few weeks. The first impression will set the tone for the future of the working relationship. Sismai Roman Vazquez recommends entering a position with core values and making it clear to everyone what values you believe lead to success. The main takeaways for team members should be that their team leader is confident, personable, and someone they can trust to approach with a challenge or issue.

Scheduling individual meetings right away is crucial. A good manager will get to know more than just the names of their employees. They will get to understand their backgrounds and what resources they feel they need to perform their best. Showing a genuine interest in the success of an individual rep is a great way to get better results out of their performance.

One of a leader’s best attributes is the ability to listen. People often feel that they need to accept every idea that a team member has, but the truth is that they just need to be willing to listen. If an idea works, it can be implemented. If an idea doesn’t work, the manager can explain the reasons behind their decision. People want to be led by someone willing to listen to their ideas. When managerial-employee relationships are built on respect, people look forward to coming to work each day. When people feel that their ideas go unheard, it can lead to churn, which can really hinder a team’s ability to flourish. Sismai R. Vazquez recommends that managers consider their nonverbal communication skills. When an employee is talking, do the courtesy of making eye contact, putting the phone down, and maintaining open body language throughout the conversation.

Many professional salespeople are quite good at what they do. There is more than one style that is effective for sales, and the best salespeople can shift their approach based on the needs of the prospect they are speaking with. While it is tempting for a manager to have everyone follow a strict set of rules, Sismai R Vazquez has found that good leaders are not micromanagers. Most managers have so many responsibilities outside of managing people. It is nearly impossible to be effective in a leadership role without employees pulling their own weight. Setting clear expectations and providing an open-door policy is the best option on a daily basis. If all the tools for success are available, it needs to be on the individual rep to meet their sales objectives and goals.

One of the best ways to motivate individual reps is to reward outstanding performances. Most sales teams will have team goals and individual goals. When these goals are greatly surpassed, a good manager will reward this. Not every reward has to be some grandiose gesture, but a team that feels their manager is excited and enthusiastic about their success will want to perform their best. When someone is clearly working hard or putting in extra effort, managers should never shy away from recognizing that both publicly and personally. When a compliment is earned, people will want to seek out that feeling again and again.

Finally, the best leaders lead by example. Leaders are observed by team members every day. It can be very deflating when an employee feels that their manager doesn’t really care about their job or the future of the company. A leader who arrives late and leaves early is someone that can’t possibly hold the respect of their employees. However, when a manager works just as hard when everyone isn’t watching as they do when the team is together, it pushes people to live up to the standard set by their boss.