There are many familiar phrases sales leaders say to their teams. You may be familiar with a few:
- Close more deals!
- Build pipeline!
- Fill out CRM!
- Prospect differently!
- Nurture opportunities better!
- Accelerate your deals!
- Meet with the Economic Buyer!
- Focus! Or spread-out!
They (we…) all have their (our…) favorites.
Maybe you do too.
Let’s flip the script and use some new phrases that will do a lot more for your success than the frequently overused list above.
Now, for clarity, this is not for the faint of heart. It takes some courage. If you have it, let’s dig in:
Thank you: Your team works hard. They try new things. What they do is often unappreciated. Let them know that you see what they do and that you are grateful.
I am sorry: We all make mistakes. The problem? So few of us step up and are accountable for it. Lead your team in humility. Say you are sorry for your mistakes. And ask for forgiveness. Talk about relationship growth.
I am proud of you: Your team stumbles a LOT. And fail. And try new things. Again. Let them know that you see and appreciate what they are doing. Their failures. Their victories. Large and small. It’s worth a million bucks. Literally the increased production over the lifetime of a rep could mean a million.
I believe in you: Sales reps get punched in the face. A LOT. It gets old. After a while, teeth and blood don’t taste so good. It is hard to constantly summon the courage and energy to press on. You have the power, more than you imagine, to fuel and feed their courage. Do it!
How can I help?: Stop yelling about what they aren’t doing. Or what they are doing wrong. Lighten the load. DO something to help them. Something very specific to what they are trying to do right NOW. Why do it right NOW? Because helping someone later sometimes never happens.
Leadership Challenge:
If you have the courage, for 1 month, keep a log of how many times you use each of these phrases and with which reps. If you aren’t using these with your team, you are risking dis-engagement, loss of loyalty and potential employee flight. Certainly you are undermining their performance.
Hey, it’s your call. Do you care enough to change? Do YOU have the courage to use these 5 phrases to be the leader you always wanted to be? Maybe model the leader you had when you were coming up through the ranks?
I care about this enough that, for the first 5 sales leaders that reach out to me, I will help you with this and be your support and accountability for the month. Seriously. I care THAT much. REACH OUT TO ME NOW!
Truly, I mean it when I say –
Live to serve… serve to live!
#BeBrave