8/24/2023-Leveraging Your Manager

Your sales manager wants nothing but the best for you, but that means you have to bring your best to your manager. Do your homework, show your work, and keep those communication lines open.

True or false…your sales manager’s main function is to close deals for you.

False. They’re your deals…you go close ’em. But your manager can and should help when needed.

You watch your manager dart around like a headless chicken, but don’t let that prevent you from standing in the help line.

Whether it’s solving an internal problem or tagging along on a meeting with an obstinate buyer, your manager needs you to know when to ask for help. Sure, you’re supposed to figure stuff out on your own, but there are times when nobody else can help you.

Today, solicit your manager for help on a problem that has been hanging around too long.

Your manager can’t read your mind, so be proactive and approach them with the sticky stuff. Your manager won’t judge you for being unable to deal with the issue; instead, your manager will appreciate your honesty.

Present to your manager a brief yet specific summary of the problem and what you’ve been doing to solve the issue. Also, have a few more suggestions in your pocket, ready to go.

Illustrate to your manager that you’ve been thinking strategically about the problem and you would appreciate their thinking and suggestions.

Your sales manager may not wake up thinking about your problems, but they do wake up thinking about you. (Without you and your problems, your manager is out on the street.) It’s up to you to determine which of your problems need to be co-owned with your manager.

First and most importantly, your manager never wants you to lose business alone. In other words, if you feel a deal is going south, rope in your manager fast and let them decide which part of the cavalry needs to be engaged.

Last, your manager needs to know what weight you can handle; they need you to tell them what you can and can’t handle. And that becomes very hard for any proud and ambitious seller.

Hint: get over the pride and actively engage your manager; let those discussions guide you toward future decisions about leveraging your manager best.

Yeah, your manager got lots going on…but not more than this guy named Erich Brenn, who appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show a thousand years ago.

Some acts are timeless, and Erich’s certainly is that!

This dizzying and dazzling 3-minute routine will make you laugh and, at the same time, wonder why he can’t be your sales manager.

This bloke can handle it all!