Builders: Here's How You Can Grow a Professional Sales Team #6 - Rewrite the Rule Book
Fantastic salespeople in the building industry hate rules! Tell them that they can’t do it, and they will have to prove that they can! That’s because they are wired to rise to a challenge. A great quality when it’s on your side, but it can create a myriad of problems in a building workplace. Administrators trail after them to get their paperwork completed. Project managers react to their pressure to start “now!” or complete early. You will be tempted to load up your salesperson with rules.In this post I suggest three things you can do to unleash the best in a super salesperson
the-successful-builder-Builders: How to grow a Professional Sales Team #6 - Rewrite the Rule Book
1 Don’t Change Him
Trying to change a super salesperson is always the most difficult approach. The thing is that highly performing sales people travel in territory few others in the company traverse. So how would you or the others in the company know what it’s like out there anyway? The very nature of commission sales requires strength of personality. So trying to change that is dooming yourself to failure. You can’t really change a person’s personality.
2 Results Rule
Recognise that he will always put results ahead of rules. This is simply because a commission salesperson gets paid from his/her results, not from complying with a set of company rules. So if there is a sale in the offering and a company rule in the way... you don’t need rocket science to tell you that the rule will take second place.
3 Minimum Limits
Now, I hear you howling that you can’t just give them carte blanche! True. One sale is much the same as another, yet each encounter between salesperson and client is a unique event. So, distinguish between inviolable boundary rules and company procedures. Then define as few boundary rules as possible and make the company procedures guidelines for success. Ask yourself, “Does it really matter?” Unless your answer is, “Yes it absolutely does,” then make it a company guideline. Reserve the boundary rules for the non negotiables.
4 Encourage Creativity
Encourage creativity and risk taking with accountability, then lead discussions with your team where you talk about their experiences. Have team members discuss where they tried new approaches, or departed a little from company guidelines. It’s in these discussions that the whole team does it’s best learning. It may be that you decide to modify company guidelines because of a risk taken by just one team member that paid off. Don’t require 100% agreement - Just 100% involvement.High performing salespeople can propel a building company to the big time quickly. But, it is unlikely that the company will stay the same. So you need to be ready to handle change.
Talk Back
So, how do you handle change in your building business?I’d love to hear of your comments.Post your comments below
Read more in the “How To Grow a Professional Sales Team” series:
Builders: Here’s How You Can Grow a Professional Sales Team #1 – Create Saleable Products
Builders: Here’s How You Can Grow a Professional Sales Team #2 – Make Your Production Scale-Able
Builders: Here’s How You Can Grow a Professional Sales Team #3 – Relegate Retainers
Builders: Here’s How You Can Grow a Professional Sales Team #4 – Expect Discomfort
Builders: Here’s How You Can Grow a Professional Sales Team #5 – Step up to Lead
Builders: Here’s How You Can Grow a Professional Sales Team #6 – Rewrite the Rule Book
Graeme
P.S. Whenever you’re ready….here are 4 ways I can help you grow your building business:
1. Grab a copy of my free book
It’s a road map of a successful 15 minute sales call that’s guaranteed to increase your conversion rate. http://thesuccessfulbuilder.com/book-15-min-sales-call/
2. Join Trade Mates and connect with builders who are scaling too.
It's our new Facebook community where smart builders learn to get more income, time and freedom. View our free business resources for builders. Ask questions of like minded business owners and business coaches. Give your knowledge and expertise to help others. - https://www.facebook.com/groups/TradeMates/
3. Join My New Group
I’m starting a new group called “OnRamp” to kick start sales and marketing in your business. If this sounds like you, message me with the words, “OnRamp”, and I’ll get you all the information.
4. Join Loft Members
If you’d like help to get off the tools, make more money and get your life back...just message me at graeme@thesuccessfulbuilder.com and put “LOFT MEMBERS” in the subject...tell me a little about your business and I’ll get you all the details.