Sales is not a series of fortunate accidents; it is the result of well-planned and executed strategies. A strategy is the plan to get from where you are now to where you want to be. 

Your sales team will need both the company Strategic Plan and the Sales Strategy. It probably doesn’t seem like a strategic plan has much to do with sales, but if the sales team is going to be effective, they need to buy into the vision, values, and mission as much as they need to buy into the goals. When they don’t understand, it is hard for them to sound like true believers.

Your sales strategy is the plan to achieve the goals laid out in the strategic plan.  The Sales Strategy will also include a Lead Generation Strategy to support the Sales Strategy and Account Strategies to penetrate and grow large accounts.

It will help your team to have frameworks associated with the strategies that help them stay in the guide rails. A framework is a set of descriptions and rules that help us understand how things work. Every company should have a sales positioning framework that lays out how your company and product fit into the marketplace. You should also have a sales communication framework to set up guidelines around communicating with prospects and customers. That framework should include a value proposition for each persona to help sellers and marketers understand how to frame messaging that helps prospects see your value.

Salespeople are notorious for being independent, self-motivated, and extroverted.  They tend to disdain processes and systems.  Despite that, they are more effective when they follow systems and processes that support their success. For those reasons, it is difficult to manage salespeople. What you can do instead is manage the processes and hold your salespeople accountable for fulfilling certain expectations. The clearer the expectations and the more consistently they are reinforced, the more likely your salespeople will be to follow them. As soon as you stop managing and reinforcing the processes, they will stop following them.

Establish structure around team meetings, one-to-ones, coaching sessions, and funnel reviews. Set the expectations about what will happen before, during and after.  Don’t veer from the expectations. Once they know what to expect, they will know how to prepare and will be prepared.  If they aren’t prepared, don’t let them off the hook.

Consistency around the right behaviors will improve results every time.  

Your Sales Operating System is unique to your company. It isn’t plug-and-play, and there are no shortcuts. You must match the strategies, systems, and processes to the specific realities of your company.  Once you create your SOS, it is critical that everyone who touches the system understands it. The sales operating system isn’t just for sales. Marketing, operations, accounting, and anyone else who interacts with the process must understand and support it.

Once everyone understands it, set out the expectations about how everyone will interact with the system.  Make sure they understand the rules, the cadences and the outcomes expected.  No one is exempt. Don’t accept excuses. Once you set out the expectations, everyone must use the SOS. That means everyone is working toward the same strategies and goals.  Everyone understands what their role is in achieving those goals.  Everyone is following the process and using the systems.

Reinforcement is a MUST.  If leadership indicates at any time that it is OK to skip steps or ignore the rules, people will.  As a result, the system will fall apart, and the growth will stall, or sales will decline.

The sales operating system represents a cultural change in your organization, and that kind of change is never easy. So, the question for you is, can you do it and is it worth it?

If you want a predictable revenue stream to manage the unmanageable, fewer mistakes, and more sales revenue, it is worth the effort it will take to create, implement, and reinforce your sales operating system.

Good Luck!  If you need help getting started, schedule a no-cost, no-obligation call with a sales strategist.

CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management, a critical element for fostering and nurturing customer relationships in business. CRM software actively keeps track of prospects' contact details and communication timelines, manages customer data and interactions, and monitors potential future needs. It also acts as a hub for managing opportunities and organizing tasks.

CRM technology has evolved from simple paper-based Rolodex systems to complex cloud-based SaaS like Sales Force.  The steps between rolodex and modern CRMs were many.  The simplest tools were things like Excel and ACT.  The next iterations were server-based programs like Siebel and Oracle. The first stand-alone program was Goldmine, then Sales Force put it in the cloud.  Now CRMs can do way more than manage contacts and deals. These tools have gradually transformed how businesses manage sales and customer information. Picking the right tool for your organization is the first step among many.

Modern CRMs enhance sales, support, and channel management. They enable sales teams to track opportunities, manage contacts, document notes, organize tasks and meetings, and maintain key accounts through automation. For support, CRMs offer case management, problem resolution tracking, and client history monitoring. They also streamline channel management with tools for managing funnel activities, channel partner development, and overall channel strategies.

When implemented and used properly, CRMs promote effective communication across teams, produce insightful reports across an organization, align organizational goals, facilitate strategic planning, and help manage cash flow.

CRMs are not just repositories for data; they serve as the central nervous system of a business's sales and support network. They give life to the data, making it actionable and informative. For instance, sales teams use CRMs to prioritize and track every stage of the sales pipeline, from prospecting to closing deals. This not only helps them stay organized but also enables them to forecast future sales and tailor their strategies accordingly. The data within CRMs can reveal patterns in customer behavior, preferences, and pain points, allowing for a more personalized and effective sales approach.

On the support side, CRMs are equally transformative. They empower support teams to quickly access complete customer histories, understand past issues, and proactively address potential future problems. This holistic view ensures that customers receive consistent and informed support, which is essential for building trust and loyalty. Moreover, CRMs can automate routine tasks, such as ticket routing and follow-up reminders, allowing support staff to focus on resolving complex issues and enhancing the overall customer experience.