Roles and Responsibilities Of A Sales Manager

Roles of a sales manager involve being the one person who leads and looks after a company’s sales team and its operations. This position includes juggling a number of jobs, like deciding what are the sales goals of a company, making sales plans, training and mentoring new sales reps, analyzing how the business is currently to expand sales opportunities and many more. All in all, a sales manager directly impacts a company’s revenue generation and growth.

If you are someone who is looking forward to becoming a sales manager then this blog is for you. We will be guiding you on a sales managers responsibilities and roles how you can become on. Let’s begin!

Table of Contents

Who is a Sales Manager?

List of 25 Roles and Responsibilities of a Sales Manager

Qualifications and Skills of a Sales Manager

List of Sales Documents for Every Sales Manager

FAQ’s

Who is a Sales Manager?

A sales manager is a very important job role within any company, as it acts as the coach for the sales team and has a direct influence on how the company functions. They are responsible for guiding the sales department to drive in more sales. This role involves a blend of leadership, strategic planning, sales analytics and a deep understanding of market trends to make sure that their sales team is productive, disciplined, motivated, and aligned with the company’s objectives. From small businesses to large companies, the role of a sales manager is crucial for growth and maintaining a competitive edge in the market.

List of 25 Roles of a Sales Manager

1) Oversee Daily Sales Activities:

A sales manager’s responsibilities begins with looking after day to day sales tasks to make sure that the team is on the right track. This involves monitoring sales calls, emails, and meetings to maintain a good level of productivity .

2) Schedule Meetings and Calls:

Sales managers very skillfully organise both their own as well as their team member’s work schedules. They will also have to decide the meetings or calls with the team itself or any client/lead.

3) Communicate with Clients and Leads:

Maintaining an open communication with both potential and existing clients, replying to their inquiries, providing updates, and building a genuine bond with them to increase their trust and loyalty in the brand.

4) Stay Updated on Industry Trends:

A sales manager must know the latest trends to keep their sales tactics fresh, stay ahead of competitors, and meet what customers want, helping boost sales and make customers happy.

5) Assign Tasks to Team Members:

Dividing tasks to specific team mates, based on their skill set and proficiency also comes under the roles and responsibilities of a sales manager. This ensures tasks are completed successfully and on time.

6) Conduct Training for New Hires:

Training the newcomers of a sales team is a must. So a sales manager always needs to take upon the duty of teaching new hires on how the team functions and what their tasks are going to be.

7) Evaluate Team Performance:

It’s helpful to identify areas for development and at the same time acknowledge the wins. That is why it becomes a sales manager’s responsibility to highlight the team’s performance.

8) Acquire New Clients:

They use tactics to locate and draw in potential clients, growing their client base and boosting revenue.

9) Convert Leads from Marketing Efforts:

To convert leads into sales, sales managers interact directly with the marketing department to go after leads that are created from marketing initiatives.

10) Develop Sales Strategies:

A sales manager will also develop short- and long-term sales plans that are in line with business goals, directing team efforts in the right way.

11) Achieve Revenue Targets:

Their aim is to strive and meet or exceed sales targets, contributing to the overall success of the team and company.

12) Upsell and Cross-Sell to Existing Customers:

Sales managers can boost customer satisfaction and increase sales by finding out the needs of current clients and offering additional, better or complementary items or services.

13) Generate Referrals from Current Clients:

Since happy and satisfied customers can recommend the product/service to new consumers, sales managers help in getting such referrals.

14) Manage Customer Relationships:

Establishing and maintaining a solid rapport with customers guarantees a sales manager’s goal of having repeated business.

15) Gather and Act on Customer Feedback:

Customer feedback is gathered and used to help product development and enhancing services.

16) Handle Key Account Management:

They set priorities and oversee key accounts, making sure their needs are satisfied and optimising income potential.

17) Foster New Account Development:

A sales manager takes steps to seek out possible clients and builds a rapport with them in order to promote the expansion of new accounts. 

18) Ensure Effective Sales Reporting:

Sales managers are responsible for gathering and examining sales information, sending reports to higher bosses that highlight results, patterns, and expansion prospects.

19) Supervise Sales Support Activities:

Sales managers make high client satisfaction and a flawless experience possible by managing the pre- and post-sale care.

20) Guarantee Client Satisfaction:

Sales managers are essential to sustaining high levels of client happiness because they can provide excellent service and also solve problems in an efficient manner. 

21) Monitor Sales Call Quality:

Having consistent quality control of sales calls by a sales manager is beneficial in maintaining a high level of client involvement and communication.

22) Implement Sales Plans:

Sales managers lead their team in carrying out strategic sales plans in order to get desired results.

23) Oversee Sales Budget:

They control the distribution of resources and keep an eye on overspending the budget.

24) Analyze Sales Data for Insights:

Sales managers can make more informed strategic decisions by gaining insights into areas for improvement, customer behavior, and sales patterns through the analysis of sales data.

25) Coordinate with Other Departments:

Working together with the customer service, product development, and marketing departments, a sales manager guarantees an overall plan for meeting client demands as well as business objectives.

Qualifications and Skills Of A Sales Manager

 

Note- The qualifications marked with an * can prove to give you an extra push to be hired as a sales manager

1. Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or Business Administration
2. 3 to 5 years of sales experience
3. Bachelor’s/Master’s in Sales and Marketing Management
4. 2 to 3 years of experience as a sales manager
5. Proven track record of positive sales performance
6. *MBA (preferred)
7. *Certification in sales or marketing from a recognized body ((like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, or Udemy)
8. *Experience in international sales, especially in global MNCs
9. *Specialisation in relevant industries (technology, IT, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, etc.)
10. *Advanced training or workshops in sales strategies, negotiation, and customer relationship management
11. *Participation in leadership development programs
12. *Knowledge of multiple languages for international roles
13. Strong communication skills
14. Ability to create and implement effective sales plans
15. Budget development skills for financial planning and resource allocation
16. Mentoring and coaching abilities to develop sales reps’ skills and performance
17. Adaptability to grow for business needs
18. Skill in meeting sales goals and keep a track of progress
19. Proficiency in analysing sales data 
20. Presentation skills for engaging and persuading stakeholders
21. Management and leadership skills to guide and motivate teams
22. Networking and relationship-building skills to expand customer base and partnerships
23. Tech savvy, including expertise in CRM software and social media platforms

List of Sales Documents for Every Sales Manager:

1. Bids & Quotations: Lists prices for the product/service you’re selling, making it clear to potential buyers what you are offering.
2. Business Trackers: Simple tools like balance sheets and expense logs that help keep the company’s money matters in proper management.
3. WhatsApp Sales Messages: Ready-made messages for selling, connecting with people, and following up on WhatsApp to make communication easier.
4. Credit & Collection: Documents that help make getting payments smoother, including Final Warning letters and Credit Memos.
5. Sales Objection Handling: Strategies and scripts with readymade responses for dealing with customers’ doubts, criticisms or issues, helping to keep sales on track.
6. Competition Research: Reports that tell you as a sales manager what your competitors are doing and find ways to stand out.
7. Customer Support: Ready-to-use replies for emails, social media messages, or calls to quickly solve any problems customers have.
8. CEO Emails: Customizable communication from the CEO to clients, enhancing client/employee relationships and business reputation.
9. Market Research: Data and insights that inform sales strategies and adapt to market demands and trends.
10. Marketing Plans: Documents that explain a sales manager’s marketing strategies, proposals, and plans to direct marketing efforts effectively.
11. Press and Media: Press releases and announcements for cost-effective promotion and audience engagement.
12. Performance Analytics Reports: Detailed reports that track sales performance metrics for an informed decision-making.
13. Sales Processes: Defined list for steps for converting potential leads into customers, to help make a consistent and effective sales approach.
14. Sales Agreements: Contracts and agreements that talk about transaction terms, negotiations, deals providing legal safeguards and clarity for all parties involved.
15. Sales Meeting Agendas and Minutes: Documentation that will keep sales meetings recorded in words to make it focused and actionable.
16. LinkedIn Sales Messages: Pre-made messages for LinkedIn to talk and reply to  potential buyers, helping to grow your sales contacts.
17. Sales Emails: Ready-to-use email templates that help sales managers save time and keep messages looking professional.
18. Sales Follow-Up Emails: Emails you can change to keep in touch with potential buyers who haven’t bought yet.
19. Sales Guides: Handy tools like mind maps and instructions to help your sales team know how to pitch.
20. Sales Proposals: Pape that highlights the value of your offerings, important for convincing buyers.
21. Sales Presentations: Interesting slideshows that grab the attention of potential buyers and encourage them to buy.
22. Sales Representatives: Training and tools for your sales team to help them sell better and more confidently.
23. Sales Strategy: Plans and tools for guiding how you sell, setting clear goals and ways to reach them.
24. Telemarketing: Ready-made scripts for phone sales that help build a good relationship with customers.
25. Customer Feedback Forms: Simple forms for getting customers’ opinions to help make your products or services better.

FAQ’s

1) What does a sales manager do everyday?

The roles of a sales manager includes leading their team, setting sales goals, and talking to customers every day to make sure sales targets are met.

2) How much does a sales manager get paid?

Depending on expertise, sector, and region, a sales manager’s annual compensation in India could range from about INR 4 lakhs to INR 12 lakhs. Whereas, the average salary for a sales manager in the USA normally falls between $60,000 and $130,000, depending on the industry, region, and level of expertise.

3)What are the main qualities of a sales manager?

Strong leadership, effective communication, and the ability to encourage and guide a team to meet sales goals are the primary qualities of a sales manager.

Conclusion

While keeping up with the roles and responsibilities of a sales manager, sometimes they can make the error of either over-or under-leading their teams.

If you are strong at managing and influencing others, then taking up the roles and responsibilities of a sales manager is the right choice for you. After choosing a profession as a sales manager, your goal will be to strive to maximize output while minimizing input. And automatically for an organization, you will form a cornerstone of its success and growth.

Fortunately, Smart Sales Kit provides you with 3000+ documents that are ready to use, completely customizable, proofread, and editable to help your sales team effectively, making deals even more convenient and profitable. Download the best sales documents right here!

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