Ask any Sales Director what they really want for their birthday and it will be a crystal ball. While it may come in handy for choosing the winning Lottery numbers, on a daily basis it would help them in their primary mission: business development.
The ability to see into the future, you see, would make identifying and reporting on market opportunities in their target areas so much easier!
The truth is any Sales Director, or indeed sales team leader, worth their salt and pepper will be focussed on creating and delivering a wide range of sales strategies – all of which will be important to the ultimate success of their organisation.
A Sales Director is basically the company centurion: not only mustering the troops for battle but also helping to shape business growth strategies in tandem with the board of directors.
So what might you expect a typical working day to bring?
It all starts, of course, with managing your army – or rather sales team. And, while your movers and shakers will most likely be arriving at 9am, you may need to get in earlier so that you’re prepared and primed for action – armed with the week’s targets – and ready to move into motivator mode.
As well as steering your own team you will also be responsible for coordinating the sales operations with other company departments – as well as developing relationships with existing and new clients.
You may also be expected to take part in extra-curricular activities: this might include taking part in conferences or trade fairs all over the UK.
Don’t worry: it’s not all Alan Partridge-style motels and boring get-togethers where you need to wear a name tag and role play you’re a giraffe trying to sell refrigerators to the Inuit.
It can also mean field trips abroad. Anyone for a fact-finding mission in Las Vegas?
As well as broadening your horizons, you’ll fatten your bank account.
The financial rewards are a major attraction for a career as a sales director. Annual salaries can kick off at £30,00 but, if you can prove your skills in the top league, they often reach in excess of £100,000 a year.
It gets better: according to the ISMM, talented sales directors are seeing a trend for moving on to roles such as managing directors or chief executives.
So what should you bring to the table? There is no substitute for innate talent – the ability to motivate your own team as well as engage and negotiate with clients is paramount. However, some companies prefer applicants to senior positions to have an NVQ in Sales Management, a business-related HND or a degree.
And a top tip for the interview? Well, we couldn’t leave you without offering this pearl of wisdom. It’s yours to share when, inevitably, you’re asked how you would motivate your new sales team: “I’d tell them the difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!”.