What do you do if you're a sales manager struggling to network within your own company?

Understanding the root cause and overcoming it are two very different things. It's important to know what is holding you back. And, it is more important to know the Why. Once you understand the Why, you can start by engaging your team members in new ways. Start with informal conversations that lead to business activities. Keep it simple and then lean into more difficult conversations. Also, plan a time to meet with your peers to "get to know them". This helps break down perceived barriers and create rapport. Get involved in larger group settings and meetings. This showcases your approachability and gets team members interested in connecting with you. It's about increasing your network value and leveraging those connections.

Learning to PR yourself, at any level in your sales role is critical to ensuring that the company is behind you. As a sales leader is easy. You have intel that helps other departments. Sharing it will get you the visibility you want and open up conversations to help you build meaningful rapport. Take the time to understand what is of value to your supporting departments and be proactive in sharing the information and insight that is meaningful to them.

Networking is about building genuine relationships over time. It takes persistent, patients to gradually expand the lines. One traits of sales managers is the ability to connect with people within the shortest possible, ones there is a connection, there is a way to close a deal. It is therefore important to be able to connect so well that you can close more sales deals. In my perspective, a person struggling to connect within his organization must consider these steps to be able to overcome and connect easily with his or her colleagues. 1. By attending company events 2. Engaging with colleagues to have a positive, fruitful conversation with them. 3. Offering a helping hand to colleague Sometimes scheduling coffee meetings.

Attend events online and network. Optimise your linkedin with work summary,experience..Call to actions and a nice background picture. You can also organise events in your niche industry

And offer to be a mentor. It's not just about asking for value it's about offering value. Sales leaders often took for more senior sales leaders or C-suites for mentorship when in fact you should look to senior marketers or customer service leaders. By working cross-department, you'll gain insight and skills that will add so much more to your own experience and knowledge than staying in the same lane.

Building digital relationships as a lead into face-to-face relationships is a great way to get noticed - just like Linkedin. IF it is done right. Be super aware of what adds value and ensure you are not disrupting for the sake of it. Digital channels can annoy if it is pointless. And like all relationships, they happen by choice not chance, back them up with personal outreach and never be afraid to put in a call or invite someone out for a coffee.

A great way to foster new relationships, especially within your company, is to seek to understand. What's important to them? What are their goals? How can you help? Operational and IT leaders often have a very different view of what success looks like. They also tend to have different personalities. Be aware of how you come across, and be patient with them. People are brought up to be wary of "slick" sales people, so it might take time for them to warm up to you. Be genuine, don't over promise, do a good job, and keep their goals in mind.