What do you do if you want to stay ahead in sales?

Be coachable. I've always said "even Tom Brady has a coach". The greatest of us still rely on the help of coaches, mentors, nutritionists, thought leaders, and so on. If you aren't willing to put pride aside and become a sponge, you won't progress and won't stay sharp.

One of the most effective ways to foster a culture of continuous learning is through reading. Explore books on sales or sales techniques and immerse yourself in them. Additionally, share recommendations with your team, highlighting the most impactful reads. By doing so, you demonstrate your commitment to teamwork and your dedication to sharing valuable insights, positioning yourself positively within the company.

You should always be open and very keen to learn. Always stay ahead in the learning curve. Reward yourself with certifications that can develop your skills. Gaining knowledge will be an edge to master your game.

To stay ahead in sales, embracing learning is essential. Continuously updating skills, staying abreast of industry trends, and seeking out new knowledge positions sales professionals for success. Whether through training programs, seminars, or self-study, a commitment to learning ensures staying competitive and adaptable in a dynamic sales landscape.

AI, such as ChatGPT, has transformed how we work. Writing sales emails or crafting proposals is now a breeze. Dive into researching tools that suit your role. Opt for those that save time or elevate your impact, making your workflow smoother and more effective.

To maintain a competitive edge in sales, leveraging technology is indispensable. Utilizing cutting-edge tools such as CRM systems, data analytics platforms, and automation software streamlines processes, enhances productivity, and improves customer engagement. Embracing technological advancements empowers sales teams to work smarter, optimize workflows, and deliver exceptional results in a rapidly evolving digital environment.

Cultivate internal relationships with various departments—marketing, product/IT, and management. These individuals are integral to your daily operations and contribute to your ongoing success. They offer valuable insights and diverse perspectives. Engage with them regularly for advice and explore alternative approaches to tasks. Collaboration with these colleagues fosters a supportive environment and enhances collective effectiveness.

It’s especially important to build your intracompany network and pick up the phone because it’s not going to ring. Success leaves clues. Call those individuals you look up to in your organization, ask questions, and build a relationship. More often than not they are willing to help you.

I personally believe in building relationships, which not only result in immediate boosts in numbers but also aid in recurring business and create new channels of sales, such as referrals, etc.

Setting goals is very important. If you want to grow and be successful you need to set both professional as well as personal goals. Write down your goals so you can always reflect back and check your progress. You can also adjust as situations change but writing down your goals is important.

To stay ahead in sales, it's essential to regularly analyze performance. By carefully assessing sales data, identifying trends, and recognizing areas for improvement, I can make informed decisions and adjust strategies accordingly. This proactive approach ensures continuous growth and competitiveness in the ever-evolving sales landscape.

Adapting quickly to the market conditions and assessing, dissecting and making quick decisions always helps being ahead in sales. Apart from that, building relationships plays a big role in sales and is often underestimated. People buy from people.

Respond as quickly as possible to every phone call , email , and text. Responsiveness is King within our “sound bite” culture. Lack of responsiveness can be interpreted as apathy or disinterest. Under promise and over perform. Clients and opportunities take our speed of reply personally- really ! So… show up , respond , and your client will want to work with you again. Responsiveness is a personification of empathy- it means you Care !