You’re in a new outside sales role. How can you demonstrate leadership?

1 Communicate effectively

Communication is key for any salesperson, but especially for those who work remotely or in different locations. You need to communicate clearly and consistently with your prospects, your existing clients, your manager, and your team. You also need to listen actively and empathetically to understand their needs, challenges, and feedback. By communicating effectively, you can build trust, rapport, and credibility with your stakeholders, and show that you are a reliable and professional leader.

2 Set and achieve goals

Leadership is also about having a vision and a direction, and working towards achieving them. As an outside salesperson, you need to set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals for yourself and your territory, and track your progress and results. You also need to align your goals with the overall objectives and strategies of your company, and communicate them to your manager and your team. By setting and achieving goals, you can demonstrate your initiative, your motivation, and your contribution to the company's growth.

3 Collaborate and support others

Leadership is not only about yourself, but also about others. As an outside salesperson, you need to collaborate and support your colleagues, your manager, and your cross-functional partners. You need to share best practices, insights, and resources with your team, and seek their input and feedback. You also need to offer your help and guidance to your peers, especially those who are new or struggling. You also need to work well with other departments, such as marketing, customer service, or operations, to ensure a smooth and seamless customer experience. By collaborating and supporting others, you can show your teamwork, your generosity, and your influence.

4 Learn and improve

Leadership is also about having a growth mindset and a willingness to learn and improve. As an outside salesperson, you need to constantly update your knowledge and skills, and adapt to changing market conditions and customer expectations. You need to seek feedback from your manager, your team, and your customers, and act on it. You also need to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and work on them. You also need to embrace challenges and failures, and learn from them. By learning and improving, you can show your curiosity, your resilience, and your potential.

5 Innovate and create value

Leadership is also about having a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, and creating value for your customers and your company. As an outside salesperson, you need to look for new opportunities, new solutions, and new ways of doing things. You need to think outside the box, and challenge the status quo. You also need to focus on delivering value to your customers, by understanding their pain points, their goals, and their preferences, and offering them tailored and personalized solutions. By innovating and creating value, you can show your differentiation, your value proposition, and your impact.