You're up for a promotion in Sales Operations. What do you need to do to get it?

1 Assess your skills

The first step is to evaluate your current skills and identify your strengths and areas for improvement. Sales operations is a broad field that covers many aspects of sales strategy, planning, analysis, execution, and optimization. You need to have a solid understanding of the sales process, the tools and systems that support it, and the metrics and KPIs that measure it. You also need to have strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills to work effectively with different stakeholders and teams. To assess your skills, you can use self-assessments, feedback from your manager and peers, performance reviews, and online courses or certifications.

2 Showcase your value

The next step is to showcase your value and demonstrate how you contribute to the sales organization and the company's goals. You can do this by documenting your achievements, sharing best practices, taking on extra responsibilities, and initiating or leading projects that improve sales efficiency or effectiveness. You can also highlight your value by creating reports, dashboards, or presentations that show the impact of your work on key sales metrics, such as revenue, pipeline, conversion, retention, or customer satisfaction. Make sure to communicate your results to your manager and other relevant decision-makers, and ask for feedback and recognition.

3 Expand your network

The third step is to expand your network and build relationships with people who can support your career growth and development. You can do this by reaching out to other sales operations professionals, both within and outside your company, and learning from their experiences and insights. You can also network with other sales leaders, managers, and reps, and understand their needs, challenges, and expectations from sales operations. You can also join or create communities, groups, or events related to sales operations, and participate in discussions, webinars, podcasts, or blogs. Networking can help you gain visibility, credibility, and trust, as well as discover new opportunities and mentors.

4 Learn new skills

The fourth step is to learn new skills and keep up with the latest trends and best practices in sales operations. You can do this by reading books, articles, newsletters, or case studies related to sales operations, and applying the knowledge to your own work. You can also enroll in online courses, workshops, or certifications that cover topics such as sales forecasting, pipeline management, sales analytics, CRM, sales automation, or sales enablement. Learning new skills can help you enhance your performance, broaden your perspective, and increase your value proposition.

5 Set your goals

The final step is to set your goals and plan your career path in sales operations. You can do this by researching the different roles, levels, and responsibilities in sales operations, and identifying the ones that match your interests, skills, and aspirations. You can also talk to your manager or HR about your career goals, and ask for their guidance and support. You can also seek out mentors or coaches who can help you navigate the sales operations landscape and prepare for your next role. Setting your goals can help you focus your efforts, track your progress, and achieve your desired outcomes.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?