What do you do if your sales team faces unexpected changes or delays in meeting deadlines?

This is a common occurrence in the sales code, therefore you should instill in your salesperson the ability to accept delays gracefully and to move rapidly to prepare backup plans for the postponed meeting or to substitute another work.

Understand the reasons behind the changes or delays. Is it due to internal factors such as resource constraints or external factors like market shifts or client issues?

Do like Jimmy Pattison did in the car business back in the seventies and fire the worst salesman on the team each month in order to keep everyone on their toes?

Things can sometimes get unpredictable in sales, right? Deadlines might need to budge sometimes. The important thing is to keep everyone informed. If you hit a snag, let your teammates know early on. Be honest with clients too, explain the situation, and apologize for any delays. As a team, we can juggle our priorities, maybe adjust deadlines a bit, and get everything back on course. Remember, we're in this together, and that means supporting each other.

"I will talk to the team to understand the reasons for the delay. I will try wherever possible to revise the deadlines. I will attempt to assist the team personally to achieve the desired outcome. Once we deliver, we will sit down with the team to see what went wrong and what we need to pay attention to in order to prevent it from happening again in future projects."

Flexibility is the key to successful sales. It is never acceptable to show anger of any kind when a plan changes, especially if the client made the change. However, if a plan is delayed and your client sees that you are patient and adaptable, this will enhance your reputation with him and may serve as an excuse for you in the future.

Flexibility is the key to successful sales. It is never acceptable to show anger of any kind when a plan changes, especially if the client made the change. However, if a plan is delayed and your client sees that you are patient and adaptable, this will enhance your reputation with him and may serve as an excuse for you in the future.

What it means: Being inflexible in the face of changes can worsen the situation. Adapt your approach based on the situation. What to do: Brainstorm solutions: Can tasks be prioritized differently? Can support be provided to expedite the process? Can alternative solutions be offered to the client? Revise timelines: If deadlines need to be adjusted, negotiate realistic extensions with clients (be transparent about the reason). Delegate or reassign tasks: If someone is overloaded, redistribute tasks within the team or seek temporary support.

Communication is huge, don’t bullshit, tell the client the truth, they may not be happy but will like the fact you told them and appreciate the your honesty, some won’t agree but this saves the problem becoming bigger

What it means: Keeping everyone informed builds trust and fosters collaboration. What to do: Communicate with the salesperson or team: Discuss revised plans and offer support. Communicate with clients: Be upfront about delays and keep them updated on progress. Explain the reason and apologize for any inconvenience. Communicate with management: Inform them of the situation, proposed solutions, and potential impact on overall goals.

The truth is sometimes painful. But, it is the clearest and best way to communicate in this regard. In these instances don't blameshift. Define things clearly. Define ownership of the problem. Don't be afraid of the client, be truthful to them. Then stay professional and consistent in how you respond.

Discuss with your team, If you are working on a team project, communication is key. Be open and honest with your team members about any setbacks or delays you encounter. This way, they can adjust their work accordingly, and everyone can work together to meet the deadline.

Open communication is crucial. Inform stakeholders, including clients if necessary, about the situation, the reasons behind it, and the steps being taken to address it. Transparency builds trust and helps manage expectations.

Ensure that the sales team has the necessary support and resources to overcome the obstacles. This might include additional training, tools, or personnel.

Ensure that the sales team has the necessary support and resources to overcome the obstacles. This might include additional training, tools, or personnel.

Speak with the team to see what has caused the delay, is it something internal that needs addressing or simply change of requirements etc. then see how we can improve, a bit of a lessons learnt exercise

I will sit down with them one on one and discuss any perceived obstacles. I like to get an idea of what their issues are to help guide them to a positive solution. One of the biggest issues is there is so much outside noise and we truly have all we need inside us. We will get clear with how to get to the goal. We work on visualizing the end, then work with their current situation to help with them find the steps to get there. Role playing is great too!!!

Review your sales goals and priorities in light of the changes or delays. Determine if adjustments need to be made to targets, timelines, or strategies.

Review your sales goals and priorities in light of the changes or delays. Determine if adjustments need to be made to targets, timelines, or strategies.

After the situation has been resolved, take the time to reflect on what went wrong and what lessons can be learned. Use this knowledge to improve processes and prevent similar issues in the future.

After the situation has been resolved, take the time to reflect on what went wrong and what lessons can be learned. Use this knowledge to improve processes and prevent similar issues in the future.