6 Strategic Benefits of Career Advancement for Sales Leaders

Friend, why spend your time and energy advancing your career?

Why should you even care?

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As a sales leader, your role is already demanding. Targets, customers, teams, driving revenue take most of your time and energy.?

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It feels like a burden and yet another thing to do.?

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So again, why should you even care?

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Here's why. ??

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6 Benefits of Investing Your Time and Energy in Your Career Progression as a Sales Leader.

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#1 Future Proofing Your Skills

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Nothing teaches you new skills like a new job.?

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In my previous role in DHL, I was heading up our Sales Training globally. I was in the role for 8 years and I loved it!?

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Every year, the projects got bigger and bigger. My last project was GIGANTIC.?

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When I took the VP Sales Development role, the learning curve was Everest level. Looking at our sales function from a completely different angle. Different projects. Different approaches. Different people.

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In the sales training role, I kept developing and honing in on my skills. But after 8 years I was deepening?existing?skills. With the step into Sales Development I learned a whole range of?new?skills. And I use these skills now in my business.

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Taking a new role forces you to learn new skills in a short period. And this helps you to future-proof your skills. What you learn in your next role, are building blocks for the next role, and the next.

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#2 Increased Earning Potential, aka MONEY.

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Think about your last career step or promotion.

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?? What was your increase in salary?

?? What extra benefits did you get?

?? What can you do now with that extra money?

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Money is not the most important thing in life. But it is important. We’re also talking about our retirement here.?

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A comfortable, safe, solid retirement is in my view one of the most important things in life.

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Someday I’ll tell you about one of my big career mistakes. And how it cost me (in my calculation) 18 months worth of an executive level salary. Ouch.

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#3 Greater Mental Health

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I have no research to back this one up. This benefit is a personal example:

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When I left high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to study. No idea what I wanted to be “when I grow up”. So, I decided to work for a year and make up my mind.?

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I worked 3 jobs:

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1) Team Secretary at an insurance firm from 8:00 – 13:00

2) Shop Assistant at a big retailer from 15:00 – 18:00

3) Waitress at a coffee shop from 19:00 – 23:00

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I hated job #2.?

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It was boring AF. How interesting is re-organising clothes on hangers? For those 3 hours every day, it felt like I was watching the ocean freeze. Or a glacier melt.

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And I loved job #3.?

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So busy. So many customers. So many weird requests like “Can you please put warm milk in my cappuccino before you put the cream on top?”

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My point is that when we’re engaged and active, we feel better.?

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Over time, even the most dynamic roles can start to feel routine. A new role brings you fresh challenges, new goals, different perspectives. This new energy makes us feel better.

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#4 Broadening Your Network

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When I moved into my last role, I got to work with and build relationships with a whole new group of people.?

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As you progress in your career, you naturally expand your network. Professionally and personally.

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The people in your expanded network can open doors for you to new future opportunities and give you support throughout your career journey.?

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A strong network is an invaluable asset for your career progression. (Come to think of it, this should’ve been #1 on this list.)

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#5 Increased Influence and Impact

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It’s obvious that when you take a next level role you have bigger responsibilities. And with that comes bigger influence and impact.

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For me it’s about more than making a bigger impact for the company. With more influence, you can impact other people’s careers.

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When you have more influence in the organization, you can help younger employees get great roles. You can also contribute to their careers and lives.

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What’s more rewarding than that?

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#6 Long-Term Career Security

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Think about how things were in 2018.

And then in 2021.

And then now in 2024.

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It feels like decades passed between these short years.

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Business and the market are changing so fast. And career security is a concern.

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By driving your career, you make yourself crucial to your organization. And attractive to potential employers.

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You stay competitive in this changing world we’re in right now.

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There you go: 6 reasons why you’ll benefit from making a step in your career.

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Again, if you’re happy, stay. But if you have this small voice in your head saying “Maybe it’s time to make a move”, then do it.

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What do you think about my list? Any benefits you’ve experienced that’s not on my list??

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Comment below - I love to hear from you.

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Have the best week!

Jeanette???

ps. I have two resources that can support you:

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The 2025 Career Trends Guide that’ll give you 5 emerging trends + 8 strategies how you can progress your career.

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The Career Advancement Checklist that’ll show you how to advance from Director to Executive level in 6 simple steps.