Strategic Synergy: Building Lasting Relationships Through Modern Sales Techniques
When it comes to Sales, there is no perfect game. Devon Levine , Quebec Sales Manager at Servomax , understands the challenges of the field and shares his two cents on how Modern Sales Techniques can help improve results if we are ready to embrace them. Building relationships is the number one goal, and that applies to our customers, but also internally. That is why he believes in developing a strategic synergy when creating value for our customers. Here are some highlights following our recent interview with Devon.
Could you provide a brief overview of your role as the Quebec Sales Manager?
From an early age, I've always performed best when I was part of a team. This ability turned into a strong passion which led me to pursue a career in sales. I have been with Servomax for over 2.5 years, developing existing and new business. Throughout that time, I worked closely with my team members and clients, which allowed me to quickly understand the challenges and best practices in the world of food and beverage distribution. It was clear to me that internal collaboration was necessary to reinforce our credibility as a national leader. Therefore, a bit part of my role is to provide continuous support and guidance to ensure my team has all the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to create value for our customers.
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As a Sales Manager, it is your responsibility to look after your team and back them up in difficult situations. When there is an issue or if a customer is unhappy, I immediately acknowledge the problem and work with them to propose a solution. I push my teammates to embrace their strengths and to always show compassion when faced with a client request. After all, we are service providers, which means our customers have high expectations. Therefore, in a nutshell, my job is to make sure my team has all the information to deal with various scenarios, so they always feel confident and empowered to build long-lasting professional relationships.
Could you share a success story that illustrates the positive outcomes achieved through interdepartmental collaboration?
Modern sales revolve around efficient collaboration. The synergy across departments can lead to positive outcomes from a business perspective. Internal communication is crucial when you are the liaison between the company and the customers. Sometimes we do not stress the importance of sharing information with various departments, but it can help improve performance and efficiency. One example that comes to mind is the flow of information that goes between sales and marketing. In my experience, putting continuous efforts into having the sales representatives and marketing specialists interact can make a big difference. We have seen first-hand how clients appreciate seeing our team come together at a launch event or monthly visits. There is a lot of potential when collaborating interdependently.
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We rely on each other for many things: sales can help with adapting the messaging to the current needs of our clients, marketing helps with using that knowledge to promote the team as a strong, reliable brand. A recent event that highlights the benefits of our constructive collaboration was when we visited a client with the marketing team and realized there were a few things that we could do to improve our communications, but also, to better serve said client. To conclude, every single time we work together, I consider this to be a success story.
What are the key qualities of working in sales?
At this point, it is clear modern sales require a certain ability to understand the needs of your clients which is why the very first quality we look for, today, is compassion. Having compassion allows us to relate to our clients, which is the only way you can recommend the best solutions. It is not about selling a product or a service, it is about having good instincts and bringing people together through connections that help build trust and loyalty.
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Another important quality is for the candidate to be driven. Finding motivation in meeting people and building relationships is a must to grow in this field. Going above and beyond for your clients is how they learn to trust you and rely on you. Therefore, to have this drive when it comes to developing strong ties with your clients and partners is key. You'll get mutual success without having to push because you'll be creating value just by being you.
What is your vision for the team?
My vision is that each and every member on my team feels confident and empowered. They know they have the right tools and support to do their jobs and they feel proud to represent the company. I also envision having collaborative work with various departments and growing together as a business, inspiring those around us to follow by example. This starts with trying new things and letting your best qualities shine, and it is my job to make sure they can do so at work.
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This will also come with challenges, surely. However, the vision is to also honour what we have been doing since I started my role as a Sales Manager. First, we address situations head-on. We are transparent and open, which is a value that I highly admire. Being able to acknowledge a customer's dissatisfaction and saying we are here to remedy the situation can go a long way. This also goes into my hope to have all my team apply these concepts when dealing with our clients. I encourage them to be proactive and check-in regularly with their customers and colleagues. At the end of the day, working as a team is what makes us different because of the big impact it has on our surroundings. This synergy that we have nurtured speaks for itself through our service and values.
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To conclude, modern sales is tricky, but it is all about the people. Being human-centered is what will guarantee your success in the industry.
Thank you for reading ??
Beyond a coffee:
Director of Marketing & Systems at Servomax
1 年Really sums up modern sales and the benefits of working together collaboratively. Thanks for sharing!