Time Management Tips for Salespeople
As a salesperson, time is your most valuable resource. So, being able to manage it and use it effectively is super important. For some it comes naturally, but for a lot of new salespeople it takes time to master. So, we asked our sales team to give their top tips for keeping on track of your time.
Create Time in Your Calendar
For salespeople and recruiters alike, online calendars vital. In our office, if it’s not in the calendar it doesn’t happen. But, calendars aren’t just for big meetings and events. They can also be helpful in helping you plan out your day. Blocking out time for certain tasks like cold-calling and admin mean you spend less time pondering what to do and more time doing.
Don’t Neglect Your Resources
Depending on which company you work for, the software you use can differ. However, most businesses have systems in place to help you manage your prospects and tasks. Setting them up and getting into the swing of using them can feel like a waste of time, but in the long run they will be a massive help. So, make time to get comfortable with them and use them to their fullest. They’re there to help you.
Know Your Numbers
Depending on how long you’ve been in the role, you will likely have a set of targets for each financial year. You might also have other targets each week or quarter. Understanding what goes into reaching these targets is important, and can help you allot your time effectively. Your numbers will be split up according to the sales funnel (dials, calls, meetings etc…), so knowing where there might be an issue shows you where you need to spend the most time.
Be Selective
The best salespeople know whether an opportunity is real or not, but this comes with time and experience. Something you can do from day one to help this skill is identifying common traits of the opportunities that don’t work out. This will then inform your questioning, allowing you to ask better questions earlier in the sales process.
Limit Your Distractions
Even the most organised people can get distracted – in and out of the office. Emails, last minute tasks, office chatter and social media can all get in the way of your productivity. So, take advantage of ‘do not disturb’ mode on your devices to limit notifications.
Sales environments are often not quiet places. Phone calls and meetings are always happening, so it can be hard to focus among all of that noise. So, when you need to focus, find a quieter room or corner of the office you can go to. It can also be helpful to use noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs that remove background noise like Loops.
Hopefully these tips have left you feeling ready to take on your to-do list and smash your targets. If you have your own time management tips that have helped you in your sales career, drop them in the comments below.
