In this 2:56 video, Steven Rosen and Colleen Stanley discuss the need for sales managers to go beyond setting sales goals and to define learning goals for their teams. They share how organizations can align learning goals with sales goals and invest in training and resources to support their salespeople. By combining sales goals with learning goals, sales leaders can create a continuous learning and development culture, leading to improved sales performance.
Steven Rosen and Colleen Stanley discuss the need for sales managers to go beyond setting sales goals and to define learning goals for their teams. They share how organizations can align learning goals with sales goals and invest in training and resources to support their salespeople.
They also emphasize the role of sales leaders in finding the balance between sales goals and learning goals to establish a culture of continuous learning and development, leading to improved sales performance. This collaborative effort between sales leaders and their teams becomes a foundation for achieving sustainable growth and excellence.
Key Takeaways:
- For every sales goal set, there should be a corresponding learning goal to ensure salespeople have the necessary skills to execute the leading indicators.
- Salespeople should receive training and resources to achieve their learning goals and improve sales performance.
- Training sales leaders and managers should be prioritized to ensure they can teach and support their sales team effectively.
- Blending sales goals with learning goals cultivates a culture of ongoing learning and development, resulting in enhanced sales execution and outcomes.
Summary Video Article:
Title: “The Importance of Setting Learning Goals for Sales Leaders“
Byline: By sales leadership and coaching experts Colleen Stanley and Steven Rosen.
Introduction
Sales leaders frequently concentrate on establishing sales goals for their teams, yet it’s equally crucial to set learning goals. In a discussion between Steven Rosen and Colleen Stanley, they highlight the importance of incorporating learning goals alongside sales objectives. They stress that the most robust organizations are those that prioritize learning, making a team more agile, resilient, and impactful. This article will delve into three key themes from the conversation, examining their implications for sales leaders.
The Power of Learning Organizations
Colleen finds inspiration in Eduardo Briceño’s book, “The Performance Paradox,” which emphasizes the significance of learning organizations. These organizations prioritize the ongoing development of their people, making learning an everyday default. This focus on learning makes them more agile, resilient, and impactful. Conversely, organizations that operate as “know-it-alls” hinder growth and innovation.
Sales leaders can apply this concept by setting learning goals alongside sales goals. While sales goals concentrate on desired outcomes, learning goals ensure that salespeople have the necessary skills to achieve those outcomes. By nurturing a culture of continuous learning, sales leaders can build a more adaptable and successful team.
Aligning Learning Goals with Sales Goals
Sales leaders often set specific metrics and activity goals for their teams. However, it’s crucial to consider whether salespeople have the skills to execute these leading indicators. For instance, if the goal is to increase prospecting activities, salespeople need the necessary skills in email outreach, networking, and asking for referrals.
Colleen shares an example of a client who recognized the need for additional training in business development. The company introduced new sales goals, including new business development, landing and expanding existing business, and specific program goals. They continued beyond just setting these goals and provided the necessary resources and support. They brought in a social media expert to train their salespeople in prospecting, a territory and account planning expert to enhance their managers’ skills, and a sales messaging expert to teach a new value proposition.
This example highlights the importance of aligning learning goals with sales goals. Sales leaders must identify their team’s skills and knowledge gaps and provide the necessary training and coaching to bridge those gaps. Doing so enables their salespeople to achieve their sales goals effectively.
The Impact of Learning Goals on Sales Performance
Setting learning goals and offering the necessary resources and support can significantly impact sales performance. When salespeople possess the skills and knowledge to achieve their sales goals, they become more confident and effective in their roles. This confidence translates into better prospecting, improved account planning, and more persuasive sales messaging.
Furthermore, investing in learning and development demonstrates to salespeople that the organization values their growth and success. This boosts their motivation and engagement, resulting in higher performance levels. Sales leaders who prioritize learning goals cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and nurture a sense of ownership and accountability within their teams.
Conclusion
Setting learning goals in addition to sales goals is crucial for sales leaders. The strongest organizations are learning organizations, and prioritizing the development of salespeople makes teams more agile, resilient, and impactful. By aligning and learning goals with sales goals and providing the necessary resources and support, sales leaders can enable their teams to achieve their sales goals effectively. Sales leaders can also create high-performing teams that consistently achieve their sales goals and drive business growth by incorporating learning goals into their sales strategies.
