Sales Team Management: Comprehensive Sub-Actions and Examples
1. Making Team Members Accountable
Purpose: Ensure sales representatives take ownership of their results and commitments.
Sub-actions:
Set clear performance metrics (revenue, calls, meetings, conversion rates)
Conduct regular performance reviews (weekly/monthly one-to-ones)
Monitor daily activities through CRM systems and call logs
Implement performance improvement plans for underperformers
Acknowledge and reward high performers publicly
Examples:
Weekly pipeline reviews where each rep presents their deals and next steps
Monthly scorecards showing individual performance vs. team averages
Quarterly business reviews with formal goal-setting and accountability measures
Daily stand-up meetings where reps commit to specific daily activities
2. Creating Positive Pressure
Purpose: Motivate the team through healthy competition and urgency without causing burnout.
Sub-actions:
Display real-time performance rankings through leaderboards
Create monthly or quarterly contests with rewards
Pair team members for mutual support and challenge
Gradually increase targets as team capabilities improve
Regularly acknowledge achievements to maintain momentum
Examples:
Monthly "Sales Champion" awards with prizes and recognition
Team vs. team competitions between different territories or product lines
"Deal of the Week" presentations where reps share successful strategies
End-of-quarter push campaigns with escalating rewards for hitting milestones
3. Understanding Their Strengths and Weaknesses
Purpose: Optimise individual performance by leveraging strengths and addressing development areas.
Sub-actions:
Conduct regular evaluations of selling capabilities
Listen to sales calls to identify coaching opportunities
Gather input from customers, peers, and other departments
Use personality profiling tools (DISC, Myers-Briggs) to understand working styles
Review win/loss ratios and identify patterns
Examples:
Quarterly skills assessments covering prospecting, presentation, negotiation, and closing
Monthly call reviews with specific feedback on communication style and technique
Customer feedback surveys about sales rep interactions
Strengths-based territory assignments (analytical reps for complex technical sales)
Weakness-targeted training programmes (presentation skills for introverted reps)
4. Checking if Their Priorities Are Right
Purpose: Ensure sales activities align with business objectives and revenue potential.
Sub-actions:
Analyse how time is spent across different activities
Review pipeline quality and deal progression
Evaluate account coverage and opportunity focus
Ensure individual goals support company objectives
Assess if high-value opportunities receive adequate attention
Examples:
Weekly pipeline hygiene sessions to remove unqualified prospects
Monthly territory planning meetings to identify high-potential accounts
Quarterly strategic account reviews focusing on key customer relationships
Time allocation audits showing percentage of time on prospecting vs. existing accounts
5. Having an Overview of Their Agenda
Purpose: Maintain visibility into daily activities and ensure productive time management.
Sub-actions:
Review and optimise daily/weekly schedules
Help structure productive daily routines
Ensure customer interactions are well-prepared and purposeful
Coordinate field visits for maximum efficiency
Manage the ratio of selling time to admin tasks
Examples:
Weekly calendar reviews to identify gaps and optimisation opportunities
Daily activity reports showing calls made, meetings held, and proposals sent
Monthly travel planning sessions to maximise face-to-face customer time
Time-blocking strategies for prospecting, follow-ups, and administrative tasks
6. Understanding Where They Need Help
Purpose: Provide targeted support to overcome obstacles and accelerate performance.
Sub-actions:
Regular discussions about challenges and roadblocks
Identify training and development needs
Assess needs for tools, support, or additional resources
Determine specific areas requiring management guidance
Coordinate assistance from marketing, technical, or customer service teams
Examples:
Monthly "What's blocking you?" sessions to identify and resolve issues
Skills development plans with specific training modules and timelines
Resource requests for additional marketing materials or technical support
Mentoring programmes pairing experienced reps with newer team members
7. Monitoring Workload Distribution (Your Original Point)
Purpose: Ensure team members are neither underutilised nor overstretched.
Sub-actions:
Assess individual and team bandwidth regularly
Redistribute accounts or leads based on capacity
Monitor stress levels and implement wellness measures
Identify and eliminate time-wasting activities
Prepare for team expansion or contraction
Examples:
Monthly workload assessments showing deal volume vs. capacity
Stress level surveys and one-to-one check-ins about work-life balance
Territory rebalancing based on account complexity and rep experience
Process automation to reduce administrative burden
8. Mirroring the Objective Performance
Sub-actions:
Review deal progression and probability assessments
Spot patterns in performance data
Prepare for different market conditions
Modify targets based on changing circumstances
Prepare for team member transitions
9. Listening to the Voice of Customer
Sub-actions:
Understand key stakeholders in customer organisations
Track and improve customer experience
Identify expansion opportunities within existing accounts
Implement measures to prevent customer churn
Encourage satisfied customers to provide referrals
10. Team Development and Culture Building
Sub-actions:
Foster collaboration and camaraderie
Facilitate learning between team members
Support individual growth and advancement
Maintain values and behaviours that drive success
Attract and integrate new team members effectively
This framework provides a comprehensive approach to sales team management that addresses all your specified requirements whilst adding additional critical management activities.