Now, you've smoothed talked yourself into a plum sales assignment, being the super sales star that you are. What now? (Or, perhaps you are trying to decide if a sales career is your destiny?)
Congratulations! You "sold" yourself. So elementary: if you can't sell yourself, it's not likely that you would be able to sell anything. Forget about that, you made it past the online profile (answered honestly), the HR behavioural interview fired at you over the telephone as part of the screening process before meeting the seemingly animated sales manager (he could be motivating), barely squeaked by the drill sergeant executive interrogation (yes, it was to see how ruffled you'd get), sweat a bit passing the background criminal check, supplied the clean driver’s extract, been Googled without knowing to see if you have hidden surprises, and signed an employment contract that you considered whether you should have had a lawyer read all the terms for you.
Alas, never mind, you are ready to go! You wanted to sleep in but thought you should drag yourself out of bed to get there on time to make a strong first impression ... after all, you decided you should erase the bloodshot eyes that are usually there, to look fresh for the first day. You pause, they may roll out the red carpet for you because they’re damn lucky to have found you, especially after your amazing performances throughout the thorough recruitment process. You have a slight hesitation, shrugging off the nerves or wondering if you are on a cliff ready to jump off, gulp. Was that a mild guilt now you have to deliver?
You arrive "early" 20 minutes beforehand for the first "sales meeting" at 7:30 a.m. and wow, there is an admin person who warmly greets you and escorts you to the boardroom for your first sales meeting. (Did she know that it was your first day and was part of the greeting process?) Your first impression isn't anything like what you prepared yourself for with the “Selling Ice to Eskimo " setting you’re used to. The sales manager hasn't even arrived, yet the rest of the sales team are not yawning, bored, sitting around drinking coffee and griping about the boss, how their last commission cheque was messed up or when their next lead will roll in. Right, it is your first day … they’d be on their best behaviour for your benefit.
Amazingly, it appears that many have been working long before the 7:30 a.m. sales meeting, or talking about the late nighter they pulled working on a proposal. Some are asking someone named Lisa how close she is to signing that multimillion deal she has been working on for six months. Lisa is actually sharing and asking whether her colleagues think that the customer will decide solely on price and not all the value they have brought to the table. OK, now you're seriously getting worried because everyone seems to be genuinely interested in giving Lisa encouragement and wishing her good luck. There is no sense of underlying cattiness whatsoever, is that possible?
The sales manager arrives at 7:25 a.m. and says hello to everyone, asks about their weekends, particular how Steven's daughter Kaitlin is settling into university life on the coast ... all while he is plugging a laptop and turning on an overhead projector system whirring and blinking lights as it warms up. This must all be to your benefit to impress you on my first day ... right?
Next, a number is the only thing on the screen. (Numerology for good luck maybe?), followed by the next screen showing red and black numbers as the sales manager shares and is it your imagination or is everyone leaning forwardly intently? Then, there’s an another one with an even bigger a number that says "to meet target". Without skipping a beat, the sales manager zeros on Charles, then Rebecca and so on around the table. Is that gibberish? Charles said that he forecasted a figure but expected to close this and that by month end to make his target, which will put him slightly above plan.
Upon Lisa’s turn, everyone smiles and there are a couple of jocular comments on how she is going to save everyone's bacon if her deal closes this week, as forecasted. The sales manager asks her what resources, support she needs from anyone to help her. She asked whether anyone thinks that the operations manager should attend with her and the manager for the presentation to address any of the critical questions to reassure the prospect that they will be able to follow through on their end. George, who appears to be the veteran in the room, asks her how many people she is presenting to. Four. Ok, well in that case, he recommends their support analyst attend with them since the IT director will be in attendance. The sales manager suddenly minimizes the screen at that moment and sends an "Outlook" invitation for tomorrow morning to operations and support for a 20 meeting to review and prepare for the presentation. SNAP! Just like that, eh?
You watch in amazement when to the left of me it is John's turn. He seems somewhat apologetic but briefly answers the sales manager's question how he is going to make up the shortfall on his target and the deal he had forecasted has now been put off for 90 days because the CFO wants to bring in competitive bids.
YIKES, you? When it comes to your turn, eyes slightly darting around (hopefully not noticeable) wondering where to put your hands - is that why everyone is holding a pen, something to grip onto for dear life when it's your turn? The Sales Manager just smiles warmly and says that since you are in training mode, this is your chance to just observe and ask questions. Everyone, including John, nods and smiles warmly. The sales manager takes this time to announce that George will be your "mentor" and suggests that you arrange to meet to get started. A mentor? The closest you've had to a mentor is an older sister? Maybe they’re actually serious and this isn’t a show put on for your benefit.
This spoof has many elements of truism. What's even more intimidating is that it is possible to find yourself amongst a group of professional colleagues who are serious about their profession, a non-dictator sales manager who asks and expects you to do what you say you are going to do while backing up your efforts. This is what a sales meeting may look like when working for an organization described in "Time is Money" Blogpost.
One thing you know for sure is that It certainly wasn't a newscast disguised as a sales meeting or a griping session was it?
Congratulations! You "sold" yourself. So elementary: if you can't sell yourself, it's not likely that you would be able to sell anything. Forget about that, you made it past the online profile (answered honestly), the HR behavioural interview fired at you over the telephone as part of the screening process before meeting the seemingly animated sales manager (he could be motivating), barely squeaked by the drill sergeant executive interrogation (yes, it was to see how ruffled you'd get), sweat a bit passing the background criminal check, supplied the clean driver’s extract, been Googled without knowing to see if you have hidden surprises, and signed an employment contract that you considered whether you should have had a lawyer read all the terms for you.
Alas, never mind, you are ready to go! You wanted to sleep in but thought you should drag yourself out of bed to get there on time to make a strong first impression ... after all, you decided you should erase the bloodshot eyes that are usually there, to look fresh for the first day. You pause, they may roll out the red carpet for you because they’re damn lucky to have found you, especially after your amazing performances throughout the thorough recruitment process. You have a slight hesitation, shrugging off the nerves or wondering if you are on a cliff ready to jump off, gulp. Was that a mild guilt now you have to deliver?You arrive "early" 20 minutes beforehand for the first "sales meeting" at 7:30 a.m. and wow, there is an admin person who warmly greets you and escorts you to the boardroom for your first sales meeting. (Did she know that it was your first day and was part of the greeting process?) Your first impression isn't anything like what you prepared yourself for with the “Selling Ice to Eskimo " setting you’re used to. The sales manager hasn't even arrived, yet the rest of the sales team are not yawning, bored, sitting around drinking coffee and griping about the boss, how their last commission cheque was messed up or when their next lead will roll in. Right, it is your first day … they’d be on their best behaviour for your benefit.
Amazingly, it appears that many have been working long before the 7:30 a.m. sales meeting, or talking about the late nighter they pulled working on a proposal. Some are asking someone named Lisa how close she is to signing that multimillion deal she has been working on for six months. Lisa is actually sharing and asking whether her colleagues think that the customer will decide solely on price and not all the value they have brought to the table. OK, now you're seriously getting worried because everyone seems to be genuinely interested in giving Lisa encouragement and wishing her good luck. There is no sense of underlying cattiness whatsoever, is that possible?
The sales manager arrives at 7:25 a.m. and says hello to everyone, asks about their weekends, particular how Steven's daughter Kaitlin is settling into university life on the coast ... all while he is plugging a laptop and turning on an overhead projector system whirring and blinking lights as it warms up. This must all be to your benefit to impress you on my first day ... right?
Next, a number is the only thing on the screen. (Numerology for good luck maybe?), followed by the next screen showing red and black numbers as the sales manager shares and is it your imagination or is everyone leaning forwardly intently? Then, there’s an another one with an even bigger a number that says "to meet target". Without skipping a beat, the sales manager zeros on Charles, then Rebecca and so on around the table. Is that gibberish? Charles said that he forecasted a figure but expected to close this and that by month end to make his target, which will put him slightly above plan.
Upon Lisa’s turn, everyone smiles and there are a couple of jocular comments on how she is going to save everyone's bacon if her deal closes this week, as forecasted. The sales manager asks her what resources, support she needs from anyone to help her. She asked whether anyone thinks that the operations manager should attend with her and the manager for the presentation to address any of the critical questions to reassure the prospect that they will be able to follow through on their end. George, who appears to be the veteran in the room, asks her how many people she is presenting to. Four. Ok, well in that case, he recommends their support analyst attend with them since the IT director will be in attendance. The sales manager suddenly minimizes the screen at that moment and sends an "Outlook" invitation for tomorrow morning to operations and support for a 20 meeting to review and prepare for the presentation. SNAP! Just like that, eh?
You watch in amazement when to the left of me it is John's turn. He seems somewhat apologetic but briefly answers the sales manager's question how he is going to make up the shortfall on his target and the deal he had forecasted has now been put off for 90 days because the CFO wants to bring in competitive bids.
YIKES, you? When it comes to your turn, eyes slightly darting around (hopefully not noticeable) wondering where to put your hands - is that why everyone is holding a pen, something to grip onto for dear life when it's your turn? The Sales Manager just smiles warmly and says that since you are in training mode, this is your chance to just observe and ask questions. Everyone, including John, nods and smiles warmly. The sales manager takes this time to announce that George will be your "mentor" and suggests that you arrange to meet to get started. A mentor? The closest you've had to a mentor is an older sister? Maybe they’re actually serious and this isn’t a show put on for your benefit.
By now, you may not be feeling quite so smooth or confident, glancing at the others, while gripping your chair again to keep it from swivelling down the sales equivalent of "Alice in Wonderland" … nope, you haven’t just fallen down the sales rabbit hole ..........
This spoof has many elements of truism. What's even more intimidating is that it is possible to find yourself amongst a group of professional colleagues who are serious about their profession, a non-dictator sales manager who asks and expects you to do what you say you are going to do while backing up your efforts. This is what a sales meeting may look like when working for an organization described in "Time is Money" Blogpost. One thing you know for sure is that It certainly wasn't a newscast disguised as a sales meeting or a griping session was it?
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