Have you ever wondered if Giraudoux’s famous saying, “Only the mediocre are always at their best," pertains to you?  

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It has been fashionable and common for C-level executives, marketers, consultants and anyone with a blog or microphone to beat down the salespeople at every opportunity.  It’s become a sick occupation to blame Sales for every downturn, and fire a sales manager after a year or so if the numbers don’t climb.   And when sales lag, the first ill-conceived idea is to retrain the sales reps (as if they suddenly forgot how to sell).

“What can I do for you today?” Cyndi asked the new CMO as he settled into the chair facing her.

“It isn’t what you can do for me,” Tom said. “It’s what can I do for you.  While I’ve only been on the job for a few weeks, maybe there is something Marketing needs to do for you,” he said with a bemused smile.

Jill Konrath talks about how she reframes a problem by turning it into a challenge.

This information is offered on January 5, 2022 as a benefit to our members and subscribers.   The salary ranges will differ dramatically depending on geographical location, type of products sold, inside or outside sales management position, time in grade as a sales manager, etc.   Follow the links for more information.    The links and companies quoted are offered in a random fashion.   This information is offered as a guide. 

PayScale

Vice President (VP), Sales Salary  Averages $132,944

This information is offered on January 2, 2022 as a benefit to our members and subscribers.  The salary ranges will differ dramatically depending on geographical location, type of products sold, inside or outside sales management position, time in grade as a sales manager, etc.   Follow the links for more information.    The links and companies quoted are offered in a random fashion.   This information is offered as a guide. 

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Glassdoor

 How much does a Sales Manager make?   Average $73,144 a year base pay.  Does not include commissions and bonus.

Low $45K  High $120K

The national average salary for a Sales Manager is $73,144 in United States. Filter by location to see Sales Manager salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 37,736 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Sales Manager employees.

Salaries for Related Job Titles:

Delivering qualified leads and appointments is a shortcut to making forecast!

When sales are lagging, you’re in a slump, your back’s against the wall, and you need to make forecast, the answer is to get appointments for your reps.  Not just any appointments mind you; you need qualified appointments. 

When sales are down in most companies, the manager’s first response is to increase sales activity.  More calls.  Call current clients, call old proposals, call old leads; “jump on the phones” screams the sales manager.

If sales are lagging, salespeople are failing, no one is traveling with salespeople (front of customers), maybe it is time the company president relinquishes the reins of presidential sales manager.  There comes a point in the company’s growth when the president needs to focus on presidential things and leave sales management to a professional sales manager.  No, I didn’t say promote the best sales person and make them a manager.

Salespeople need care and attention. Inside salespeople need more care and attention than outside salespeople. Both groups need a daily dose of coaching. If you have a part-time sales manager you'll get part-time results. 

Just because the company president knows how to sell doesn’t mean he or she can be a part-time sales manager and succeed.  This is small company stuff, that all companies have to go through and outgrow.