Are you looking to advance your career in sales and earn a promotion to sales management? If so, there are a few habits that you can adopt to help you stand out and demonstrate your potential as an effective leader. In this post, I will share my personal experience and four simple habits that helped me earn my first sales management job.

1. Take initiative

One of the most important habits to develop is to take initiative. Don't just wait for opportunities to come to you; actively look for ways to improve processes and make yourself and your team more efficient. For example, when I was starting out in sales, I implemented our first CRM system, ACT, which helped us manage our sales pipeline more effectively. By taking this initiative, I was able to demonstrate my problem-solving skills and my commitment to improving the team's performance.

1. Communicate effectively

Another key habit is to communicate effectively. In sales management, it's essential to be able to present your ideas in a way that is clear and easy to understand. I found that using spreadsheets to present my funnel and pipeline metrics was a great way to communicate my goals and progress to my boss. By using data and presenting it in a clear and concise way, I was able to demonstrate my analytical skills and my ability to track and manage performance.

1. Lead by example

Leading by example is another crucial habit to develop. If you want to be a successful sales manager, you need to show your team that you are willing to put in the hard work to achieve success. For me, this meant showing up early, staying late, and even coming in on weekends for "Breakfast Club." By modeling the behavior that the CEO wanted to see, I was able to demonstrate my commitment to the team's success and my willingness to go above and beyond to achieve our goals.

1. Be a team player

Finally, being a team player is essential for success in sales management. Even if you don't own the team quota, it's important to put the team's goals ahead of your own and to help each and every member of the team. This might mean sacrificing some of your own time to train and mentor others, but it's an investment that can pay off in the long run. By being a team player, I was able to earn the respect of my colleagues and demonstrate my commitment to the team's success.

In conclusion, if you want to earn a promotion to sales management, there are four habits that can help you stand out and demonstrate your potential as a leader. By taking initiative, communicating effectively, leading by example, and being a team player, you can show your boss that you have what it takes to succeed in a leadership role. While there are no guarantees, adopting these habits can certainly increase your chances of getting promoted and advancing your career in sales.