As a field force sales manager, you need to constantly be on top of your team’s motivation. Without motivation, what do your employees have to work for? Most likely you have already implemented the basic tips for improving your team’s sales numbers from your business coach, including things like offering better compensation, creating positive overtones, having contests, and cheering on performance, but is there something more you can do? What about a company-wide convention?The Basics of a Field Force Sales Team Convention
Just like annual performance reviews, a sales team convention that is hosted once a year can help boost sales team numbers and improve overall morale. Conventions should be promoted throughout the year, and unlike annual performance reviews, these are actually something your sales team members should look forward to. Rather than just hosting your weekly breakout sessions, this sales force convention will bring together business coaches, instructors, and even product vendors into the same facility. With mini-sessions hosted during the convention, field force sales team members can get creative advice for handling leadership, team building, sales, and even public speaking.Touching on Sales Basics
Your sales team members may know what the basics are, but most likely they do not implement them into their daily sales tactics. This is because the basics are one of the easier things to forget during a salesperson’s daily routine. With the assistance of a business coach, your convention could host mini-sessions on topics that include:• Remembering client names
• Creating a culture amongst sale team members
• Communicating and listening improvement exercises
• Cooperation builders
• Leadership building skills
• Tips for reducing public speaking nervousness
• Tips for creating effective sales ploys and presentations
• Tips for creating a fun, sale-promoting environment
• Tips for using research and evidence to boost salesGetting Your Annual Field Force Sales Convention Started
An annual convention may be an added expenditure to your company, but it should be looked at as an investment. With the assistance of a skilled business coach, you can create an effective convention that offers booths with training material, competitions, and even giveaways to make the convention exciting, but educational. To get started with your own annual field force sales convention, you will first want to meet with a business coach who specializes in team-building and how to use conventions to improve your sales team’s performance. You will also want to brainstorm several key points or issues with your current sales force that should be addressed during the convention, such as:• Contest ideas to host
• Problem areas your current field force is facing (e.g., closure rates or conversion numbers)
• Product research regarding any products or services your company currently sells that field force members need to know
• Keynote speakers you would like to attend the convention
• Vendors you would like to see at the convention
• How long the convention will last (e.g., one day or an entire weekend)
• Where you would like to host the convention (e.g.,. local hotel, resort, or conference center)Convention planning should be fun. Integrate games, contests, and other rewards into real, hard-core teaching strategies so that employees look at their field force sales conventions as a way to break away from the desk and phones and enjoy themselves, while still engaging in team-building and sales promoting exercises.