It’s been quite a year for modern sales. January kicked us off as we continued to ride the wave of 2015’s most strategic sales trend, Account-based Sales Development. March lead us into Rainmaker, Salesloft’s annual conference dedicated 100% to sales development. And as the year carried on, we strived to learn more and more every day about how to best represent the new era of modern sales as an organization.
As we head into the final weeks of 2016, it’s the perfect time to reflect on all of the things about modern sales that we have to be thankful for this season. The shift from traditional to modern sales has brought about a new set priorities, one that values humanized and personal relationships between companies and customers in a way that’s authentic, sincere, and human.
There are so many things to be thankful for within any organization, but this Thanksgiving, be thankful for modern sales, and these special pieces that make modern sales what it is today:
Customers
The heart of any modern sales organization lies in the customer. It’s the customers’ lives we’re striving to improve everyday, through things like world-class product design, undying client support, and empathetic sales. Their process is what drives us to do more, be more, and serve more, because ultimately, it’s their pains that we’re here to solve. The best customers become advocates, and we’re in the business of building lasting relationships with each and every one of them.
Company Culture
Gone are the days of empathizing with Peter from Office Space. The stodgy, closed off, traditional sales environment has left, and in it’s place resides a forum for open and transparent culture. From core values to A-player filled teams, the methodology and makeup of company culture is now intentional for modern sales organizations. In an industry where little is within our control, the one thing we can impact daily is the environment and people we surround ourselves with every single day.
Modern Managers
That culture doesn’t just simmer below the surface while C-level execs run the show their way. Modern managers are a package deal with modern sales, and it’s from there that the core values trickle down throughout an organization. They lead with understanding, and build functional teams through healthy conflict, accountability, and trust.
Sales Nerds
The new kids on the block, sales nerds are certainly a welcomed member of the modern sales family. Their data-driven love for team success, and constant striving for improvement is what keeps an organization pushing forward to reach new and exciting performance standards. Be thankful for your sales nerds, because it’s not an easy task to tackle, but their involvement in every part of the process is what holds the future in modern sales.
Salesforce
CRM technology has transformed the way businesses interact with their customers, and Salesforce specifically has become so ubiquitous in modern sales, it’s almost harder to find a company that’s not using it, and for good reason. The leader of the modern sales stack, Salesforce continues to be home to Sales Development Reps, full-cycle sales, sales nerds, and managers, alike. It’s here that all data is stored, which gives modern sales the ammunition for an organized and seamless sales engagement process.
Community
The goals of many modern sales organizations could not be met if it weren’t for the thriving communities that support them every day. Salesloft’s community in Atlanta has been the relentlessly empowering family that inspires us to represent the city with pride and integrity. Our mission from the beginning has been to improve the landscape of Atlanta technology, but in truth, it’s the city’s landscape that continues to serve as the backbone of our mission, day in and day out.
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