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Present the New Plan
to the Team
At the end of a regular sales staff meeting, hand out the new sales
goals and compensation plan. Ask the group to save any questions they
may have for the moment. Present the more important changes and discuss
why you made them. Be positive in your presentation, but don't oversell
the plan.
After you finish, tell the sales representatives that you understand
they have questions, but that you would like them to study the plan
first. Ask them to sign up for individual meetings with you that will
take place in a few days. Assure them that after you have met with
everyone, there will be another group meeting.
Some sales representatives will try and ask questions right then and
there, while others will insist they need to meet with you immediately.
Don't be intimidated. Stick with your plan.
Hold Individual Meetings
There will be a lot of talk amongst the sales representatives before the
individual meetings begin. That's OK. During the individual meetings,
take careful notes about their various issues with or questions about
the plan. Look for patterns. Think about and make adjustments where
necessary.
Meet Again As a Group
At the second meeting, discuss what was brought up in the individual
meetings and publicly thank those who may have pointed out an error or
persuaded you to make a change. If unpopular parts of the plan remain
(and there always will be some), explain why you will not be changing
them. Answer any and all questions that come up.
This approach may seem overly structured. But think about it this way:
the sales representatives owe you the courtesy of looking at the new
plan thoroughly before criticizing it or demanding that changes be made.
By meeting with everyone individually, you will get feedback from all
the sales representatives, not just the most vocal ones. In the end,
this will lead to more buy-in for the new plan, which is ultimately what
you wnt.
Suzanne M. Paling can be
found at:
www.SalesManagementServices.com
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