My First Year as a Sales Manager

My First Year as a Sales Manager

October 2022 marks one year as a Sales Manager for an amazing business in Utah's exciting Silicon Slopes. Many have seen the sign on the building appear; the building is no longer known as the Workfront building. That's right! It's the Byte building now!

What makes Byte so special is the people we serve. I have never been at a company where making generational impacts on our customers' lives is just a daily thing. Our CXO Wing Butler calls it “The Butterfly Effect.” Each and every day, we work with customers on their “New Smile Journey.” We help individuals improve their self-esteem, overcome self-doubt, and become the best versions of themselves. It's an incredible feeling knowing that you get to be a part of something that is much bigger than yourself!

As a Sales Manager for Byte, I am on the frontlines with some of the best individuals on the planet. We call ourselves “The Grin Reapers.” Our team motto is “You REAP what you sow.” Many of you have heard this proverb before, but it serves as a reminder for us to put in consistent effort each day so that we may reap the rewards of our labors! Nothing is given, but everything is earned. As a team, we understand that nothing substitutes for hard work and effort.

Over the last year as a Sales Manager, I have been tested in areas that were new to me. I have had “High Highs” and “Low Lows.” I have learned and grown so much!

I would like to highlight a few of my biggest learnings over the last year as a manager:

1. “When you are called to lead, you are called to serve.”

The role of Sales Manager carries a sacred responsibility to serve the members of your team. Over the last year, my team has grown to 15 sales reps. Each rep has different goals and visions. They are motivated and inspired by different things. They come from diverse backgrounds and have varying perspectives. As a manager, one of the best ways I have found to serve is to take an individualized approach with each rep and help them become the best version of themselves, both inside and outside of work.

1. Humility is Key.

In sales, our egos can grow really big. This is validated by big commission checks, substantial incentives, and lots of food brought in at the end of each month! The trap is that we can let our egos get in the way, hindering our growth. Call it what you want: pride, overconfidence—every sales rep and sales manager is susceptible. One step I have taken to help avoid this trap is to always seek advice from peers, mentors, and members of the team. There is a good chance your peers are going through similar challenges, which often leads to good collaboration. Some of the best mentors can be your boss. Your boss has typically gone through similar situations in the past and will have a good “360-degree view” of how things turn out. Your team members often have the answers themselves but may wait to share or not share at all. What I’ve found is that you can empower your reps by letting them in on decisions.

1. “Culture Trumps Strategy.”

In late 2018, I was sitting in a Business Strategy class at Utah Valley University when the professor made this statement: “Culture Trumps Strategy.” I found that statement intriguing, especially coming from a professor who was supposed to teach us all about strategies. At first, I wasn’t sure if I believed him, but now, with real-world experience, I can say that I fully believe in that statement. In my first year of management, we implemented many different strategies, but the team has always performed best when the environment and culture were at their peak. As a manager, I have made it a top priority to create an environment where every individual can perform at their very best!

To close, if you have made it this far, I hope you enjoyed the article. If you learned nothing else, at least now, every time you pass the Byte building, you will know that something special is happening inside every day.