Most sales representatives leave the industry because they either get bored or see a current lack of growth in the industry. Money is not an excellent alternative to leadership and efficiency as the ideology followed in selling is about the value, not the price. Increased engagement, career opportunities beyond just selling, the celebration of the small details to hype the employees up, polishing the already existing talent further, increasing employee engagement by boosting their morale through some games, etc., are some ways to retain your best sales representatives.

 There are different types of sales talent in the company: some may be quick learners, or some may be slow to grasp something but are extraordinarily good at their job. Multi-tiered incentives, coaching, public recognition are excellent ways to empower them as for the slow learners, applying their knowledge to a specific task and, finding where the problem is and establishing incentives as strides in the process. The need arises when the organization really has to find ways to motivate their employees also keeping in mind their finances. 

The points that must be considered are:

• Comprehension of dynamism in the sales team: In this 21st century, it is more important for a sales team to be dynamic than be good. The difference is that a dynamic sales team can get accustomed to any situation and will not govern on the territory of error as they have appropriate decision-making capabilities. This can be achieved by establishing clear business goals, defining the sales process and what qualities are the organization looking for in new talents, providing quality training to the new joiners, maintaining Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRMS) are some excellent ways to keep dynamism in one of the most influential areas in an organization.

• Analysis of human psychology:  Human beings are social and rational creatures. Sales are an art form that utilizes these qualities of an individual and acts at the intersection of logic and emotions as it influences buyers. Knowing who the target audience is gaining their trust by proving that you are the expert in the field and you will be the only one who can persuade are some excellent steps to take to ensure this. Another aspect of human psychology is that we tend to respond to commodities that are scarce in nature. Offering scarcity and then solving it is also an excellent way of seeing the world through their lens.

• Team Alignment: This is a salient issue that is to be brought up while figuring out the ways of incentivizing the sales team. Team alignment helps in a more incredible bond between the team with a clear view of the goals of the organization. A vital component needed here is an able leader who can properly direct the organization’s resources in such a way that it is used in the best possible way.

• Guidance from peers: This can be viewed in two ways. On the one hand, it can be analyzed to take feedback or constructive criticisms from seniors who have extensive experience in this field. The other interpretation can be to have a helping hand as a person who will guide the fresher in completing a task they are getting stuck on. This enhances better communication and connection between the employees among the strata in the organization.

• Room for Collaboration: By far, the most essential aspect of incentivizing sales, highlighting personal strengths and relating them on the group level so that members from the group also get to learn and impart knowledge from each other. Apart from that, imparting a communal environment in the workplace and enhancing creativity goes a long way in ensuring the efficient functioning of the sales team.

 Sales incentives are motivating elements undertaken by the organization, or the institution addressed to the employees for better functioning. It has been from time immemorial, and there are pieces of evidence that it actually has an influence over labor. There can be many different types of incentives, but the two we keep coming back to are:

• Cash or Monetary Incentives: The traditional way of incentivizing labor is carried out in terms of money. Sales representatives are awarded more for their hard work, but somewhere along the line, it does not really fall in the same line with that of sales itself because, at the end of the day, sales is about the “value, not the price.” This is seen through the examples of commissions, monetary perks etc.

• Non-Monetary Incentives: The more contemporary approach towards granting incentives provides more fluidity in terms of motivating the sales team as here, there is the inclusion of creativity which would also boost morale. It has a positive impact on the team and further increases bonding among the members of the group. This is seen through the examples of work-life balance, public recognition, travel, etc.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to this.  

• Proof of good management is the use of appropriate incentives in the proper time. Keeping a day for mental health, praising the representatives for their hard work, granting the choice of working flexible hours, having room for creativity in incentives like hosting competitions.  

• Just listening and taking action according to the defined problem of the sales team goes a long way in motivating them. Feeling personal motivation dramatically adds to the organization’s work culture.

• Using the SMART model to deduce the appropriateness of incentives can come in handy. The critical element of Specific goals, Measurable Contribution, Achievable goals, their Relevance and the Time Boundness of the whole process adds to the motivation of the employees.

A sales team gets a flow of opportunities, so the best at being incentivized is to work at their highest potential so that they can efficiently utilize the resources of the organization without reducing the quality of their work. It then becomes mandatory from the perspective of the organization to grant attractive incentives to them, the people in the team.

Read more on incentivizing sales teams here [https://www.reddit.com/r/sales/comments/t9nx7h/managers_put_in_the_work_to_retain_your_sales/]