Community From SDR To Sales Manager: My 7-Step Sales Methodology For Success Maddy McKenneyJune 21, 2024 Image from Bigstock

In the fast-paced world of SaaS sales, my journey began as a sales development representative (SDR), where I quickly learned that success required more than just enthusiasm; it demanded a clear and effective playbook for engaging potential prospects. Later, I transitioned to managing a team of 12 SDRs and reported directly to the chief revenue officer (CRO). This role brought new challenges and responsibilities, unknowingly pushing me to develop a structured approach. It wasn’t until a content class at Work It DAILY posed a thought-provoking question that I fully recognized the methodology I had been shaping:

What big problem do you solve in your line of work? What is the step-by-step methodology, framework, or checklist you use to solve it effectively and consistently? The goal is to be able to explain it to a fifth grader, offering a 30,000-foot view.

The Problem I Solve 

In simpler terms, I help companies find new customers who might benefit from their products or services. This not only fulfills the customers' needs but also supports the company in making money and staying in business, which in turn provides and sustains jobs.

How I Solve It: My 7-Step Sales Methodology 

1. Learn About the Problem: I learn all about the problems that our products and services can fix. This helps me understand how we can help people.

2. Identify Who Needs Help: I find out which companies and which people need our help, learning about their daily challenges and how our products can make their lives easier.

3. Build and Train a Team: I manage, hire, and teach a team of people who will help find these potential customers. We reach out to them to explain how we can help and set up a meeting so they can learn more about what we offer.

4. Reach Out and Communicate: My team and I send messages, make calls, and use other ways to reach out to the people who might need our products. We explain how our products can solve their problems.

5. Use Feedback to Improve: After talking to potential customers, we listen to their feedback to understand what they liked and what they didn’t. This helps us make our approach and our products even better.

6. Follow Up and Measure Success: After reaching out, we follow up with the customers to see if they are interested. We also keep track of how well we are doing in finding new customers and helping the company grow.

7. Collaborate with Executives and Align with Business Goals: I work closely with executive leadership to ensure our efforts align with the company’s strategic goals. I regularly update executives on progress, challenges, and opportunities. I also collaborate with other departments to ensure a unified approach to reaching potential customers and meeting their needs.

Reflecting on my journey from an SDR to a sales manager, I realize that the methodologies I've developed are not just about finding new customers; they are about creating value and building relationships that foster long-term success.

In the dynamic world of SaaS, understanding the problem, identifying who needs help, building a capable team, communicating effectively, leveraging feedback, measuring success, and aligning with business goals are crucial. By simplifying these steps and making them easily understandable, I hope to provide a framework that can help others achieve similar success. This approach has not only helped companies grow but also enabled me to manage a high-performing team.

As I look forward to my next role, I carry with me these valuable lessons and a proven framework that I am eager to apply and expand even further.

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sales Partner Boost 11 Ways To Enjoy Summer When You’re Working A Full-Time Job Ariella CoombsJenna ArcandJune 13, 2024 Bigstock

There you are: sitting on the beach, covered in sunscreen, reading your favorite book, drinking your favorite drink under the cool shade of an umbrella. Life doesn't get any better than this. Suddenly, a door slams, a phone rings, a printer turns on. You jolt back into consciousness. You're at work, sitting in your cubicle, without even a hint of sunshine streaming in from outside.

When you're working a full-time job, finding time to enjoy the warm, bright summer weather can be a challenge. This is especially true for young professionals, as many of them are used to having summers off (or, at the very least, having a flexible summer schedule). But there's no need to feel trapped behind your cubicle walls. Go out and enjoy summer!

Here are a few tips for making the most of your summer while working full time.

1. Grab Some Foldable Chairs

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Keep a couple of foldable camping chairs at the office so you and a co-worker can catch some rays during lunch—whether it's in the park or the parking lot.

2. Keep A Beach Bag In Your Car​

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Keep a bag full of summer supplies for your favorite summer activities. Having a bag (or, in my case, a backseat) full of towels, sunscreen, and swimwear keeps you prepared for anything. Friends hitting up the pool after work? You're covered. Once the clock strikes five, you can head to your destination of choice immediately.

3. Plan An Office Outing

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Plan an office field trip to the beach, the park, or the pool. Just do something fun so your brain can recharge and refresh!

4. Organize Group Walks

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Get a bunch of co-workers together and go on regular walks around town during lunch. (Or you could suggest a quick jaunt over to the ice cream shop.) This is a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.

5. Eat Lunch At The Park

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When you find yourself eating out, hit up places with a deck, porch, or patio of some sort. Obviously, eating out every day isn't really a feasible option for most of us, so look into alternative ideas as well. Pack a lunch and hit the park for your own little picnic.

6. Organize Office Sports

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Whether it's setting up an official office sports team or just hanging out with your colleagues a few times a week, playing sports is a great way to get out and enjoy the weather. Have a field nearby? Try setting up some slow-pitch softball games. Or see if you can get a basketball hoop for the office so you and a few co-workers can shoot some hoops at lunch.

7. Join A Professional Group

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During the summer, professional networking groups often have fun events like harbor cruises, pub crawls, and outdoor mixers. Find a professional group in your area and make networking fun this summer.

8. Have An Office BBQ

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Get your grill on! Talk to your boss about setting up an office BBQ. Ask everyone to contribute their favorite dish, side, or drink. Fire up the grill and relax! Hey, it's summer after all.

9. Wake Up Early

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Yes, yes, I know...waking up early is an incredibly painful and unbearable experience for some of us, but waking up even an hour earlier has its benefits—especially in the summer. Go for a morning run, putter around in the garden, or watch the sunrise with a loved one. Talk about starting the day off right!

10. Strategically Use Your Time Off

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Strategically use your vacation days around holidays. This way, you can make a potentially long weekend longer without having to use too much of your precious vacation time. Half days are also pretty awesome. It's amazing how much you can do with four extra hours! If you want an early weekend but don't want to burn up your vacation days too quickly, try taking a half day on a Friday instead of using a full day off.

11. Bike To Work

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If you're one of the lucky few who live within walking or biking distance of work, take advantage of it! Not only will you get plenty of fresh air, but you'll also save money on gas, which is always a plus!

There are plenty of easy ways to enjoy summer when you work a full-time job. So this summer, try out a few of these ideas and make the most of the sunshine and warm weather—while they're still around!

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