When sales are down, anxiety is high. But fear not, here are five ways to secure your place with the company long-term:

Consider new (and effective) sales strategies: What industries
haven’t you tapped? Are there any hot regions or territories the company hasn’t taken advantage of? What are some new ways your company could cross-sell or upsell products to existing customers? When companies look to trim fat, they’re always sure to keep employees and managers who are helping the company grow.

Build a fan base: The more allies you have (especially in upper management), the better chance you have of avoiding the axe. Create alliances with key personnel in Sales, Marketing and other departments so your value to the company extends beyond the sales floor. What might be even more beneficial is building strong relationships with loyal buyers. If customers swear by you, the company will too.

Get involved in long-term projects: If you’re a key part of the company’s long-term vision and head up numerous projects, your value increases exponentially. But don’t just volunteer to get involved with new projects when they pop up, take the initiative to develop business projects of your own. When upper management sees your ability to get things done, your job security increases — or you could end up being transferred into another department, which usually offers upward potential.

Be a self manager: It’s a do-more-with-less marketplace, and managers have less time to spend with “high-maintenance” employees. Make your boss’s job easier by handling small problems yourself and only going to him/her when it’s absolutely necessary. It might even help to knock on your boss’s door and ask if there’s anything additional you can do to help out.

Close more deals: The bottom line speaks the loudest, especially when the chips are down. If you work for a company that only recognizes results (and there are a lot of them out there), consider what you can do to boost your numbers.
Of course, every organization’s different. But the bottom line is, in times like these, you need to establish yourself as a valuable member of the team.

What are some other ways sales pros can increase their value? Let us know in the Comments Box below.

Adapted from “5 tips for keeping your job,” by Beth Kowitt, Fortune Magazine

No related posts.