Crafting a well motivated sales team can be of paramount importance for businesses and organizations seeking to improve sales figures or to optimize the efficiency of their operation. From improving internal communication to providing all sales personnel with the tools and resources they need in order to get the job done, effective leadership can make a critical difference in improving overall performance. The following five secrets can all make a measurable difference in the effort to better motivate and fully actualize a sales force.

One: Enhanced Communication

Poor and ineffective communication can do far more than impede efficiency, it may actually blunt motivation and rob professionals of the edge they need in order to capitalize on future opportunities. Enhancing and streamlining internal communication ensures that a salesforce will be better able to utilize available resources, address and resolve potential issues and contribute to larger tasks and projects. Allowing ineffective communication to sap morale or impede efficiency is a common problem that may end up costing many business owners, department heads and team leaders far more than they might imagine.

Two: Removing Obstacles Quickly and Efficiently

Situations that are unable to be resolved in an efficient manner can easily result in high levels of frustration and wasted effort. Whether you are a developer designing and deploying kafka on aws or a sales manager at a small used car lot, efficiency is crucial to your success.  Devising and implementing policies and operational processes that will ensure potential bottlenecks and professional obstacles can be more quickly identified, readily addressed and successfully resolved helps to ensure that employees are able to spend their efforts in a more efficient and productive manner. Getting stuck on the same problem over and over or being unable to resolve an issue that may be chronic and ongoing can quickly lower morale and drain motivation.

Three: Providing Incentives

While there is no real substitute for hiring ambitious and self-motivated professionals, providing incentives or implementing a rewards program can help even the most dedicated sales team to reach their full potential. While the chance to compete for prizes or earn rewards can result in a noticeable difference in performance, just having the chance to be recognized for their efforts, hard work and past success can spur many employees to go the extra mile. Ensuring that a salesforce is able to be properly recognized, commended or rewarded for their efforts is a proven way to ensure sales professionals are able to stay focused and well motivated.

Four: Utilizing the Right Tools and Resources

Motivation can be difficult to sustain, especially in situations where fatigue may become an issue. Access to the right tools, services and solutions can provide workers with the means to streamline their working process and optimize the effectiveness of their efforts. From automated phone dialers to external logistical support services, finding ways to lighten the workload a little is a great way for leaders to improve the motivation and efficiency of their team. Sales professionals who may be wasting their efforts on minor tasks and support work are rarely able to direct their full efforts, focus and concentration on the situations and opportunities that will make the most difference.

Five: Creating and Maintaining a Superior Working Environment

The social landscape and atmosphere of the workplace is an important concern, one which often goes overlooked in the quest to improve worker motivation. A working environment that is more lively and engaging can be a powerful motivational tool, one that may be used to inspire workers to greater success. Expecting a sales team to do their best while depriving them of an environment that may afford greater stimulation or more rewarding social and professional interactions is an approach that is rarely effective. Employers and team leaders who are struggling to find new ways to motivate their staff and associates would do well to consider the type of environment and atmosphere they are providing.