Introduction
For a company to succeed, it should attain maximum profits to boost its sales. This can be achieved through vigorous marketing of the company’s services or products to the right target market. The sales team is, therefore, necessary for any company to assist the company boosts its sales. The sales team needs the guidance of a qualified Sales Manager to lead them towards attaining the set goals. As a Sales Manager, a career development plan is important to help one achieve the set goals and objectives. The following is my five-year career development plan as a Sales Manager.
Career Development Goals and Objectives
I have developed both short-term and long-term goals and objectives to help me achieve my dream. Short-term goals are those that should be attained within a short span, and they will help in achieving the long-term goals and objectives that should be achieved within the stipulated five-year period. It is because the long term goals and objectives should be carefully applied as it concerns major changes in the company, and failure to plan well can lead to a major shortfall (Kroth and Christensen, 2009). The short-term goals and objectives include the following;
- To increase the sales revenue of the company
- To ensure cost control by implementing certain mechanisms such as staff reduction.
- To improve the order entries control quality to reduce returns.
- To expand a new geographic location.
- To increase the marginalized profitability on the average sale.
The long-term goals and objectives include;
- To penetrate the new market arena.
- To strike strategic alliances that deal in sales.
- To set up a cross-organizational team sales.
Possible Promotional Opportunities
The possible promotional opportunities to boost my career growth are being promoted from the Sales Manager to Area Sales and Marketing Manager, then to the Overall Senior Marketing Manager of the company. The final possible promotional opportunity to achieve my dreams is to be promoted as the Chief Executive Officer of the company, which comes with a better pay package. The promotion will come due to my hard work in achieving all the set goals and objectives and staying focused.
Methods for Career Management
To manage my career, I plan to engage in further training and to add to my education knowledge to qualify me for any promotional opportunities. It will help me to get a promotion and even a better pay package with the additional knowledge and skills that I will have acquired.
I will also attend Sales seminars and courses that are offered by several organizations to boost my knowledge and leadership skills.
An Inventory of Current Skills, Abilities, Training, and Education
As a Sales Manager, I have the sales ability and skills to increase the sales of the company attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing and a Diploma in Business Law and Economics. I have engaged in on-the-job training, and my leadership role in sales is an advantage to my sales management skill. I am also able to work under considerable pressure, an ability that enhances my performance.
Job Satisfaction Attributes
I am satisfied with my position as a Sales manager because of the positive lessons that give me daily. The management style and the culture of the company are effective and open encouraging the involvement of the entire workforce. Any problems that are handed over to the management are treated with urgency and resolved without any discrimination. My sales team members are satisfied hence creating a conducive working environment, and this has increased the sales.
The pay is also good, and there is a comfortable level of working pressure. I enjoy working with the consumer and relate to their contribution to the company product. I am currently satisfied with my job position and working for the company.
Action Steps To Be Applied To Achieve The Objectives And Goals
To be able to achieve my stated goals and objectives, I have come up with three main action steps that will assist me. The most important action plan is to further my education level by finishing my Master’s Degree in Business Administration. It will add to my knowledge of sales and marketing. The second action plan will be to develop a contingency plan which will act as a guide in case anything that has been planned goes wrong. It will include the amount of marketing that will be required and the effectiveness of implementation and completion of my goals and objectives. The last action plan will be prioritizing the tasks at hand effectively to achieve each one of them. It entails making sure that the short term goals and objectives before embarking on the long term goals and objectives.
Potential Barriers To Reach The Stated Goals
As a Sales Manager, there is a great likelihood to experience some obstacles to reach my goals and objectives (Paling, 2010). One likely barrier will be the time set to achieve the goals and objectives set. The career development plan may fail to be completed in the set five year period, but that can be overcome with proper time management. The other barrier could be the lack of the required resources like money to complete my Master’s Degree.
It can slow down the implementation and completion of the development plan. Lack of dedication from the sales team members can also act as a barrier to achieve the stated goals and objectives. It will slow down the set sales due to a lack of team commitment and work enthusiasm. Lack of follow-through of the development plan can also be a barrier to achieving the set goals and objectives. A possible economic crash of the country can also be a hindrance, as it will greatly affect the set sales.
Analysis Of The effect Of Career Training Programs
Career training programs are courses taken to promote career planning, career enrichment, and career transition (Bohlander & Snell, 2010). These courses will help me to conduct a self-assessment to help me achieve my goals and objectives. The courses have also helped the trainees to explore their potential in diverse career fields. It helps them to be dynamic in the different career fields that they engage in.
Conclusion
With the above development plan, I believe I have what it takes to lead the sales team to another level and increase the company’s sales drastically. The plan will further assist me to implement and complete the set goals and objectives in the set five year period. The plan is also important in my career as it helps me boost my confidence in achieving my career dreams and to further plan the tasks systematically.
References
Bohlander, G. & Snell, S. (2010). Managing Human Resources. Canada: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Kroth, M. & Christensen, M. (2009). Career Development Basics. USA: ASTD Press.
Paling, S. (2010). The Accidental Sales Manager. USA: Library of Congress Cataloguing-In-Publication Data.