To constantly evolve and strive to learn new skills is something we really endorse. We want to create an environment in our company where nothing is impossible, and our employees should feel that they are always able to grow as a person and within the organization.
The sales leaders in the Kling Group have all shown that they are very skilled at the art of selling, have big ambitions and want to evolve. In addition to this, there are also a number of qualifications that must be met to become a good leader.
Last week we gathered our leaders for a conference trip to Marbella, where we had a lot of fun but mainly we put a great deal of time on personal development, group discussions and to plan the course of the Kling Group’s future. To take part of everyone’s experience and visions, we asked a number of open questions to the group.
What makes a good leader according to you?
Fredrik Kling: -A good leader is a person who does not put himself first, but actually focus on the employees. That does not mean to forget your own sales targets. We have a turnover requirement on all established sales people and of course this also applies to the leaders. Our leaders obviously have fewer own sales days but must be skilled enough to get together both their own sales and motivate their sales team and ensure that they can be their absolute best.
What is the difference in labor input on sales staff contra leaders?
Sekina Kling: -To become a leader you have to really have the heart for it. You must have a genuine interest in others and have the gift to rejoice as much when they succeed as for your own achievements. Concretely, you are required to go from working between 8-17 and make it more of a lifestyle. Our leaders are often available for their sellers all waking hours of the day! It requires a big commitment but it gives an incredible amount of joy and energy back when things go well for our apprentices.
What is your primary work tool for influencing your salesperson’s performance?
Andreas Richt: – I spend enormous amounts of time on analyzing the sellers ratios, to thus see what can be improved through the statistics. I’m a bit of a statistical buff and I spend many hours a week in our CRM-system to look at all the different measurable parameters. The numbers never lie and it is always possible to see what needs to be adjusted to bring about change and how people feel behind the numbers. A seller who is happy will often succeed in their goals. They will for some reason always show great results. However, if someone is struggling in their private life, this also reflects negatively on the results. Therefore, we focus on trying to create a fun and motivating environment in the company and we also put a lot of time on pep-talks and such!
How do you draw attention and highlight your salesperson’s personality?
Anna Fransson: -Personal sales is just what it sounds like, personal. All sellers are unique and have very different circumstances and personalities. I always try to affect my sellers to reinforce what is unique in them and encourage them to always be themselves. From Sekina I have learned to focus on what they do best instead of pointing out their faults. In this way, you build on the positive sides and pushes thereby the person to develop the positive instead of the negative. Purely in terms of work, I have close contact with my sellers via text, phone, email and when we go on sales trips together where we work together to improve performance and the techniques behind it.
How can you as a leader influence the future of the Kling Group?
Julia: We have a very good communication within the company. It is short decision paths and very present managers, allowing all ideas really come to the decision makers and quickly be evaluated and enforced, if they are good.
Fredrik: We really appreciate all ideas, initiative, the willingness to influence and the common ambition to drive the company forward. We are very proud and satisfied with the level of involvement in the Kling Group in general and specifically in the leader group. We have a number of brilliant people that really shows how to take a step up in your career and become a part of the growing group of leaders!
We have summarized the past year from a number of parameters and will soon enter with our first financial statements. We have a good economy, great energy and an incredible drive to continue to serve our many customers with the best products, presented by Sweden’s best and happiest sales force.
