techslog

While the last posting was related to establishing the “virtual” team in a forum, this post will help to clarify who that team might be. As a sale rep, sometimes I did not have the luxury to “choose” the team to help support me in a specific industry or even a certain product, so I realize this might be a mute point. However, there was occasions where I learned more about certain team members and realized they had certain background experience in their past, that could help me advance my sales- yet it was not in their title etc.
This 411 only came from asking them questions about themselves and listening to their answers. Not in any “Spanish inquisition” manner, but a laid back approach of letting them explain how they might approach a particular sale etc.
Now, I know this is hard to fathom; for as long as it seems sales reps like to tell the SC what is needed etc, and vice versa- but hearing what other team members think and learning why (which could possibly mean they were in this type of sale, for another company, and banged their head around and this was how they resolved it) could save you a lot of precious time. Virtual teams are more productive and innovative if this is a free- form brainstorming zone, not one tied down by roles and rules. While boundaries are important, let the ideas flow and do not discount ideas, because an SC suggested something that might be more likely from an industry expert etc.
Also teams that have some members, who have some history together, can help get the ball rolling quickly. Although the other side to that, can be how teams that are very familiar fall into a predictable and stale path too, adding new people can help stoke the creative juices, as well as offer clearer insights.