13 Leadership Tips Finance Pros Want to Steal from Sales

Accomplished salespeople are some of the most highly sought-after creatures on the business planet.

You probably know that because, in Finance, you’re quite familiar with their contributions to the organization.

But there’s more to salespeople than the numbers they bring in. They have incredible leadership qualities that aren’t always obvious, but they’re transferrable.

Leadership Tips Cross Department Boundaries

So, when it comes to leadership, it’s clear there is much that can be “borrowed” from the world of sales.

Here are 13 ideas to grow your leadership skills, borrowed directly from well-established and proven tactics from Sales.

Of course, in the sales world, they’re referring to customers. For the finance world, we’ll refer to employees. And the rules still make total sense!

1. Learn Your Employee’s Job

It’s not something you can do in one interaction. The learning curve is long, and it’s an ongoing process. It should occur over a period of time.

Showing interest in your employees’ work will produce a positive relationship.

2. Come Up With New Ideas for Employees

Every employee can benefit from helpful ideas. You have expertise and knowledge.

You know what’s happening in your industry at all levels, and you know their needs. Make a serious effort to share your thoughts and insights on what’s going on around and above your employees.

3. Demonstrate a Problem-Solving Attitude

Employees want a positive response when they run into problems or have serious questions.

You may not always be able to answer their questions. But you can usually help them negotiate a workable compromise and stay positive.

4. Adopt a ‘We Can Do It’ Attitude

Avoid saying, “I can’t help you.” Focus on what you or employees+you can accomplish.

Try to help the employee get what is needed. It will build their confidence in you, and boost your credibility.

5. Ask Your Employee More

If you want to improve your processes, products or services, ask the opinions of the employees who are closest to the process, product or service and who likely know more about them than you do.

You’ll get ideas on what your company can do. You may even get ideas for new ways to handle things.

6. When You Make A Mistake, Admit It

Don’t try to cover up mistakes with excuses. The employee knows what’s going on, and the experience will only serve to cast doubt on your credibility.

Once you admit the mistake, start talking about solving the problem.

7. Confront Reality

Average leaders wait for things to improve rather than admitting things have gone wrong. It’s called avoidance, and it’s extraordinary how strenuously leaders try to avoid an admission of failure.

One of the most difficult things to do is recognize when something is not working and accept the responsibility to change. Great leaders are always ready to make adjustments and move on.

8. Focus on Your Strengths

There’s a certain logic in investing your resources in weak areas in the hopes you can correct problems and transform failure into success.

That approach may divert attention from more effective operations. The inability of leaders to focus on successful and effective activities is the primary cause of frustration, poor performance and failure.

9. Accept Change

It takes courage to accept the inevitability – and therefore the necessity – of change. When we fail to adapt, we fail. Period.

In business, the ability and willingness to adapt to shifting circumstances is essential to survival. Change is the most daunting challenge leaders face in a dynamic marketplace.

10. Be Passionate

Attitude determines outcome. If you don’t believe what you’re saying, it will show. If you don’t believe in your ability to meet your employees’ needs, they will know.

That doesn’t mean being the best in the world at what you do. It does mean being convinced that what you do has real value. If you’re not convinced, your employees won’t be either.

11. Be Consistent

Like oxygen, consistency is one of those qualities that is easier to recognize when it’s lacking. Nothing is more unsettling or disruptive than erratic behavior.

Consistency builds employees’ confidence. Consistency signifies reliability. It’s the foundation of positive relationships.

12. Value Continuity

In business, it takes experience and know-how to do a job well over time. A layer or two down the organization chart are people with deep insight into your company’s most basic operations. Talk to them.

The foundation of top leaders is their ability to tap the knowledge of employees and the people they work with and for.

13. Replace Fear with Faith

As self-fulfilling prophecies go, fear is a sure winner for leaders. When we operate from a position of fear, we validate a belief in our own inferiority.

Faith is the belief in our ability to succeed. It’s the confidence to trust our intuition and to act on it. The difference between a goal and a fantasy is the belief in its attainability. It’s possible to expect victory and be wrong. But it’s far more likely to believe.