How can you create a healthy work-life balance in sales?

Setting the right goals certainly helps. In day-to-day business, hover, things look different. It is therefor particular important to categorize upcoming topics into urgent or important in order to be able to react to customer needs adequately, and still not lose sight of the big picture.

Work life balance in Sales can be achieved when an Individual understands the mission of the company and checks consistently how much it is relevant to his/her own career goal. Thriving sales individuals while achieving their quota they also build strong communication and trust within their team which allows them to work freely and look forward to solving the problems instead of getting struck with it. While working hard bring results, working smart (understands the business from customer point of view) allows them to work more efficiently and bring results quickly. Give feedback and get feedback whenever it is needed to overcome the pitfalls.

In my opinion, it is not about the goals, it’s about the plan/process of your day to day which helps you find balance. One of the key statement in our old scripture states it correctly “let the focus be not on the fruits but the activity itself”. Goals are important however thats just to find the right direction post which it boils down to the steps planned. What are the daily chores? What are your priorities? A daily to-do list? People who are important to your growth/wellbeing? A communication plan with all teams? A commitment to days with family and all planned in advance in the diary so you minimise any surprises or stress related to it. I don’t believe in work like balance, if you enjoy your work its all life and work is a part of it!

One thing I have found essential in sales is to set goals that you can achieve over small and larger periods. This way you can always go back and measure your progress to motivate you to keep pushing forward. Hitting your smaller victories or milestone’s will help you progress towards your larger goals and help with burnout. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the small accomplishments we achieved after we have surpassed them , so documentation and reflection is key.

From my perspective it‘s not about setting more goals or KPI‘s to achieve a healthy work-life balance. It shouldn’t be seen as work vs life, but to find balance in life. Setting more goals would lead to a pressure within areas where you don’t want pressure (social life, family time) and lead to focusing on measurable goals instead of recharging and enjoying the other parts of life. To achieve balance it is important to embrace work as well as life outside work and understanding your own rhythm. Balance is achieved through a longer period than a day to day perspective

Learning when to go full burn, when to slow down, how to get support from extended teams (including bosses), definitely taking the time to take care of my personal life (spending time with loved ones), managing time/tasks, exercising, etc. are all key components to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Also, a main key is to do “preventive maintenance” instead of doing “corrective maintenance”. For example: taking a vacation to rest from work is not the right reason to take a vacation, instead, it should be to enjoy it. I’m not gonna lie, sales is a high risk/high reward profession, but following these recommendations will help to enjoy life in sales!

As someone with ADHD I find it's very important to know my mind and when it has the ability to do different types of tasks. For example writing longer emails is hard for me to do during the day as my brain is filled with many thoughts and I get easily distracted. However during the evening, when my brain is more tired I'm able to focus on writing long emails as my ability to get distracted isn't as easy. This can be difficult as a parent however because many times my evenings belong to my daughters first. I do find this to be the most difficult part because once I get something in my head, when tired not easily distracted, it's all I can focus on and it's hard to be present until that task has been completed. Knowing MY best time is key.

There is no more essential business skill than effectively managing your time. It’s not “trying to get everything done” - it’s doing the right things, with focus and intensity. By definition FOCUS is your most limited resource. Your personal ROE (return on energy) can be significant when you do the right things at the right times, undistracted and 100% present. This will require some careful calendar management (hint: you don’t have to accept every meeting that’s sent to you) and transparency / clarity to your stakeholders on what the real priorities are. Ask yourself - 1) what are the most important things I’m working on? 2) Compare with how you’re actually spending your time. 3) Make the adjustments to regain focus on what truly matters

Work life integration is becoming the new normal. Time is so precious and it cannot be given away cheaply. Whilst the magic dust for sales success continues to be hard work, lifestyles are changing and the latest high performing business leaders/entrepreneurs are certainly better disciplined to integrate family time, hobbies/interests and good rest into their busy lives. To be successful with LIFE all things which truly matter must be prioritised and integrated into daily routines. Work may occasionally take a back seat as you exercise or collect the kids from school but remember there are no shortcuts. Hard graft needs to be applied across all areas which are valuable to you. If it’s loved nothing is a chore.

One thing that has worked for me, is utilizing the focus modes on my iPhone. Once I arrive home in the afternoon, I like to go into “personal” mode. Notification automatically turn off from text messages and emails (out of sight out of mind). I have communicated to my team, that if I’m needed in the afternoons to call me, as I will not see text or emails. This small process has allowed me to be focused on my family and separate life from work.

It’s important to set boundaries and times of working hours. If you prioritize your tasks properly it should be easier to achieve a better work life balance. Something I learned during the pandemic was having to set boundaries with my teams and leaders to ensure I was properly communicating what I was working on and delegating the tasks that needed to be so I was not trying to do it all myself. I urge leaders to communicate, prioritize and execute to achieve that work life balance that we all seek.

Time management in a sale team completely depends on the immediate leader of the sales team, a good leader makes the team understand, that the associate is working for himself and not for someone else. A leader who can justify the above statement to the team will be able to make the team productive in the asked working hours. But in cases where this is not done people a forced to work long hours, since we all run being targets which has to be met one way or the other.

In business, I was always a “yes” guy - find a way to say yes. Huge mistake. Learning to say NO was one of the most impactful executive behaviors I ever embraced. By not over-committing myself and trying to be everything to everyone I was able to recapture time, focus and prioritization. I dropped or delegated things that didn’t support my personal mission, or most impactful organizational goals. This is a critical key to progress, and sanity. The establishment of boundaries and learning to say NO professionally will change your life, and allow you to pour into the things that really matter, Setting boundaries is kind and respectful. Bottom line - if you don’t prioritize your own life, someone else will be happy to do it for you.

Communicating boundaries is essential to establish a clear line between work and personal life. Clearly express expectations regarding working hours, response times, and availability, fostering a respectful understanding with colleagues and clients. I used to be available 24/5 some time in the past. Of course this was very rewarding and exhausting at the same time. First the love that you are always available, then they get used to it and take it for granted, even abuse it. But once you set clear boundaries and stick to them, clients and colleagues will respect you even more...

Set Clear Boundaries! Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Define specific times when work-related tasks are off-limits, such as evenings or weekends, and communicate these boundaries to colleagues and clients.

Feedback is a major part of communication. The ability to gain a perspective in your performance from someone else can help you grow and prosper.

I’ve been working in the linen industry since 1998 and over the years a lot of things have changed, but mostly the core ideas stay the same. One thing that has changed drastically is the communication Quit between colleagues working for different companies. In the early years companies treated each other like warring factions. Don’t get me wrong because some still do, but the nature of the communications has changed. This might be because we all went through Covid together, or it might be because more people are moving across companies so they have friendships that will weather the competitive sales and service atmosphere.

Seeking support and feedback is a key driver for success in sales! Don't hesitate to reach out to your team or mentors for guidance. Constructive criticism is a powerful tool for growth, so embrace it. Share your challenges openly, and let the collective wisdom of your network fuel your improvement. How do you seek support in your sales journey? Let's discuss!

Seek support and feedback proactively. Whether from colleagues, mentors, or friends, having a support system helps navigate challenges and gain valuable insights for personal and professional growth.

Reach out to colleagues, mentors, or supervisors for guidance and advice. Express openness to constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement. Actively seek opportunities for mentorship or coaching to enhance your skills. Foster a supportive environment by offering assistance to others and building positive relationships. Regularly solicit feedback on your performance to identify areas for growth and development.

Each day in life should be celebrated. We have so few here, and not every day can be a graduation, closing of a business deal or other milestone. Even a failure can teach a lesson, so appreciate the lesson and move on.

Celebrating achievements, no matter how small, is integral in the realm of sales! Recognising milestones, such as receiving a response from a cold email, underscores the significance of every effort. These incremental wins lay the foundation for substantial successes. Take a moment to acknowledge your accomplishments, and let's raise a toast to the ongoing journey of professional growth and triumphs! What recent sales achievement brought a sense of accomplishment to your day?

Recognition and affirmation is so important in any work environment. The work that is done day to day should always be applauded publicly and also one on one. As a leader, it’s important to be aware of what motivates each individual member of your team and also what keeps them feeling appreciated.

Land a big sale, Gain a new Client, Sign of on a new product, Write a new program, Sing a new song, Whatever you do do it well and it is it's own reward. There is a artform in everything and a master takes pride in their work.

Celebrate your achievements, big or small. Taking time to acknowledge and appreciate your accomplishments contributes to a positive mindset, boosts morale, and fuels motivation for future endeavors.

“To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?” Marcus Tullius Cicero If a Roman senator could give you this advice 2100 years ago it remains relevant today.

Esto para mí es una constante. Hacer un análisis de tu equipo, y aquí es donde yo creo que no solo es observar hacia el exterior, hacia el equipo. Es una revisión hacia uno mismo.. que estoy haciendo, que NO estoy haciendo que funcionaba y porqué dejo de funcionar. El equipo es tu engranaje, ellos, caminarán o al menos la mayoría hacia, donde y como tú los lleves. Porque el trabajador que no funciona vendrá haciendo actos hostiles hasta que por políticas de la empresa salga, o porque demasiado incómodo se sienta. Desafortunadamente a veces, delegar totalmente y no darse una escapada para echar lente hacia las hormiguitas (no por menospreciar, si no porque es donde se origina la mayor producción) es donde llega a estar lo medular del alivio

As someone who's managed sales teams over the years, I've noticed their struggle with research and paperwork, which often takes a toll on their work-life balance. To address this, I've found bring in a Business Analyst to handle these aspects is highly effective. This allows the sales team to focus what they do best - selling and building relationships with clients - without being bogged down by paperwork.

Do you enjoy the physical and mental actions of what you do to earn. Is what you chose to focus on filling your moments completely Is your day without seams, or transitions And, Did you take one full hour this week to: Talk with your spouse about your life together, asking what the other feels is missing, changing, is particularly good. Listen to each child, and play, read, walk. Sit a quiet hour alone, no phone, no pencil, no device. Just listening to what is there.

Pour créer un équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée dans la vente : 💡Définir des limites claires, prioriser les tâches, utiliser la technologie de manière intelligente, déléguer lorsque possible, planifier des activités de détente et communiquer efficacement avec les collègues et les clients. 👍Ces stratégies aident à maximiser la productivité au travail tout en préservant du temps pour des activités personnelles importantes.🤝🙏