Sales and marketing are busy careers, full of information, experiences, and relationship-building. A bustling day to day can be a sign of a thriving career, but it can also cause sales and marketing professionals to lose sight of the foundational elements of their work – or worse, cause them to forget why they love their work in the first place.

If you feel like you’re drowning in details, keep these seven reminders in mind:

1. Embrace a thoughtful approach.

Sales and marketing professionals need tenacity and grit, but merely working harder won’t always lead to better results. Sometimes, it’s important to step back and think about how to work smarter. Embrace reflection and critical thinking to improve your work.

2. Put caring first.

Building a relationship – whether directly through sales or indirectly through marketing – is about connecting with people. And people are most receptive to attempts at connection when they see real care and commitment behind those attempts. Remember to find why your work is important and to share it with customers.

3. Take the client’s perspective.

One concrete way to demonstrate care and thoughtfulness is to put yourself in the client’s shoes at every stage of the sales or marketing process. Who is your audience? What do they need? How can you help them right where they are, right now?

 4. It’s not about you.

Sales and marketing teams see more rejection than nearly any other professionals. Rejection can be discouraging, but it’s important to remember: It’s not personal. A “no” isn’t about you; it’s about where the client sees themselves and their own needs.

5. Be the expert your customers need.

The days when sales and marketing involved rattling off lists of features and benefits are long gone. Today, customers and clients want to be able to have an intelligent conversation about real pain points with a highly informed professional who can answer their questions. Become that expert, and you can build solid professional relationships that also pay off for your team.

6. Never stop learning.

Sales and marketing professionals are at their best when they see their careers as an opportunity for limitless learning and growth. Don’t limit yourself to learning your company’s offerings, either: Learn more about communication, active listening, how people make decisions, and more. The more you understand, the better equipped you are to address new challenges.

7. Build your team.

Whether it’s a mentor you trust, a group of colleagues who always have your back, or an experienced outside source like a recruiter, surround yourself with those who are succeeding and who care about your success.

Looking for a New Sales Opportunity or Looking to Add To Your Team?

Sales and marketing professionals are in high demand in growing industries, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. At SMR Group, we can help you grow your sales and marketing career in these fast-paced fields. To learn more, contact us today.