What does a sales team leader do?
A sales team leader oversees the sales operations within a particular area, ensuring to reach goals within the allotted time. They are primarily responsible for setting goals, devising sales strategies, evaluating sales team performance, assigning tasks, and providing support and corrective measures should there be any concerns. Furthermore, as a team leader, it is essential to encourage the sales force, shape them into valuable members of the company, and implement all of the organization's regulations and policies.
Sales team leader responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real sales team leader resumes:
- Achieve proficiency in multitasking by performing multiple duties and managing differing responsibilities periodically.
- Increase electronics sales and attainment goals on a quarterly basis, rank 4th in company in certain KPI.
- Process cell phone contracts and sales through POS system while helping customers and using computer applications to complete transactions.
- Facilitate developmental meetings and conversations with sales teams to discuss KPI and metrics like incremental sales and points of purchase.
- Conduct PowerPoint training presentations for new and present members.
- Open and closing the store, including counting cash, opening and closing POS's and creating staff assignments.
- Guide in creation and development of most effective advertising layouts for the markets to maximize ROI simultaneously supporting dealers stock rotation.
- Create and present PowerPoint presentations and demonstrations to clients.
- Design a new motivational training program leverage by managers and senior leadership to increase employee satisfaction and reduce turnover.
- Create and produce monthly sales compensation reporting that simplify tracking and increase ease in evaluating individual sales and service performance.
- Surmount tumultuous economy by maintaining steady income, retaining customers, and realizing exponential sales growth by creating realistic customer expectations.
- Drive sales of service, accessories, features and sales contest through upselling.
- Recommend products and services to maximize customer service and target upselling on each customer contact.
- Describe product to customers and accurately explain details about DirecTV services.
Sales team leader skills and personality traits
We calculated that 22% of Sales Team Leaders are proficient in Sales Floor, Product Knowledge, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Physical stamina, and Self-confidence.
We break down the percentage of Sales Team Leaders that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Sales Floor, 22%
Moved merchandise to sales floor using various manual and electrical tools.- Participated in taking inventory at required intervals.
- Product Knowledge, 14%
Managed and developed a team of representatives through communication, training and product knowledge, successfully trained and developed.
- Customer Service, 10%
Demonstrate superior level of customer service during all interactions to ensure conversion of potential buyers into actual customer purchases.
- Customer Satisfaction, 6%
Managed, monitored, and supported leaders and colleagues regarding customer escalations for the purpose of conflict resolution and customer satisfaction.
- Exceptional Client, 5%
Led and supported a store environment that is consistently focused on delivering exceptional client engagement experiences.
- KPI, 4%
Facilitated developmental meetings and conversations with sales teams to discuss KPI and metrics like incremental sales and points of purchase.
Most sales team leaders use their skills in "sales floor," "product knowledge," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential sales team leader responsibilities here:
Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a sales team leader to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to work well with many types of people." Sales team leaders often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "perform outstanding customer service by utilizing interpersonal, communication and relationship building skills, allowing for repeat business and referrals. "
Physical stamina. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling sales team leader duties is physical stamina. The role rewards competence in this skill because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives are often on their feet for a long time and may carry heavy sample products." According to a sales team leader resume, here's how sales team leaders can utilize physical stamina in their job responsibilities: "maintain a stamina of high-end customer service and support fellow associates in making decisions in the best interest of the client. "
Self-confidence. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of sales team leaders is self-confidence. This skill is critical to many everyday sales team leader duties, as "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be confident and persuasive when making sales presentations." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "helped empower women with confidence through sales of beauty products. "
Customer-service skills. For certain sales team leader responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "customer-service skills." The day-to-day duties of a sales team leader rely on this skill, as "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to listen to the customer’s needs and concerns before and after the sale." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what sales team leaders do: "display outstanding direct sales and a mastery of professional communication skills through daily customer service assistance. "
The three companies that hire the most sales team leaders are:
- Target329 sales team leaders jobs
- Crate and Barrel72 sales team leaders jobs
- Amazon14 sales team leaders jobs
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Compare different sales team leaders
Sales team leader vs. Head of sales
The head of sales is primarily responsible for overseeing the sales performance of a company and devising strategies to optimize practices. Their responsibilities typically revolve around monitoring the progress of every sales effort, setting objectives and deadlines, performing research and analysis to identify sales opportunities, and coordinating with different departments to improve procedures and reach sales targets. Furthermore, as the head of sales, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a sales team leader are more likely to require skills like "working independently," "excellent time management," "exceptional client," and "training sessions." On the other hand, a job as a head of sales requires skills like "crm," "sales strategy," "sales organization," and "sales operations." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Heads of sales really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $189,378. Comparatively, sales team leaders tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $66,535.The education levels that heads of sales earn slightly differ from sales team leaders. In particular, heads of sales are 6.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a sales team leader. Additionally, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sales team leader vs. Senior sales associate
A senior sales associate is responsible for overseeing the operations in a retail establishment's sales floor. They reach out to customers and respond to inquiries, help them obtain the product they are looking for, or recommend other goods should it be necessary. As a senior sales associate, they are in charge of mentoring less experienced colleagues and shaping them into more competent workforce members. They must also implement sales policies and regulations, devise strategies to reach sales targets, find new opportunities to strengthen client base, produce reports, and maintain inventory.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, sales team leader responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "working independently," "excellent time management," "exceptional client," and "kpi." Meanwhile, a senior sales associate has duties that require skills in areas such as "phone calls," "cleanliness," "data entry," and "retail store." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Senior sales associates earn a higher average salary than sales team leaders. But senior sales associates earn the highest pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $58,801. Additionally, sales team leaders earn the highest salaries in the finance with average pay of $66,535 annually.In general, senior sales associates achieve similar levels of education than sales team leaders. They're 1.9% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for sales team leaders in the next 3-5 years?
Bill Thorne
Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation
Sales team leader vs. Lead sales representative
A lead sales representative is responsible for selling goods and services to existing and potential customers through electronic communications and area visits. Lead sales representatives should be highly-knowledgeable of the products that the company offers to discuss and demonstrate the features to the client accurately. They take orders, process orders, and ensure the correct distribution details according to the customers' specifications. A lead sales representative also monitors the team's sales performance and strategize opportunities to maximize selling techniques and increase profitability.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a sales team leader is likely to be skilled in "working independently," "excellent time management," "exceptional client," and "kpi," while a typical lead sales representative is skilled in "cleanliness," "medicare," "develop leads," and "billing issues."
When it comes to education, lead sales representatives tend to earn similar degree levels compared to sales team leaders. In fact, they're 2.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Sales team leader vs. Sales manager/sales trainer
A sales trainer or manager provides training for the sales staff. The target of the training is to improve the sales figures and meet target sales. Sales trainers collect data that allows them to understand the effectiveness of the existing sales strategies. They also set clear goals and priorities, get rid of demands that do not drive revenue, and allow their teams to focus on activities aligned with the significant goals. It is also their responsibility to research and develop marketing opportunities.
Types of sales team leader
Updated January 8, 2025
