Creating training opportunities for new personnel and seasoned veterans alike should be a core value of all companies. While some firms may offer more deployments than others, the overall scheme of sales onboarding and coaching tends to focus on providing the same tutorials and educational modules to all staff members. This may be a cost-effective strategy, but it isn't the best one for meeting the needs of individual employees. Looking at the needs of every person should be the first step in forming a proper sales coaching plan.

Business 2 Community wrote that business leaders should be targeting the middle 60 percent of core performers to try and build stronger sales teams. With the top 20 percent pulling the best figures and earning top incentives, the central majority of the workforce will usually hit their goals, but never exceed expectations.

However, it's important not to lose sight of the peak performers in the group. Letting people handle themselves when they've shown exceptional proficiency will ensure that these personnel keep doing what made them successful in the first place. The problem here, Business 2 Community pointed out, is that these sales leaders will never progress without appropriate sales coaching. While some administrators may feel that their best talent doesn't want or need training, this is far from the case. When it comes to engaging employees, those who feel ignored or are allowed to languish may lose their competitive edge and fall back to a lower bracket of productivity.

Raising the bar at the top
It's important that businesses offer support from both ends. As the source stated, leaders should try to challenge even the best personnel to encourage more from them. Activating employee innovation requires giving them tasks just above what they've previously handled so that they have a sound, actionable plan for reaching these new heights. It's also essential that managers offer feedback throughout the project, both from the individual to the leader and vice versa.

The Standard-Examiner wrote that, even in cases where managers feel their personnel are doing well enough on these advanced projects, it's important to maintain open lines of communication. Staff members may not feel motivated to stick with these initiatives if leaders don't acknowledge success as well as failure. While traditional sales coaching may only aim at the things personnel need to improve, the source warned that this won't produce the best outcomes for employees or the businesses they represent.