sales4lyf

Business Development Manager

Valued Contributor

I am going MAD

I just needed to vent about my current situation...

I am a BDM and basically get new business through the door and seal the deal, after an initial chat with myself I have to upload all of my notes onto the CRM and explain what the client are looking for and then people from the tech team build a proposal and strategy...I then present this back to the client and close them, get them onboard etc.

The only problem is I get SO many clients through the door wanting proposals but the tech team have ZERO communication skills, no one gets back to me, even if it's to tell me that things may be delayed, I have nothing to go off, my clients end up waiting weeks for a proposal when really it is max 1 - 2 days work. I understand that other's are busy but what is the point of me driving for new business and sales getting into good positions for deals if they're going to fall through no fault of my own?

I chase in a polite but firm way, and very often as well, has anyone got any tips on how I can really drive this home that this shit needs to get done otherwise the clients are going to leave and I'm going to look like the incompetent one?

Sorry if this makes zero sense, I'm angry haha!

😎 Sales Skills

16

21 comment

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Rupert_Pupkin

Contributor

4

Account Executive

Best thing you can do is draft some kind of solution/way you could see it working better, then present the problem and solution at the same time. It's a good opportunity to help the business function more efficiently, and even though it's mainly to your benefit, you can present it as an everybody wins scenario. Have a couple specific example deal reviews that you can walk through to drive the point home.

GDO

Politicker

1

BDM

Build a BPM of how you want the proces to flow including time frames. Discuss and add their pointers to it (buy in). Then agree with them and put in in writing in an email. First time they do not follow it you remind them and send the agreed mail again. Second time you send it with their boss in cc.

sales4lyf

Politicker

0

Business Development Manager

Great idea, thanks so much for this!

Santipodero

Politicker

0

Sanix

what a good idea friend I congratulate you!

Santipodero

Politicker

-1

Sanix

what a good idea friend I congratulate you!

GrindingSales

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Rupert_Pupkin has a great idea. I second what he said in addition to advising you bring your solution and how the current setup is affecting the company's bottom line and present it to your manager. Whether anything happens as a result is another story but at least you've done your due diligence!

Techies are a tough bunch. My soon to be wife works at a University and they are just as tough to get ahold of, to communicate with and to collaborate with as they expect you to know all of the lingo. Good luck to you!

sales4lyf

Politicker

0

Business Development Manager

Perfect, thank you so much! I think I'm definitely going to have to do this!

CaneWolf

Politicker

1

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

What's your conversion rate on the things you ask for?
Is it possible the team has other priorities so that 1-2 days actually does take weeks to book that time?
Are you nice to the tech team?

sales4lyf

Politicker

0

Business Development Manager

May have explained it badly in my original post - the tech team are essentially there to create the proposals for the BDM's, we have separate teams for when a client is onboarded.

There are 3 BDM's on the team and around 15 tech guys producing the proposals, I think I'm the most diplomatic person and completely understand that there they may have some other priorities pop up however the thing that frustrates me is the complete lack of communication, in order to get a response I have to send around 3 - 4 messages / emails before I get an update or acknowledgment.

The proposals do get done, it's just a case of it taking way too long, when I first joined the business I was told that the team would get the proposals ready within a week, so this is how I breakdown the timeline for a client. However, now I've been there for a few months and my number of clients are rising there just seems to be a huge breakdown of communication and I'm left not really knowing what's going on. As the POC for the clients it is making me look pretty incompetent so I guess I'm just not sure what else I could do to make things move faster / improve their communication to me.

CaneWolf

Politicker

0

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

I would try to align your management with their management to put a defined process in place that includes their communication and turn around time. That way, when they drop the ball, you can point to what they didn't do and their management will go at them.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

1

VP of Sales

Dude this is so real. We all face it. In sales we have to be communication experts, and are typically competitive and results driven people. We expect others around us to operate with the same urgency, but it often isn't the case.

Keep your head up. Politely, and firmly document and escalate the situation to management, with evidence of a few cases. Make sure you mention in the email, you're a team player and you're not trying to be a whiny bitch, but this stuff HAS to be addressed and resolved.

I just quit my job over these issues... my first post was about them, so its not a joke. It will persist if you don't try and do something about it. Companies appreciate people with the guts to identify, escalate and solve problems. Don't suffer in silence!

sales4lyf

Politicker

0

Business Development Manager

Ah I'm so pleased I'm not the only one on this! You're so right, there is zero urgency and it's so frustrating!

Definitely will be saying something, I have a weekly meeting with the MD's so will have to say something then and hopefully some action will be taken.

Thank you!

Santipodero

Politicker

1

Sanix

Find the root of the problem Try to direct the investigation towards the root of the conflict. It can be a temporary problem or a much bigger one that involves more staff and that can affect your work environment. It is essential that you resolve the conflict from its origin.

GDO

Politicker

1

BDM

Great position to be in tbh. You get too much interested prospects. Jelly!

sales4lyf

Politicker

0

Business Development Manager

Hahah good way of looking at it!

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

1

MDR

Rupert_Pupkin has a great idea. I second what he said in addition to advising you bring your solution and how the current setup is affecting the company's bottom line and present it to your manager. Whether anything happens as a result is another story but at least you've done your due diligence!

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

1

ISR

Rupert_Pupkin has a great idea. I second what he said in addition to advising you bring your solution and how the current setup is affecting the company's bottom line and present it to your manager.

sales4lyf

Politicker

0

Business Development Manager

Hey guys, just an update: I have lost a client today because the proposal was not done by the deadline that was given - frustrated and annoyed to say the least! But I have a call tomorrow with my manager and one of the directors so I’m hoping this will be a learning curve for all

MR.StretchISR

Politicker

0

ISR

Best thing you can do is draft some kind of solution/way you could see it working better, then present the problem and solution at the same time. It's a good opportunity to help the business function more efficiently, and even though it's mainly to your benefit, you can present it as an everybody wins scenario. Have a couple specific example deal reviews that you can walk through to drive the point home.

Mr.Floaty

Politicker

0

BDR

IT's coming home guys!!!! I've been rooting for soo long!

Cyberjarre

Politicker

0

BDR

IT's coming home guys!!!! I've been rooting for soo long!

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