Interesting question from Mike Muhney on Linkedin: What do you do when your top salesman refuses to use your CRM system? Here’s another: What do you do when the top sales person suggests that as the guy/girl who keeps the company alive, he/she should become Director/VP Sales? Should he/she be given a share in the business? I’ve seen that scenario played out a few times with interesting consequences. The question which intrigues me is this: Has...

Why are some sales people less successful than others? They create customer relationships that should lead to a sale, but it doesn’t. Does CRM make a difference? What can they learn from successful sales people? In my youth, shortly after beginning my career in business (which was a long time ago), I got to talking with a salesman on a long train journey. He was making notes in a black book. (This was in the days before Blackberry and PDA’s and...

In CRM investments bigger isn’t always best; Cheaper isn’t always better value; Best isn’t always most appropriate. It should go without saying that appropriate business choices must benefit the business. They must pay back. It is important when considering a CRM investment to pause and consider what ‘appropriate’ means.  In simple terms it means understanding yourself, your needs, your payback possibilities. Meet those and you’ve...