--- title: Top Skillsets of a Sales Manager description: Great sales managers --- # [SELLING IN THE 21ST CENTURY](https://www.rickroberge.com/) [![header-sm-linkedin-blue](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-465400397-png/images/header-sm-linkedin-blue.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickroberge) [![header-sm-twitter-blue](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-465371692-png/images/header-sm-twitter-blue.png)](https://twitter.com/RainMakerMaker) [![header-sm-google-plus-red](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-462412948-png/images/header-sm-google-plus-red.png)](https://plus.google.com/+RickRoberge/posts) [![header-sm-rss](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-480298330-png/images/header-sm-rss.png)](https://www.rickroberge.com/rss.xml) # [Science for Sales Rock Stars](https://www.rickroberge.com/) ## [Top Skillsets of a Sales Manager](https://www.rickroberge.com/top-skillsets-of-a-sales-manager) ![](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e) By [Imran Battla](https://www.rickroberge.com/author/imran-battla)   Feb 28, 2018 9:53:57 AM Most sales managers have an idea of the attributes and mindsets they are looking for in a sales rep, but have you ever considered what a sales rep is looking for in a sales manager? This list is not meant to be definitive or even ranked in order of importance, but is meant to suggest the mutual commitment that is necessary between a sales rep and their manager. *This is a guest post by **[Imran Battla](https://www.linkedin.com/in/imran-battla%E2%98%81/)**. Imran is looking for his next opportunity to help a founder change the world.. He's grown in the last few months and this article is written from his perspective. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. - Rick* ***In his own words...*** Personally, I’m looking to work with someone that is or is ready to be a rockstar sales manager and can help me grow and achieve *my* goals. 1. Do you understand my why? - Do you find yourself working with Sales Reps that are motivated by money? - What about those who are driven by more intrinsic factors such as the joy of winning closed deals, or peer recognition, or being able to change the world? - What if, while working together, you could uncover the why I am after to improve my life, as well as, doing something nice for someone **[that I care about](https://www.rickroberge.com/who-is-your-next-sales-rock-star?utm_campaign=Imran&utm_source=Imran&utm_medium=CTA)**? 2. Would you ever allow **[your own shortcomings](https://www.rickroberge.com/who-is-your-next-sales-rock-star?utm_campaign=Imran&utm_source=Imran&utm_medium=CTA) **to be the reason that I would miss my goals? 3. Do you know how your **[Sales DNA and Sales Competencies](https://www.rickroberge.com/sales-core-competencies?utm_campaign=Imran&utm_source=Imran&utm_medium=CTA)** compare to mine and why it matters? Are you able to work with me to identify my shortcomings and shape a path forward to help me overcome my **[challenges](https://www.rickroberge.com/how-to-hire-best-salespeople?utm_campaign=Imran&utm_source=Imran&utm_medium=CTA)**? 4. **[Can you coach me](https://www.rickroberge.com/5-steps-to-successful-coaching?utm_campaign=Imran&utm_source=Imran&utm_medium=CTA)** to help uncover compelling reasons for a prospect to buy, the consequences of doing nothing and finding value in fixing a problem they have? 5. Can you **[motivate me](https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/3-stories-that-formed-a-master-salespersons-philosophies)** to knock one more door, make one more call, or handle one more objection? 6. Do you understand your own **[value](https://therainmakermaker.com/2006/05/21/value) **and is it tied to a desire to be liked? 7. Are you someone who can work with me to build a mutually beneficial network of **[referral sales and create client evangelists](https://www.rickroberge.com/Blog/bid/238328/How-to-Maximize-Client-Retention-Evangelism-and-Sales?utm_campaign=Imran&utm_source=Imran&utm_medium=CTA)**? 8. Someone who understands inbound methodology powered by engaging demand generation content that is more effective than just cold calling. **[Are you a lighthouse or a tugboat](https://www.rickroberge.com/are-you-a-lighthouse-or-a-tugboat?utm_campaign=Imran&utm_source=Imran&utm_medium=CTA)**? 9. Someone who can help me become a better writer and support my desire to craft an authentic voice in sales thought leadership. So, after reading this you might be thinking, - This is an article worth sharing (use the link icons below. - Who is **[Rick Roberge](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickroberge/)**? - Who is **[Imran Battla](https://www.linkedin.com/in/imran-battla%E2%98%81/)**? Be sure to read the comments. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### Want updates as they're published? #### Enter your email: BTW, do you have an idea or question that would make a good article? Would you like to write or co-author it? Either way, **[ send me an email](mailto:therainmakermaker@gmail.com?Subject=Blog%20article/author%20idea)**. **[Rick Roberge](https://plus.google.com/116082120720832878924/posts?rel=author)** ## About this blog *This blog is for, by and about Sales Rock Stars, RainMakers, Entrepreneurs (and/or those that strive to be)* ## [Read My Articles on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/rickroberge) ## [About Rick](https://www.rickroberge.com/contact-me) **[The Original ](http://therainmakermaker.com/)****[RainMaker Maker Blog (pre-2012)](http://therainmakermaker.com/)** [**Remote Bookkeeping**](http://www.slcbookkeeping.com/blog/bid/116710/remote-bookkeeping-made-easy)[** Made Easy**](http://www.slcbookkeeping.com/blog/bid/116710/remote-bookkeeping-made-easy) [**Awesome Website Design**](https://www.inbounddesignstudio.com/contact/) Search RainMakers & Sales Rock Stars Search ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Posts by Month - [November 2025 (19)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/11) - 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