Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Sales Manager
What sales managers actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a sales manager?
Review the weekly pipeline dashboard. From there, the day usually includes hire, train and coach sales reps, set quotas and territories, and review pipelines and forecasts. Most work full-time, often more than 40 hours, with pressure at month and quarter end.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a sales manager working full time.
- Review the weekly pipeline dashboard.
- Lead the team’s sales meeting.
- Hold one-on-ones with two reps.
- Join a rep’s call with a major prospect.
- Interview a sales candidate.
- Meet marketing about lead quality.
- Submit the forecast to leadership.
Where sales managers work
Sales managers work in offices or remotely and travel to visit clients and teams.
Hours and schedule
Most work full-time, often more than 40 hours, with pressure at month and quarter end.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Hire, train and coach sales reps
- Set quotas and territories
- Review pipelines and forecasts
- Analyze sales performance data
- Help close key deals
- Develop sales strategies and plans
- Collaborate with marketing and leadership
Tools you’ll use every day
- CRM systems
- Sales analytics dashboards
- Spreadsheets
- Video conferencing
- Sales enablement tools
- Compensation planning tools
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- High earning potential
- Leadership and strategy
- Develop people
- Many industries
What’s hard
- Pressure to hit targets
- Responsible for team performance
- Long hours
- Turnover challenges
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love leading teams
- I’ve been successful in sales
- I like coaching people
- I’m comfortable with numbers
- I handle pressure well
- I want high earning potential
Not sure? Take the free Sales Manager fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow ethical sales practices
- Protect customer and employee data
- Manage team stress and burnout
- Travel safely