Selling Branch Manager - Really a good idea?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 07:37AM The theory is that a "Selling Branch Manager", stays closer to the market, and there really isn't enough work for someone to just be a manager over a local branch. There seems to be many holes in this plan to me.
I can buy this idea if the branch is small. Under 20 billable folks. But, there seems to me to be a direct conflict of attention and sometimes commissions.
A branch manager should be the business person looking out for the over all health of the branch, financial, receivable, market and recruiting focus. If you out there trying to put a deal together properly with a client and attending interviews, how are you going to manage the focus of the recruiters on priority requirements and still track down late receivables.
There always comes a time when the hottest skilled candidate comes available and can fit into more then one client's requirements. The branch manager is the judge of where they should be placed. If that manager decides to put them into their own account, what thoughts does the other sales person mind?
To me, the branch manager needs to be flexible and work where the problems are. If they are tied and responsible for accounts, something will be dropped.
I wonder sometimes if corporate folks that have never worked in a branch see this as a way to save some salary money and really don't understand the day to day workings of a branch?
Reader Comments (1)
I am worn out as well as the 2 branch managers that i directly supervise. However our owner doesn't understand all we have to do, so he will not make those changes needed.
We are constantly having planning meetings, have great ideas but not much time to implement and see it through due to being responsbile for increasing sales.
Your article is so accurate in describing how we feel, But still hopeful in Mississippi! Thanks Robin