26 Disadvantages of Being a Field Sales Manager (Sleepless Over Sales)
Considering a career as a field sales manager?
It’s easy to get caught up in the appeal:
- Freedom of working outside the office.
- Potential for high earnings.
- The satisfaction of closing a big deal.
But there’s another side to the story.
Today, we’re going to delve into that side. Deep into the difficult, the uncomfortable, and the outright challenging parts of being a field sales manager.
Steep learning curve? Absolutely.
Initial financial investment? Indeed.
Stress from managing diverse team needs? Most certainly.
And let’s not overlook the volatility of the sales industry.
So, if you’re contemplating a career switch into field sales management, or simply curious about what’s beyond those sales targets and team meetings…
Stay tuned.
You’re about to get an in-depth look at the disadvantages of being a field sales manager.
High Travel Requirements Leading to Time Away From Home
Field Sales Managers often have high travel requirements associated with their job.
They are required to meet with clients and potential customers in various locations, which could be in different cities or even different countries.
This means they may spend a significant amount of time away from home.
The constant travel can lead to a disrupted routine, limited personal time, and potentially strain on personal relationships.
It can also result in a struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
However, this aspect of the role can also provide opportunities to meet new people, visit new places, and broaden one’s perspective.
Irregular Work Hours Including Evenings and Weekends
Just like real estate agents, field sales managers often work beyond the usual 40-hour workweek.
Their schedules are mainly determined by their clients’ availability, which means they often have to work during evenings and weekends.
They may need to attend sales meetings, client appointments, or networking events that can extend into late hours.
Moreover, they may sometimes have to travel for work, which can disrupt their personal life.
This irregular schedule means that they might not be able to spend as much time with their family and friends as they would like.
This can also lead to a lack of work-life balance, which can be difficult for individuals with family responsibilities or personal commitments.
Stress From Meeting Sales Targets and Quotas
Field Sales Managers often deal with high levels of stress due to the constant pressure of meeting sales targets and quotas.
They are responsible for their team’s performance, and the success of the business often relies heavily on their ability to generate sales.
If the sales team underperforms, it is the Field Sales Manager who usually bears the brunt of the blame.
This pressure can lead to long hours, work overload, and a high-stress environment.
It requires excellent stress management skills, resilience, and the ability to motivate a team even when faced with setbacks.
This constant pressure can also lead to burnout if not properly managed.
Pressure to Continuously Generate New Leads and Prospects
Field Sales Managers are under constant pressure to generate new leads and prospects to achieve their sales targets.
This can be a challenging and stressful aspect of the job, especially in competitive markets or industries where potential clients are not easily identified or reached.
They need to constantly network, perform cold calls, and explore various strategies to find potential clients.
This requires a high degree of innovation, persistence, and resilience as not all leads convert into sales.
Moreover, the pressure to continuously find new leads can lead to long, irregular hours and work during weekends or holidays.
Despite these challenges, successful lead generation can be rewarding and result in significant business growth.
Dependency on Economic Conditions Affecting Sales Performance
Field Sales Managers often find their sales performance heavily dependent on the prevailing economic conditions.
This means that their success is not entirely within their control.
In times of economic downturns or recessions, consumers tend to cut back on spending, leading to a decrease in sales.
This could not only affect the Field Sales Manager’s performance metrics but also their income if it is commission-based.
Even when implementing the most effective sales strategies, they may still face challenges in meeting sales targets during these tough economic times.
While they can try to mitigate these effects by diversifying their product or service offerings or seeking out new markets, the impact of economic conditions on sales performance is an inherent disadvantage of the role.
Dealing With Rejection and Maintaining Persistence
Field sales managers often face a high level of rejection on a daily basis.
They are usually the first point of contact with potential customers and bear the brunt of dismissals, disinterest, and direct rejections.
The constant rejection can be psychologically draining and requires a high level of resilience and positive outlook.
In addition, they must maintain their persistence and continue to pursue potential leads, even after several rejections.
This constant need for optimism and perseverance can be demanding and emotionally taxing.
Furthermore, dealing with rejection could potentially lead to self-doubt and decreased job satisfaction.
However, successful field sales managers can use these experiences to build resilience, improve their strategies, and better understand their customers.
Balancing Team Management With Individual Sales Responsibilities
Field Sales Managers often have to juggle between managing their sales team and fulfilling their individual sales targets.
This role requires them to oversee the work of their team members, provide guidance and training, and ensure that the team meets its collective sales targets.
Simultaneously, they are also expected to engage with clients, drive sales, and meet personal sales targets.
The responsibility of balancing these dual roles can be quite challenging and stressful.
It requires excellent time management skills, the ability to multitask, and the capacity to handle pressure.
This could potentially lead to long working hours, impacting their work-life balance.
Fluctuating Income Based on Commission and Bonuses
Field Sales Managers often face an income that is not steady or guaranteed, as a considerable part of their earnings is typically based on sales commission and performance bonuses.
This means that during periods of low sales, their income might significantly decrease.
They are constantly under pressure to meet sales targets to maintain their income level.
Also, this could lead to financial instability especially when the market is slow or during economic downturns.
In addition, the dependence on commission and bonuses can make budgeting and financial planning more challenging.
On the other hand, during periods of high sales, they have the potential to earn more than their base salary.
As a Field Sales Manager, you will inevitably encounter customer complaints and conflicts.
These could range from dissatisfaction with a product or service, to issues with pricing, delivery, or customer service.
Dealing with these situations can be stressful and time-consuming, especially if you’re trying to manage a large client portfolio.
It also requires excellent people skills, as you will often be the ‘face’ of the company to the customer, and therefore responsible for resolving the issue in a way that maintains the customer relationship while also upholding the company’s policies and standards.
This can often result in a delicate balancing act that can be challenging and draining.
Furthermore, repeated exposure to negative feedback can also take a toll on your morale and job satisfaction.
Adapting to Varied Customer Personalities and Needs
Field Sales Managers often face the challenge of adapting to a variety of customer personalities and needs.
They interact with a diverse range of clients, each with their unique expectations, purchasing habits, and communication styles.
This requires the sales manager to quickly read and adapt their approach to suit different individuals.
The challenge is to not only understand the customer’s needs but also to communicate with them in a way that they appreciate and respond to.
This can be exhausting and stressful, especially when dealing with difficult clients.
Moreover, the pressure to meet sales targets can add to the stress, making this a significant disadvantage of the role.
Difficulty in Maintaining Work-Life Balance
Field Sales Managers often face challenges in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
As their role involves managing a team of sales representatives, they are required to be on call almost all the time, including evenings and weekends.
This can be particularly demanding during peak sales periods or when there are sales targets to meet.
The need to travel frequently for client meetings, sales presentations, or team training sessions also contributes to long and unpredictable working hours.
This kind of schedule can make it difficult for Field Sales Managers to plan and spend quality time with their family and friends, leading to potential stress and burnout.
Moreover, the constant pressure to achieve sales targets and ensure team performance can often spill over into personal life, adding to the difficulty of achieving a balanced lifestyle.
Keeping Up With Constant Changes in Products and Services
Field Sales Managers face the challenge of keeping up with the constant changes in products and services.
This often requires ongoing training and development to stay updated on the latest features or offerings.
In addition, they must communicate these changes effectively to their sales team and ensure they also understand and can sell these updated products or services.
These constant changes can result in a high pressure environment, where staying current and knowledgeable is critical to meeting sales targets.
This could also mean frequent travel for training or meetings, leading to a potential imbalance between work and personal life.
Risk of Physical Safety While Traveling to Different Locations
Field Sales Managers are often required to travel to various locations, sometimes in remote or dangerous areas, to meet with clients or sales teams.
This frequent traveling can expose them to potential risks to their physical safety.
They may encounter hazardous road conditions, inclement weather, or unsafe neighborhoods.
In some cases, they may even face risks associated with potential accidents or crime.
The unpredictable nature of their work locations and schedules can also make it difficult to maintain a stable routine, which could indirectly affect their physical health and wellbeing.
Despite these challenges, the role can offer unique opportunities to meet new people and explore different places.
Need for Constant Upskilling to Stay Competitive
In the highly competitive field of sales, a Field Sales Manager needs to constantly upskill to stay relevant.
The sales industry is dynamic and evolves rapidly with the changing market trends, customer preferences, and introduction of new products or services.
Therefore, one needs to stay updated on the latest selling techniques, digital tools, and market dynamics to effectively manage a sales team and meet sales targets.
Upskilling can involve attending workshops, pursuing further education or certification, or self-learning through online courses and books.
This constant need for learning and improvement can be stressful and time-consuming, often requiring personal time and financial investment.
However, this continuous learning process can also result in personal growth and better career opportunities.
Management of Sales Territory and Regional Differences
Field Sales Managers are often responsible for managing a particular sales territory which may span across different regions, states, or even countries.
This means they must be aware of and adapt to the different market conditions, customer preferences, and business practices in each region.
This can be particularly challenging when dealing with international territories where language barriers, cultural differences, and different legal systems can complicate sales efforts.
Moreover, the vastness of the territory may also require extensive travel, which can be physically exhausting and time-consuming.
Balancing the needs of different regions and ensuring consistent sales performance throughout the territory can put a significant amount of pressure on Field Sales Managers.
Competition With Other Field Sales Managers and Firms
Field Sales Managers often face high levels of competition from other managers and firms in the same industry.
The job market for this role is highly competitive and saturated, meaning you must constantly strive to outperform others to maintain your position and achieve your sales targets.
This competitive environment can lead to increased stress and pressure, impacting work-life balance.
Moreover, managers may have to devise innovative strategies and plans to stay ahead of the competition, which could involve extensive research and long working hours.
This can be especially challenging in industries where product differentiation is low and customers have a wide array of similar options to choose from.
Working in such a competitive environment can require resilience, creativity, and an ability to handle stress effectively.
Ensuring Compliance With Industry Regulations and Standards
Field Sales Managers often face challenges in ensuring that their team is always in compliance with industry regulations and standards.
These standards can be vast and sometimes complex, especially in regulated industries like pharmaceuticals or financial services.
Moreover, the standards can change frequently, which requires the sales manager to stay updated and ensure that their team is also aware of the changes.
This can be a time-consuming process, taking time away from other important tasks like strategy planning and sales training.
Furthermore, non-compliance can lead to penalties, damage to the company’s reputation, and loss of business, adding to the pressure faced by the sales manager.
Financial Outlay for Travel, Accommodation, and Other Expenses
Field Sales Managers often face substantial financial outlays related to frequent business travel, accommodation, and other incidental expenses.
Since their job role involves meeting clients or potential customers, often in different cities or even countries, they have to spend a significant amount of their income on travel costs.
These expenses can include flights, car rentals, fuel, lodging, and meals.
While some companies may provide a travel allowance or reimburse these costs, it is not always the case, and the Field Sales Manager may have to bear these expenses upfront.
Additionally, the constant traveling can also lead to wear and tear on personal vehicles and other equipment used during work.
These hidden costs can add up over time, significantly impacting the overall earnings of a Field Sales Manager.
Technological Adaptation for Sales Tracking and Reporting
In today’s digital age, field sales managers are required to adapt to various technological tools for sales tracking and reporting.
These tools not only assist in tracking the performance of their sales team but also help in analyzing sales trends and forecasting future sales.
However, these tools are continually evolving and require a learning curve to understand and utilize them effectively.
This constant need for adaptation can be challenging for those who are not tech-savvy.
Moreover, there may be resistance from the sales team to adopt these tools, and it is the responsibility of the field sales manager to encourage and train them, which can add to their workload.
Additionally, reliance on these digital tools can lead to issues if there are technical glitches or data inaccuracies.
The field sales manager may also have to spend additional time rectifying these issues, which could otherwise be spent on strategic planning and team development.
Weather and Climate Considerations Affecting Travel and Meetings
Field Sales Managers often have to deal with unpredictable and harsh weather conditions that can affect their ability to travel and conduct meetings.
They are expected to meet with clients and potential customers irrespective of the weather, which can sometimes mean braving heavy rains, blizzards, or extreme heat.
This not only can make travel difficult and uncomfortable but can also result in rescheduled meetings or cancelled plans, disrupting their schedules and potential sales opportunities.
Furthermore, continuous exposure to harsh weather conditions can also lead to health issues over time.
Despite these challenges, successful Field Sales Managers learn to adapt and work around these obstacles.
Challenges in Building and Maintaining a Cohesive Sales Team
As a Field Sales Manager, one of the primary responsibilities is to build and maintain a high-performing sales team.
This can be a significant challenge, especially in a field where turnover rates can be high.
The process of recruiting, training, and retaining talented salespeople can be time-consuming and costly.
Salespeople often have their own approaches and habits that can be difficult to change, and getting everyone on the team to work together effectively requires strong leadership and people skills.
Additionally, it can be challenging to maintain morale and motivation within the team, especially during periods of low sales or high competition.
Dealing with these challenges while also striving to meet sales targets can be a significant source of stress.
Reliance on Personal Vehicle and Related Maintenance Costs
Field Sales Managers often have to rely heavily on their personal vehicles to get from one client to another.
This can result in a significant amount of wear and tear on their vehicles over time, leading to increased maintenance and repair costs.
In addition, they also have to bear the costs of gas, insurance, and potential parking fees.
These expenses can add up quickly and become a significant part of their overhead costs.
Furthermore, the constant driving can also lead to a faster depreciation of their vehicle’s value.
Despite these challenges, using a personal vehicle often provides the flexibility and convenience needed in a field sales role.
Potential Health Impacts from Constant Travel and Irregular Meals
Field Sales Managers often spend a significant amount of time on the road, traveling from client to client.
This constant travel may have a negative impact on health due to irregular meal times, lack of access to nutritious food, and inconsistent sleep schedules.
It’s not uncommon for them to eat on the go, which usually means relying on fast food or other less healthy options.
This lack of routine and constant movement can also lead to stress and fatigue, potentially lowering their immune system and making them more susceptible to illness.
Despite the excitement and variety that comes with travel, the physical and mental demands of being constantly on the move can be a significant disadvantage of this role.
Stress Management and Mitigating Burnout Risks
Field Sales Managers often deal with high levels of stress due to the nature of their work.
They are responsible for managing sales teams, meeting sales targets, and ensuring the smooth running of sales operations.
They often work long hours, frequently travel, and have to manage a multitude of tasks simultaneously.
This often leads to a high-pressure environment, which if not managed properly, can lead to burnout.
Sales targets and performance pressure can also lead to stress, especially if the targets are unrealistic or if the market conditions are challenging.
Moreover, they need to constantly motivate their team members, which can be challenging if the team is underperforming.
Therefore, stress management and mitigating burnout risks are significant challenges faced by Field Sales Managers.
Protecting Company Confidential Information in the Field
Field Sales Managers often deal with sensitive company information while in the field.
This could range from pricing strategies, customer databases, product details to future expansion plans.
This information is typically confidential and needs to be safeguarded to maintain the company’s competitive edge and reputation.
However, protecting this information can be challenging while out in the field where the risk of unauthorized access or accidental disclosure is heightened.
For instance, sensitive documents might be left in a public place or confidential discussions might be overheard.
This constant vigilance can be stressful and requires the manager to be always cautious and alert.
Further, any breach of this confidentiality could lead to serious consequences both for the individual and the company.
Addressing Ethical Dilemmas in Sales Practices and Negotiations
Field Sales Managers often encounter ethical dilemmas in their daily activities, particularly during sales practices and negotiations.
They may have to deal with issues such as false advertising, manipulation of sales data, price discrimination, and unfair negotiation tactics.
It can be challenging to balance the company’s desire for profit with the need to maintain ethical business practices.
This can lead to stress and conflict within the role, especially when under pressure to meet sales targets.
Moreover, dealing with such dilemmas can potentially harm the manager’s professional reputation if not handled carefully and ethically.
There is also the added responsibility of ensuring their sales team also adheres to ethical selling practices, adding another layer of complexity to their role.
Conclusion
There you have it.
An unfiltered examination of the drawbacks of being a field sales manager.
It’s not all about persuasive pitches and high-stakes negotiations.
It requires grit. It calls for commitment. It’s about steering through a labyrinth of logistical and interpersonal hurdles.
Yet, it’s also about the fulfillment of clinching a sale.
The delight of achieving your targets.
The excitement of knowing you played a pivotal role in a company’s success.
Indeed, the path is challenging. But the rewards? They can be remarkable.
If you’re nodding along, considering, “Yes, this is the test I’ve been yearning for,” we have something more for you.
Dive into our comprehensive guide on the reasons to be a field sales manager.
If you’re prepared to accept both the peaks and valleys…
To learn, to evolve, and to prosper in this dynamic industry…
Then perhaps, just perhaps, a career in field sales is for you.
So, make the leap.
Investigate, interact, and outshine.
The world of field sales is ready for you.
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