Most Important Skills For A Director At Fortune 20 Tech Company
Bill, a Director at a Fortune 20 Tech Company, emphasizes the importance of "empathy" and a "competitive nature" in sales, but cautions against an adversarial approach, prioritizing "mutually beneficial solutions and long-term partnerships" over short-term gains. A "good strong hunger" to succeed is also crucial, explaining why many former athletes transition well into sales, carrying their competitive drive into their careers.
Communication, Empathy, Competitive Spirit, Motivation, Long-Term Vision
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Bill Casper
Director
Fortune 20 Tech Company
Kansas State 2005
UCLA Anderson
Political Science, American Studies
Technology
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Empathy is crucial for building strong customer relationships and finding mutually beneficial solutions.
2. A competitive nature is important, but it should be balanced with collaboration and the pursuit of long-term partnerships.
3. A strong work ethic and a persistent drive to succeed are essential qualities for success in sales, as demonstrated by the number of former athletes in sales roles.
Transcript
What sort of skills are most important for a job like yours?
I would say any sales job requires empathy, which is really important. I also talked about my competitive nature, which I think is important as well.
It can't be this "my way or the highway" type of competitiveness, or spiking the ball in the end zone on your opponents. It's not adversarial with your customers or partners. You're trying to find mutually beneficial solutions and long-term partnerships.
Short-term sales really erode trust and damage your long-term ability to drive mutual success. That being said, you've got to be hungry to really enjoy the job. Otherwise, it'll feel too much like work.
I think a good, strong hunger is why you see a lot of former athletes get into sales. It's a continuation of that hunger they felt in athletics, and in many ways, they can apply that to a job.