How have you handled conflict among your sales team members in the past, and what strategies did you use for resolution?
In my role as an Associate Sales Manager at XYZ Corporation, I faced a situation where two sales associates had a significant disagreement regarding territory allocation. This conflict not only disrupted the team atmosphere but also started affecting their performance.
To resolve the issue, I decided to hold individual meetings with them to understand their perspectives. After understanding their viewpoints, I scheduled a joint discussion where they could openly express their concerns and aspirations. I also employed a few conflict resolution methods including clear communication, active listening, and empathy.
Eventually, a solution was reached by reevaluating our territory boundaries and considering performance metrics as well – this approach was fair and accepted by both parties. Since then, both team members have worked harmoniously and achieved their sales targets consistently. This incident reiterated the importance of emotional intelligence and good communication in resolving conflicts and reinforced my skills in managing a productive sales team.