Selling SALE
Finding prospective customers and working with them to identify needs, influence purchase decisions and enhance future business opportunities.
Updates for SFIA 9
- There is an updated version of this skill for SFIA 9.
- Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Making SFIA easier to consume (enhance readability/guidance/descriptions).
- Content and/or readability changes have been made to levels 3, 4, 5, and 6.
- Some changes to allow for the new skill - Bid/proposal management
- You can move to SFIA 9 when you are ready - SFIA 8 skill descriptions will still be available to use.
- Previous SFIA assessments or skills mapping are not impacted by this change.
Guidance notes
Activities may include — but are not limited to:
- identifying and qualifying sales prospects
- prospecting and outreach to potential customers using appropriate channels
- developing customer interest, building rapport and trust
- asking questions about goals and challenges and finding a solution
- preparing, executing and monitoring the sale of products or services into an external or internal market
- bid management, value analysis, negotiation, sales presentations, closing the sale, preparation of contracts.
Levels of responsibility for this skill
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Selling: Levels 1-2
This skill is not typically observed or practiced at these levels of responsibility and accountability.
Selling: Level 3
Identifies new leads and prospects and communicates them to the sales manager.
Responds to assigned sales leads.
Applies agreed standards and tools to perform simple sales tasks or support complex sales processes.
Monitors and reports on assigned sales quota, performance, customer satisfaction, market intelligence and competitors.
Selling: Level 4
Identifies and qualifies new sales leads and prospects with a view to developing a pipeline of potential opportunities.
Manages existing sales leads.
Collects and uses information in order to achieve sales objectives.
Understands customers and their needs, and develops and enhances customer relationships before, during and after the conclusion of agreements/contracts.
Selling: Level 5
Designs and implements sales strategies and works with senior management to implement sales plans.
Develops and maintains effective customer relationships at executive levels and qualifies new sales leads.
Leads the bid process within the organisation. Agrees and signs contracts. Maintains customer contact during and after the selling process to pre-empt any issues and identify further opportunities.
Plans, monitors and controls the work of sales teams. Contributes to the development and training of sales teams and product/service development.
Selling: Level 6
Oversees the organisation's sales activities to ensure they are aligned with business objectives.
Approves sales proposals and targets. Develops and implements organisational sales policy and strategy, and contributes significantly to the development of marketing strategy.
Negotiates with customer representatives at the most senior level on both technical and contractual issues. Agrees and signs contracts.
Collaborates on the evolution of services, products systems, and standard contracts to support alignment with future customer needs.
Selling: Level 7
This skill is not typically observed or practiced at this level of responsibility and accountability.