The Sales Rep’s Guide to Returning from Vacation: Surviving Re-Entry
Ah, vacation—an escape from spreadsheets, cold calls, and endless Zoom meetings. You are lounging at the beach, toes buried in warm sand, savoring delicious food without a care in the world, blissfully unaware of alarm clocks. But of course all good things must come to an end, and now it's time to face the music: returning to the hustle and bustle of sales life. Here's SalesFirst Recruiting’s guide to navigating the rocky waters of re-entry.
1. Manage Expectations (Yours and Theirs)
First things first: don't expect a hero's welcome. Your colleagues didn’t even notice you were gone amidst the chaos of their own deadlines and coffee runs. And that long list of emails you left behind? Sadly, It didn't magically disappear. Brace yourself for the inevitable backlog and prioritize like your sanity depends on it (because it does).
2. Work on the Plane Ride Home (Because You're That Dedicated)
Truthfully, if you want to look really important on the airplane, try catching up on emails at 35,000 feet. It’ll cost you 8 bucks, and while everyone else is binge-watching sitcoms or dozing off, you're pounding away at your laptop, determined to clear that inbox before touchdown. Bonus points if you really get into zone and the flight goes by quickly.
3. Craft Your Vacation Narrative
Before you step foot back in the office, craft a concise vacation narrative or short story. Trust us. This step is often overlooked and can save you tons of mindless chitchat. Highlight the key moments—the breathtaking views, the culinary delights, the work appropiate adventures. This narrative will be your go-to script for the inevitable "How was your vacation?" queries, minimizing follow-up questions while you focus on getting back to life with a quota.
4. Master the Art of Delay
Here's a little trick from the seasoned sales rep playbook: when faced with an email that demands immediate action, respond with a well-crafted question. It's not procrastination; it's strategic thinking! Buy yourself some time to fully assess the situation and craft a thoughtful response (preferably after your second cup of coffee). “John, I'm on an airplane right now, and I really like this plan you came up with. Do you think we should engage in a preliminary exploratory session to align our strategic objectives, or would it be more prudent to convene a cross-functional task force to synergize our efforts before committing to action?”
5. The Art of the Smooth Transition
Ease back into the grind with finesse. Sip on your morning coffee, message with your colleague about their latest project (even if you secretly DGAF), and strategically manage your availability until you're caffeinated enough to genuinely discuss quarterly targets in your meetings. Remember, enthusiasm is 75% exclamation marks, 15% affirmative answers, and 10% caffeine.
6. Embrace the Chaos (with a Dash of Humor)
Expect the unexpected. You know that client who never reads your super-detailed explanations and instead just asks you the same questions over and over again? Guess who's at the top of your call list today? Embrace the chaos—it's the fuel of corporate life.
7. Tap into Vacation Wisdom / Declare Readiness
Remember those sunsets and spicy margs you enjoyed on vacation? Step 1 is to hold onto that vibe. When Colin, your resident data enthusiast, corners you for a "quick chat on CRM usage," take a deep breath and tap into that vacation state of mind. Step 2 is to declare your readiness to for CRM usage. Colin’s day has been made.
8. Celebrate Small Victories
Survived the morning without a meltdown? Treat yourself to a slightly-long lunch break. Cleared your inbox before noon? That calls for a victory celebration. In the world of sales, every small win counts—celebrate them shamelessly.
9. Remember You're Only Human
Cut yourself some slack. Re-Entry. Is. Hard. Don't sweat the small stuff. You're back, you're mostly ready, and you've got this.
10. Not Enough? Call SalesFirst Recruiting
If all else fails, and your significant other says no to going back on vacation, just give your good buddies at SalesFirst Recruiting a call and see if we can find you a role you like more :)
