You Have to Be Badass to Do This Job!

It's a fact, you need to be "badass" to do the job of a Sales Administration / Customer Service Manager, and not everyone is cut out for it!

We could talk for hours about all the skills needed to excel and stay calm when working in customer service.

Not only do you have to accept being between a rock and a hard place, but you also need the strength to stay cool under pressure, whether the conflicts are with customers or internal departments.

Moreover, today it's essential to distinguish between the technical skills needed for efficiency and expertise in a role, and the soft skills required to thrive and excel in a customer service or sales administration environment.

I’m sharing with you the 5 technical skills and 5 soft skills essential to shine in sales administration on a daily basis:

Technical Skills

1- Mastery of management tools such as ERP and CRM

Proficiency in management tools like ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems is essential for working efficiently in sales administration.

These software systems help centralize and automate many administrative tasks, track orders in real-time, manage inventory, monitor invoicing, and analyze sales data.

2- Proficiency in foreign languages to interact with international partners and clients

In a globalized business context, fluency in foreign languages is a major asset for a sales administration professional.

This skill enables effective communication with international clients and partners, understanding and responding to their specific needs, and building strong business relationships.

3- Organization and time management

In sales administration, the tasks are numerous and varied, ranging from order management to invoicing, delivery tracking, and after-sales service.

Good organization is crucial to manage these multiple responsibilities effectively without getting overwhelmed.

4- Ability to analyze and report

Preparation of reports on sales, order activity, processing times, return rates, etc. Using this data to identify trends, propose process improvements, and support strategic decision-making.

5- Attention to detail for managing customer data

In a customer service or sales administration department, it is necessary to keep customer information up to date (contact details, commercial terms, order history), manage price changes, and ensure that pricing conditions are correctly applied in management systems.

Soft Skills

1- Customer service mindset

This skill reflects a professional's attitude and approach to customers, emphasizing satisfaction, loyalty, and building positive and lasting relationships.

2- Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

In sales administration or customer service, this skill is crucial for building trust with customers and understanding their needs and concerns.

3- Problem-solving ability

The ability to solve problems is essential for a sales administration professional. Indeed, this role often involves dealing with challenges such as order errors, delivery issues, or billing disputes.

4- Stress management

Working in sales administration or customer service can be stressful, especially when dealing with customer complaints, tight deadlines, or high volumes of requests.

5- Adaptability

In a constantly evolving sales administration environment, the ability to quickly adapt to changes is crucial. This includes adapting to new procedures, changes in customer demand, or system updates.

You may find yourself in one of these situations:

• You need customer service support, but you are still a small business, and cash flow is tight for hiring.
• You just went through a bad hire, and now you are in a tough spot.
• You are urgently searching for a bilingual candidate with rare language skills, such as German, and can't find the right fit.
• A team member left suddenly, and you want to ensure a smooth transition to maintain continuity in customer service while waiting to hire.
• You feel your processes are outdated and time-consuming, and you would like help optimizing them.
• You’ve considered outsourcing and would like to discuss it.

Then, book an appointment with me for a free pre-diagnostic!

Yes!