All the work that you put into creating and positioning the product will be of no use unless the pharmaceutical company can successfully market its products to the end-user. It is so important to choose a top notch sales and marketing team, training them in the overall benefits and value of the products, as well as the fundamental strategies necessary to be able to achieve a desired result in the market. Despite its importance, the effectiveness of the sales force is often given poor attention. Generally, pharmaceutical consultants have the desired levels of training to be able to motivate the company sales force, resulting in considerable financial gain due to elevated efficiency.

Have you ever heard of the saying, coined by a famous football coach – “winning isn't everything, it's the only thing!” Remember to keep this mindset engaged at all times. Although valuable contacts may be made and additional experience a must, if no sales are made then no value is realised, either.

It is essential to correctly motivate a team and one of the first things that a pharmaceutical consulting firm will help initiate is the creation of meaningful measurement tools. Within sales, the measurement of activity levels is only part of the equation. A sales executive is not necessarily highly efficient, even though his or her volume of sales may be high, as ultimate value must be assessed. If a valuable relationship is not established between all principals concerned, then the account may not necessarily be seen as successful, as we need to judge more than the actual dollar amount involved. Of critical importance is the alignment between the company and the buyer's strategy. Sales people should not be incentivised unless there is a clear gain for the company and the client achieves value, thereby cementing the relationship.

Incentivisation requires the creation of meaningful benchmarks and goals. There must always be something for the salesperson to reach and always a further incentive throughout the sales structure. If the sales executive is able to “get” to an end result, then he or she will not be adequately motivated to reach even further and keep working.

Time management is essential and while a sales manager will undoubtedly have administrative elements to take care of, the company should make sure that he or she is able to complete these as efficiently as possible, using provided, high-efficiency tools as needed. Did you know that many sales executives actually spend less than 25% of their time in direct communication with clients?

In summary, a sales team can only be highly effective if they have been trained well and are involved in an ongoing process of training. Such training will include education in the products to be sold, latest sales techniques and delivery processes in addition to management of time and the vital elements of interpersonal communication. To help get this right, engage pharma consulting experts.

Alan Gillies is the CEO of L2L Consulting, a cutting-edge pharma consultancy firm which specialises in optimising productivity and performance within international companies by applying tailored organisational strategies.

Planning is an essential part of a sales and marketing strategy and much attention should be given, but while this may look good on paper it will result in no revenues unless it is put into action. No one ever wins a lottery prize without buying a ticket and in business terms, revenues may not be realised unless action occurs in the marketplace. Within the pharmaceutical industry, there is much more to be gained than the simple consummation of a contract and the exchange of products, as reputations must be protected, end-users and professionals educated and company position satisfied. To set up a client account takes a lot of interaction, before the objective can be satisfied and real value established. This is where team training comes in and a pharmaceutical consulting firm can be engaged to offer comprehensive knowledge and experience to the sales and marketing program.

Senior management must ensure that all members are team players. To ensure that the ultimate marketing results are achieved, the team must be effectively managed and pharmaceutical consultants are fully positioned to do this. Visualisation is an important tool within sales and marketing and results must be quantified, with control and measurement at all levels. Day by day programs are part of an ultimate and achievable goal and when a team works together as one, good results can be anticipated.

After planning is complete, the sales force must put it into action. There is a time and a place for the planning and charting of the program, but no sales are made until executives interact in the real world. No matter the amount of experience, the healthcare industry is particularly complex and all these intricacies must be part of an ongoing education. Without adequate coaching and being unaware of potential loopholes ahead, time can be wasted and worse still, clients can be overlooked or lost in such a competitive marketplace. As they have a considerable amount of experience in the industry, pharma consulting firms appreciate time management and know that full application and dedication is required before key results may be achieved.

Never assume, as this inevitably leads to confusion and poor productivity. Effective implementation requires a level of awareness that comes as part of a true playing team. Celebrate the contribution of each team member and make sure that it is completely visible to all concerned. Once again, the overall goal is to engage and not to procrastinate. Three critical components make up an effective salesperson – creativity, assertiveness and flair.

Out in the market, a salesperson must be completely educated in all the benefits, solutions, finer details and product availability, while also being able to think quickly, reschedule and meet goals. Certain key skills must be in evidence before success may be achieved, but this can certainly be enhanced by full training, great management and team cohesiveness. Generally, pharmaceutical consulting organisations are by far best positioned to take on these critical challenges.

Alan Gillies is the Managing Director of L2L Consulting, specialising in enabling pharmaceutical companies to achieve new heights of productivity and performance, throughout all levels of management and revenue generating activities.