What does a sales manager do?

What would you advise if you found out your manager (who recently left management for sales)?

• has taken over 80% of the customer base, and been meeting with your warm contacts who should be entering the market soon. prior to this change, the impression given was that this guy was a team player, however these changes have shown his true colours. Problem is; as the ex-manager for 2 yrs, he has a relationship with the sales director, whereas the two other sales guys(including me) have only been at the company 6 months. any advice would be appreciated.

• Answer:

  Sorry to disappoint you, but that's what Sales people do. It's not a place where team players thrive. If he knows these customers and they are prepared to meet with him there aren't a lot you can do. If you have a sales plan that shows a history of contact and plan to develop a sale you might be able to claim an "assist". However your Sales Director is only going to care which of his employees got the customer to sign the contract. If that isn't you I don't see you getting much sympathy. My suggestion is to work out where your strengths are and where your ex-manager's strengths are. Try to get everyone agree to a company sales plan, with assigned customers, where everyone contributes and gets some of the credit. But don't expect your ex-manager to back off. Sales people do whatever it takes to maximise their commission and he's a salesman now.