Your Sales Kickoff (SKO) is more than just an event it’s a tone-setter, a crucial springboard that inspires, educates, aligns, and energizes your sales teams. But is it truly helping you achieve your business goals, or is it falling short of its potential?

Are Your SKOs Worth It?

Here’s a hard fact: Companies spend on average $2,000 per person at an SKO. This investment is meant to build culture, foster camaraderie, and communicate the company goals. But are these moments of inspiration and renewal translating into long-term impact, or do they fizzle out before the second quarter even begins?

The issue with SKO’s can be that the Power of the Moment is not leveraged into action throughout the year. (A great book to consider: The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact )

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson

4 Strategies to Maximize the Impact of Your 2024 SKO

If you’ve been grappling with these questions, here are four strategies to make your 2024 sales kickoff a game-changer.

1. Survey: Leverage the power of social science. Ask for advice before the event. You’ll find people are more willing to give advice vs. feedback. It’s actionable, and people love to be a part of something.
2. Team Sport: Organize roundtable discussions, peer-to-peer coaching sessions, and knowledge-sharing platforms. Create opportunities for your sales team to learn from one another.
3. Outside In: Bring in a relevant keynote speaker or sales trainer. Ensure these industry experts align with your SKO and corporate goals. The key is actionable takeaways that can be integrated into your yearly action plan.
4. Action: Design an action plan from SKO that management and the team will implement throughout the year.

Remember, a successful SKO isn’t a one-time event, but an ongoing process of learning, improvement, and alignment. By incorporating these strategies, you can make your 2024 sales kickoff not only more effective, but ultimately, more valuable for your sales organization.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for further discussions, training, or keynote sessions for your team.