Today is June 21st, the first official day of summer!

If you are like most sales leaders, you are trying to figure out how to keep the sales team energized and excited when it's 87 degrees and sunny outside. 

By the way, if you are selling snow cones on the beach or fried clams by the sea shore, this list may not apply.

Here's a list of my top 7 ideas:

1. We all know the sales team is coin operated to some extent.  You might consider putting in place "summer incentive accelerators" that apply only for the summer months.
2. Summer can be a great time for outings with customers.  Think about the possibility of running an outdoor activity with customers.  It can create excitement on the sales team as well as being good for business.  Golf, tennis, baseball games, scavenger hunts, local theme park, beach outings, etc. are all low cost, high-impact activities.
3. Nothing gets sales teams excited like special customer promotions.  Consider testing several product or service promotions during the summer months.  This is also a great time to test promotions for a roll-out in the fall.
4. Summer is a great time for strategic planning.  You might want to conduct a two day offsite for your sales team at a local vacation hot spot.  It's a great time to mix business with pleasure and is a sure fire way to get the sales team excited.  A 50/50 mix of business vs. pleasure is the right mix.  It's a great way to bond with the team as well.
5. In many cases, employees value time off more than money ... particularly in the summer. Consider a sales contest where the top performers get an extra day or more off if they hit the sales goal.  It's low-cost ... and can have major impact.
6. Have a weekly office barbeque behind your office and invite your local customers.   I've done this several times.  It's fun and a great bonding exercise with the sales team and customers.  Just don't burn the hot dogs!
7. Create a fun competition among your sales staff.  If your group is large enough, create teams (red team, blue team, green team, etc.); if your staff is smaller, each "team" can be an individual.  Build momentum over the course of the summer with weekly prizes.  Each month, have a group lunch to present awards.  At the end of the summer, have a larger outing to crown a winner.

Oh yes, I almost forgot.  Here's number eight.  Show up late in the afternoon one day with a box of Dove ice cream bars.  Those calories are sure to get them excited!

Have a great summer!

Source & written by : http://www.eyesonsales.com/bio/rick_faulk/