119 E very sales manager has been there. You spend time and effort selecting just the right candidate. You get your “perfect” AE hired and trained, and they’re doing well. But then you get their two-week notice. Your heart sinks. You have invested time, energy, and most importantly money into this person, only to have them take their talent to another company. What happened?! We have all heard the phrase, an employee joins a company but leaves a manager. So how can you keep your top talent? How can you become a manager whose people stay? 1. Invest time in your team. First things first, you have to be a manager who invests time into the team. That sounds simple, but with all of the demands on your time, it can get complicated. So good time management is key. Having a schedule, and prioritizing time with your team is very im- portant. 2. Focus on your top talent. Put your top people at the front of the list and spend more time with them! But wait, don’t the poor performers need more time?! A great manager knows to invest more time in her top people because they will give her the best return on her time investment. Nev- er ignore anyone on your team, but focus in on your top talent, and let them know that you’re committed to them! CENTER FOR SALES STRATEGY BLOG Top 10 Ways to Decrease Turnover on Your Sales Team by Tirzah Thornburg