6 answers
Sandin
Student
Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
1
Question
Updated
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I'm starting off on a Business Development role. What should I expect and how should I tackle them?
I'm an entry level graduate who landed a job as a Assistant Manager - Business Development. I need to have a clear picture of how I should do my role before taking serious decisions.
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6 answers
Sara Engel
Human Resources
8
Answers
Redmond, Washington
Updated
Sara’s Answer
Having a background in business development opens up many exciting career paths based on your interests. It gives you important skills that are useful in almost any job. Building partnerships and relationships is essential, and communication and soft skills are valuable in every field. Each job you have adds new tools to your toolkit, helping you move closer to your ultimate career goals.
Angel Duclos
Operations Manager
2
Answers
Fall River, Massachusetts
Updated
Angel’s Answer
In a Business Development role, get ready to spot new opportunities, connect with clients, and help grow the business. Your tasks will include research, reaching out to people, working with others, and handling setbacks, especially at the start. To succeed, aim to understand the business and market well, keep up with reaching out and following up, and learn from every experience to get better. Begin your new role with a mindset open to learning, create a straightforward daily routine, and prioritize building relationships before promoting products.
Mike McQueen
Enterprise Account Executive
5
Answers
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Updated
Mike’s Answer
Whatever product you are selling make sure you know the problem it solves, have some stories about existing customers your company has solved this problem for and ensure you are targeting the right type of prospects that have the right profile and the right problems.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Joe Rogers
Consulting Sales
2
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Joe’s Answer
Hi Sandin - Congrats on the new job! There are two things in play here. First off, as a manager or assistant manager, your success is in part going to be dictated by the success of those working for you so part of your job is going to be help the peopl on your team be successful in their jobs. You can either be a manager who is going to work with people and help them grow and learn and develop the skills that are going to make them successful or you can be more of a supervisor and hold them to metrics and process and keep it at that. It depends on you and the organization you're in. You may develop a style that is a bit of both. Whatever it is, just remember that you need your team to be successful before you can be.
Now on to the business development side of the house - Two things here - understand the problem that whatever you're selling is solving for. Understand the emotional impact it has on the buyer. A car solves the problem of mobility for the buyer. But what it really gives them is freedom. It also gives them identity and some pride. Understand those things. Understand the value and the impact of what you're selling, not just the features.
Now on to the business development side of the house - Two things here - understand the problem that whatever you're selling is solving for. Understand the emotional impact it has on the buyer. A car solves the problem of mobility for the buyer. But what it really gives them is freedom. It also gives them identity and some pride. Understand those things. Understand the value and the impact of what you're selling, not just the features.
Karen Mitchell
Project Management
8
Answers
Rotherham, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Karen’s Answer
Business Development is a fantastic place to start your career because it touches every part of the business. Here is a friendly guide on what to expect and how to tackle your new role with confidence:What to Expect
A Steep Learning Curve: You’ll need to learn your company’s product or service inside and out. Don’t worry if you don’t know everything on day one; focus on being a sponge.
The "No" is Part of the Process: Business Development involves outreach, and you will hear "no" or get silence more often than you get a "yes." This isn't a reflection of you; it's just the nature of the work.
Dynamic Days: One day you might be researching prospects, and the next you might be sitting in a strategy meeting. It’s fast-paced, which keeps things interesting.
How to Tackle Your Role
Prioritise Deep Listening: The best business developers are great listeners. When you speak with potential clients, focus 80% of your energy on understanding their pain points and 20% on explaining your solution.
Stay Organised: You’ll likely be juggling many conversations. Use your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool like it’s your best friend. Keep detailed notes—you’ll be surprised how helpful those notes are six months from now.
Focus on Relationships, Not Just Transactions: Long-term success in BD comes from building trust. Aim to be a helpful resource for your prospects, even if they aren't ready to buy yet. You’re building a professional network that will last your entire career.
Ask "Why" and "How": Don’t be afraid to ask your manager or more experienced colleagues, "Why does this client value us?" or "How do you frame our value proposition in this situation?" They will appreciate your eagerness to learn.
Own Your Growth: Keep track of your own metrics. Even if your boss isn't asking for a report every day, tracking your own activity (calls, emails, meetings) will help you see what’s working and what isn't, which is incredibly empowering.
You have the drive to land the job, so you definitely have the potential to excel in it. Be patient with yourself as you navigate these first few months. You’ve got this!
A Steep Learning Curve: You’ll need to learn your company’s product or service inside and out. Don’t worry if you don’t know everything on day one; focus on being a sponge.
The "No" is Part of the Process: Business Development involves outreach, and you will hear "no" or get silence more often than you get a "yes." This isn't a reflection of you; it's just the nature of the work.
Dynamic Days: One day you might be researching prospects, and the next you might be sitting in a strategy meeting. It’s fast-paced, which keeps things interesting.
How to Tackle Your Role
Prioritise Deep Listening: The best business developers are great listeners. When you speak with potential clients, focus 80% of your energy on understanding their pain points and 20% on explaining your solution.
Stay Organised: You’ll likely be juggling many conversations. Use your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool like it’s your best friend. Keep detailed notes—you’ll be surprised how helpful those notes are six months from now.
Focus on Relationships, Not Just Transactions: Long-term success in BD comes from building trust. Aim to be a helpful resource for your prospects, even if they aren't ready to buy yet. You’re building a professional network that will last your entire career.
Ask "Why" and "How": Don’t be afraid to ask your manager or more experienced colleagues, "Why does this client value us?" or "How do you frame our value proposition in this situation?" They will appreciate your eagerness to learn.
Own Your Growth: Keep track of your own metrics. Even if your boss isn't asking for a report every day, tracking your own activity (calls, emails, meetings) will help you see what’s working and what isn't, which is incredibly empowering.
You have the drive to land the job, so you definitely have the potential to excel in it. Be patient with yourself as you navigate these first few months. You’ve got this!
Manuel Peralta
Management Consulting
2
Answers
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Updated
Manuel’s Answer
Business Development is a big part of my day-to-day, and one of the first things I'd say is to be patient. Sales and relationship-building rarely happen overnight, so don't get discouraged if results take time.
Focus on understanding the underlying drivers, challenges, and objectives of the clients and the products or services you're representing. The better you understand the problem you're solving, the easier it becomes to communicate value.
Learn how to develop effective sales hooks and clearly articulate your value proposition. Prospects are usually less interested in features and more interested in outcomes, so be able to explain how your solution addresses their needs or creates business value.
Focus on understanding the underlying drivers, challenges, and objectives of the clients and the products or services you're representing. The better you understand the problem you're solving, the easier it becomes to communicate value.
Learn how to develop effective sales hooks and clearly articulate your value proposition. Prospects are usually less interested in features and more interested in outcomes, so be able to explain how your solution addresses their needs or creates business value.