8 Must Have Skill for an Account Manager/Executive
A vendor's principal point of contact with a client is an Account Manager. They manage the day-to-day interaction between the two parties to maximize client satisfaction. An Account Manager's job also entails assisting in identifying potential clients and acquiring a new business for their organization. Advertising agencies, public relations businesses, financial services corporations, and technology firms are the most common employers of Account Managers.
Although there is no one-size-fits-all road to becoming an Account Manager, a bachelor's degree or higher in business administration, marketing, communications, or public relations is advantageous.
One of the most popular paths to a Senior Account Manager position is to gather expertise and network in a lower-level position, such as sales representative or account coordinator. You can then advance to an Account Manager position. You'll most likely begin as a junior Account Manager reporting to a Senior Account Manager. If you perform well in your job, you'll be in an excellent position to advance up the Account Manager ranks.
1. Listening
By far the most frequently mentioned ability.
"Most Account Managers don't listen long enough to obtain a thorough understanding of the situation before spewing their answers," says Greg Lowe. They hit it on occasion, but the majority of the time, they miss."
2. Negotiation
An Account Manager's role is to negotiate new client contracts and renew existing client contracts. A master negotiator, Account Manager will maximize their company's earnings while also ensuring their customer is satisfied with their arrangement.
3. Maintain relationships with clients
An account manager must read people and engage with them on a meaningful level. They must realize that relationships are the foundation of all advancement. They must tell when to take the lead in relationship growth and when to let others do so. Their goal is to create a complex network of many-to-many links between the client's employees and their own. The deeper the collaboration and the higher the cost of switching to a competitor, the more complex the web.
4. Interpersonal skills
A big part of an Account Manager's job is communicating with clients verbally and in writing. They must have strong communication skills to maintain and expand their client relationships.
5. Time management
"It's the number one talent I've discovered important for doing my job day today," adds Joe Scannura. I have so many requests, orders, communications, and upcoming projects that I'm afraid I'll fall behind on all of them if I don't manage them all effectively and logically."
"I don't believe I have the time to handle everything to the same standard and quality," Tim Tian says, "so it's critical to distinguish between primary and secondary."
If you think your time management skills could use a boost but haven't taken action yet, try reading as much as you can about time management for account managers. You might be surprised to learn that you can save a significant amount of time by simply changing a few small things you do daily.
6. Project management skills
An Account Manager may be responsible for one significant account, but you'll most likely be responsible for multiple client accounts simultaneously. Project management abilities are necessary so that you can organize, track, and implement tasks across all of your accounts promptly.
7. Analytical skills
To design a sales plan and set appropriate targets for their sales team, senior-level account executives must properly understand industry trends and statistics.
8. Business acumen
To bring in new accounts and sell new services to existing clients, Account Managers must have extraordinary sales abilities. However, many salesmen are overly focused on making deals and are unaware of more enormous business challenges. When it comes to Key Account Management, this attitude is catastrophic. A Key Account Manager must be able to see the client's more considerable business challenges and assist them in managing their firm. They must also ensure that all commercial transactions benefit both parties.
A successful Key Account Manager understands how quickly things change. As a result, they are always willing to learn and grow. They aren't content to rest on their laurels. Others appreciate them because they continually expand their viewpoints and abilities, which contributes to their regard. They are always looking for ways to improve in areas they have identified as critical. If you would like to learn more advice for any self-development topics to become a good account manager, you could consult with us! Also, follow us at Instagram @baikgp and @ayureadypodcast for more information and extra insights!