Here is a good one. Ask your DM who their customers are. 95% of DMs will start rattling off names of docs in the district. WRONG ANSWER......the DM's REPS are their customers. Try this question on your next ride along... a very telling way to "test" you DM. Pharma sales is in peril because "professional" district managers have no formal i.e. MBA management training. Oh, I forgot, the week of DM training by sales training. Remember the Peter Principle. People are promoted to their level of personal incompetence.
I went to Bridgewater, got a certificate of completion, and now I'm a really good trained District Manager. I will be a Regional Director some day. The sky is the limit (they told us this at training). Cheaper than your MBA, goofy!
You are right on with this post. I was a DSM with SA and I always thought of my team as my #1 customers. I got cut a few rounds back but there is life and excellent careers beyond SA. I am much happier, respected and making more money. Lucky for me, my direct supervisor sees our team as the #1 customers. Good luck to you!
Don't forget that it goes both ways. Your #1 job isn't to drive sales and overachieve your goals...your #1 job is to keep your boss happy. When you forget that, you find yourself out of a job.
