Producing a world-class SKO
The 8 fundamentals of success
8 fundamentals for SKO success …
Developing a theme and a key focus for your SKO will help make it memorable and the content resonate. Make the theme relevant to your strategy, purpose, beliefs, and values, as well as your product or service. Weave it through all delegate touchpoints pre-, during and post-event to bring it to life and make your SKO truly experiential for your audience.
It’s crucial for any event to be inclusive and accessible to all, and the annual SKO is no exception. Catering to the needs and preferences of a diverse workforce will create a sense of belonging that empowers everyone to succeed. Providing opportunities for teams to connect and network will also help any new hires feel immersed in the company culture and accelerate their onboarding process.
The best kick-offs combine motivational presenters with round-robin sessions, imaginative workshops, and networking for maximum interaction. The movement and change in pace keep the sales team’s attention, and the interactivity helps ensure that all reps are participating.
Guest speakers can bring a whole new perspective to your SKO. Take the time to really think about your theme, your messages, how your sales force is feeling and the state of the market before deciding if a speaker is right.
It’s likely you’ll be wanting to upskill your sales teams during the SKO. For the best results, immerse them in your plans and ambitions from start to finish. If you really want to get your team to sit up and take note, bring the customer into the room - it’s incredibly powerful. But whatever the message, keep the learning light-hearted and interactive.
Your SKO is as much an opportunity for your people to hear from you as it is for you to hear from them. It’s a chance for leadership to gather feedback from the field to better understand the challenges and needs of the sales team. This input is invaluable and can be uses to inform strategies and decision-making throughout the year.
Create an awards programme that is aligned to your company culture and values. Make award winners feel extra special with a unique experience at the event but keep this element upbeat and fun for everyone so they all feel part of the business success.
If you follow these guidelines, your sales force will leave the event feeling rewarded, inspired, and energised. But it doesn’t stop there. The digital collateral you create during your SKO will lend itself perfectly to being re-used and repurposed in the months following the event. Highlight videos, interactive newsletters, small group refresher sessions and other tactics will keep everyone motivated and on track.
