Why is it that where ever you go, a colossal divide exists between Sales and Marketing? You'd think that working for a non-profit we'd have the same goal (i.e. cause), but working here has only reinforced the fact that sales and marketing will never make a good couple - Whatever the industry.

This past week I was away at an annual sales conference and found the hostility against "head office" unbearable at times. In the "pep-talk" from my director we were instructed to make a conscious effort mingle and "build relationships" with the sales teams.

I had no problem with that, and in fact I agree with this, as it should be with any social situation. It was frustrating to find that most of the sales teams kept primarly to themselves, without much of an effort to socialize beyond small talk - unless it was because they wanted something or to vent about "the problem with XXX is that head office XXXX".

And what's this with "Marketing just sits in cubicals and spend all the money sales sweat to generate" comment? That really makes us feel valued! It makes all the "behind the scenes" work to create/manage the sales material, brand strategy, budgets, legal/contracts, sponsorship, partnerships, incentive procurement, PR, training materials, etc etc to support the program sound worthless. I guess we're the production crew and they're the actors. We'll never get the same recognition as the actor, however without each other the movie would never get done! Or better yet, we're they're the "breadwinner" husband and we're the underappreciated housewife.

A sales manager put it best when they said to an collegue who moved from marketing to sales: "It must be great to now actually experience and be part of what you use to develop in marketing eh?"

I must say, however, I did meet some great people and hope to build those relationships beyond just the sales meeting. But overall the general divide is clear. I've got big hill to climb because I know that there has been a lot of politics in the past, with the marketing team also showing some nasty streaks.

Hopefully in the next few years i can break down some barriers.
Hopefully I've already started to build some respect this past week.
Hopefully the breadwinner will appreciate all the housework!

-RE

"eat drink and be merry"