Sales is different, and sales training should be, too

Sales is unlike any other corporate function for a number of reasons: the empowerment of the frontline, the direct correlation to revenues, the connection to customer, the tenure in frontline positions.
As such, a decade ago sales training split off from corporate learning & development in many (if not most) large organizations. Corporate HR/L&D handles some components of onboarding, general competencies and often general leadership training. Sales training handles all sales onboarding, sales skills, product knowledge, sales methodology and other similar training.
Generally speaking, this is a positive. Sales training departments are usually staffed with professionals with a sales background that are more credible to participants and can help apply concepts. They cater to a remote, in-field workforce. And they stress the realistic and practical elements of learning. Attention should be given to the fact that unlike any other training participant, salespeople are paying to be in class.
A salesperson with a variable