The logical person for a manager to discuss these issues with is
his boss. It's more and more important, however, that he also talk
with peers, customers, suppliers, partners, and o t h e r relevant
parties. A sales manager, for instance, can be much more effective
if she is aware of what customers do with the products or services
her unit sells. She can learn more about specific customer needs
and make assignments recognizing which salespeople are best able
to meet those needs.