Incognito

Master of Disaster

Notorious Answer

8AM One on Ones - Normal or BS?

Am I wrong to think that this is unreasonable?

My new boss has a recurring 8AM every Thursday with me and it's really fucking annoying. I was up late last night with a prospect, had to do almost four hours of driving round trip and somehow be awake and prepared for pipeline review right at 8. Obviously it wasn't productive and his feedback was "scattered", "get organized" and "be prepared to fire off on your ops to make this worthwhile".

Well no shit dickwad, I'm tired and need a moment to compose myself.

My non-salesperson domestic partner thinks that work doesn't start until 9am. Ever.

I get that some prospects like an early phone call and I don't mind doing it, but I'm not gonna hit them up after nights like last night. I'd make sure I was refreshed and ready.

If this isn't normal, I have no issues confronting my boss to tell him to move it.

8AM internal meetings are

Attached poll

Bullshit. Cancel or propose a new time. Normal. Suck it up princess. Other/ Depends. Comment below.

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

🧢 Sales Management

🤷‍♂ Poll

38

51 comment

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ChunkyButters

Tycoon

11

AE

In that specific scenario, I would have tried to move it. "Sorry, boss. I have a late meeting with a prospect and will not be able to properly prepare for our review. Can we move to XYZ time".

But, if your argument is "that is before the work day starts", then suck it up. I have standing meetings every day AFTER 5pm. 8/9am-5pm are selling hours, times to be on the phones, on site, driving to clients/prospects, etc. Internal/admin meetings during prime selling hours take away from your/my ability to sell efficiently.

In order to be as productive as possible during prime hours I do all my prep, pre-call work, follow ups, etc. before 9am or after 5pm as much as I can.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I don't think any top performer would disagree with this.

Incognito

WR Officer

1

Master of Disaster

I totally understand where you're coming from and don't disagree. Guess I'm just tired and grumpy about it because I hate being unprepared.

ChunkyButters

Tycoon

3

AE

I feel the same way. And yea, there are times where I'm like "fuck it's friday, why do I have a meeting at 5pm, this will not be productive."

But, your manager also hates you being unprepared. So, if you say the meeting won't be productive, or you aren't ready, any good manager will be receptive to that as long as the reason is valid.

neversettle

Politicker

4

SDR

I'd ask him to move it. That's bullshit!

Incognito

WR Officer

1

Master of Disaster

Thanks. Need the feedback for perspective!

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

3

☕️

You're between a rock and hard place. If you propose a new time then you're going to catch flack from your manager. If you keep doing it at 8 am, but aren't in the proper mental space, then you're going to get flack from your manager.

I used to do 8 am 1:1s...but at least it was breakfast at a local diner with my CEO. It's likely the only time they have to dedicate full attention to you, it simply sucks that they're doing it at 8 am.

paddy

WR Officer

3

Director of Business Development

8am meetings are fucked up.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

3

Blow it up

Yeah that is some bullshit, trying to stack the meeting prework.

Hit em with the "I'd like more time to prep and include updates from my late-night meeting with Client X. I propose we meet at 10am if that works as it lets me tackle some urgent issues while still giving me time to reflect and prep for our discussion".

JJASBE

Catalyst

2

Director, Solutions Sales

8AM is pre-business hours. It's essentially the same as 8PM, IMO. No dice.

Zags

Good Citizen

3

Global Account Manager

8am is pre-business hours? In what mythical world is that? Do you only cover one time zone? I've got meetings with India, Europe, Singapore, and all the US time zones on any given day.

JJASBE

Catalyst

0

Director, Solutions Sales

8AM *your time, is what I meant specifically. That's awesome that your client set is global. Do you call your Singapore clients at 8AM their time? When I've lead teams, I've just tried to respect that timeframe as best as possible. As in everything, do what works best for you, globally :)

Incognito

WR Officer

2

Master of Disaster

That’s what I think but I’m new to the “office” world so I never know what is standard.

softwarebro

Politicker

2

Sales Director

check your employment contract or new employee handbook - should have the official business hours. Act accordingly.

CCP

Opinionated

3

VP, Business Development

In my experience sales isn't a 9-5pm and if you're new, checking a handbook or contract to leverage with a boss you just started working with could backfire. I'd take a more direct approach with the manager rather pulling the HR move, personally. Also, once you start crushing it it'll get easier. Buy your own freedom with results.

softwarebro

Politicker

3

Sales Director

I agree that selling isn’t a 9-5 job. However, going outside of set business hours to have a status call shows a lack of respect for your employees time.

CCP

Opinionated

0

VP, Business Development

I don't disagree. I'm just concerned that pulling out T's & C's from a contract or HR document won't land well with a boss who would schedule an 8am one-on-one in the first place. I'd never book a status call outside of 9-5 and I'm sure you wouldn't either.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

2

🦊

I have mine every Friday at 8 am. If I ever need to move it then I do. Your boss should understand.

CaneWolf

Politicker

2

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

It's not outrageous. But if you'd prefer a different, you should ask for it.

funcoupons

WR Officer

2

👑

It's not nuts, but not ideal either. Most people aren't raring to go and sharp as a tack at 8 am, unless you're both morning people give each other time to wake up and get into work mode before meetings start happening.

You might have to suck it up if that's the only time your boss has available, but in the cases where you're meeting with clients/traveling into the night I'd definitely ask for a later meeting time. It's not right to expect someone to work into the late night and be prepared for a meeting at the crack of dawn.

Incognito

WR Officer

2

Master of Disaster

yeah - I'm normally fine with early, but just last night has me in a fog. My previous boss would never schedule anything before 9:30/10AM because she was a mom and strongly believed that people's personal lives were important.

Obviously she quit because the corporate culture here doesn't feel the same so

goose

Politicker

2

Sales Executive

1:1 meetings are not pipeline reviews. Also, tell your boss I said to schedule the 1:1 near the end of the day like a normal person. Every once in a while you can grab a cocktail during the meeting.

Incognito

WR Officer

2

Master of Disaster

“Hey, BS (yep, those are literally his initials 😂), @goose said you’re doing it wrong “

totally going to go over well 😂😂😂

but actually I never thought about that (aka not a pipeline review). Thanks!

goose

Politicker

1

Sales Executive

Ok. That might not fly. Maybe try a "hey bs, this guy I know runs his 1:1 meetings at the end of the day..."

authello

Contributor

1

Head of Partnerships

Goose, you said that 1:1 meetings are not pipeline reviews. What is your perspective / advice on what they should be?

goose

Politicker

0

Sales Executive

1:1 meetings belong to the rep. I used to run 1:1 meetings to get the information I needed for my boss (deals in the pipeline, activity metrics, etc) but then realized, as a manager, I could get all that from my CRM. 1:1 meetings should be guided by the rep. Here is what I think "good" looks like. Here is where I have questions. Here is what I struggle with.

If these meetings aren't structured to help the reps then what are we doing here?

Smithy

Politicker

1

Director of Sales

I'd ask to move it, but say why as they probably don't realise and they are focussed on their own schedule.

A lot of managers are struggling for time and it sounds like they are trying to schedule it very early for that reason.

Have a chat about it and it'd be willing to bet that they will understand. Not all of these things are personal and if you come in hot, you may do more damage than good. Just my opinion

JuicyKlay

Celebrated Contributor

1

AM

Just consider yourself lucky your boss doesn’t sync with your at 630am daily. Fml

SADNES5

Politicker

1

down voters are marketing spies

Hey Boss, 8 am is when I like to connect with prospects - input my pipeline data, can we move this to 1030? When I check my emails?

desperado

Politicker

1

Head of Sales

I have 7 am standups but it's because my team is in Japan. If everyone is in the US/similar timezones, fuck that.

Hotsaw

Politicker

1

VP Sales

It's a bullshit hardo move on your boss' part. Tough to reschedule because s/he is doing it clearly to bust balls. But if it's me, I make a sarcastic joke about it one morning and see how it lands. Me 'em know you know they're being a hardo... sometimes it makes the hardo find another mark.

Incognito

WR Officer

2

Master of Disaster

Yeah I have NO issues pushing back. That little bitch has been trying to bully/sabotage me from day one. Still here motherfucker 😈

however, I won’t make a fuss if this is standard practice. Just need to know what the “do not cross” line is.

Hotsaw

Politicker

1

VP Sales

You could just grin fuck him to death. Every Thursday at 8am be smiling and basically telling him that the reason why shit's scattered is because it's 8am and you were with clients the night before.... you know, doing you actual job. Dude sounds lke a D-Bag

Incognito

WR Officer

2

Master of Disaster

Oh I wish but he railroads me with a million questions and pulls up all his charts and shit. I did record this morning, though, so I can spit that shit right back in his face next week.

Hotsaw

Politicker

1

VP Sales

Sounds like a real D-Bag.

SiliconBBQ

Politicker

1

The Metal Rooster

first sdr job was butt in the seat by 8a and worked till 6p. but even under the maniac loose cannon vp that ran that org., there were not recurring or individual meetings earlier than 9a ever. and we were the lowest on the totem pole.

seems pretty d-bag to not understand why an 8a meeting after a long evening with a prospect is off-putting. move the meeting in similar scenarios.

sounds like you have someone who wants to exercise authority and power. maybe signs of things to come

Incognito

WR Officer

1

Master of Disaster

I already know he’s a douche. Who is scrambling because everyone is quitting from his shitty leadership and he stepped down in rank to fill this role temporarily.

The numbers have been the worst in the country since he did that so Ha. Ha. Ha.

hoping they can hire someone decent ASAP so he can go back up to his tower, or National corporate gives him the boot.

Broncosfan

Politicker

1

Account Manager

My work has an 8A meeting every day to talk about pipeline. It goes until 9A. Every. Day. How we haven't realized that we can do the same stuff if we start at 9, I have no clue.

cw95

Politicker

1

Sales Development Lead

throughout furlough I used to have 8:30 AM stand-ups every morning which was great as it got me out of bed every day for 3 months...but after furlough it became a drag and in the end, we just said it's wasting 30 minutes of my day in which I could be working.

Try the approach of 'Look, this cold be prime time for calling or prospecting'

SalesMofo

Big Shot

1

Head of Sales

It's a tactic to make sure you're at work at that time. I had a direct report that used to take super long lunches and thought he was getting away with it, so I scheduled his 1:1s for 1PM.

Incognito

WR Officer

1

Master of Disaster

But they literally track my clicks and log time so they already know I bust my ass

Biznasty

Opinionated

1

Lead Business Development Manager

I see it both ways. I get your POV but also, you know that you have it in advance. You could have prepped the day before so all you had to do was walk into it.

I think someone who does that is trying to manage your time in a bad way. Why does your new boss need to see you the minute the work day starts? I would be less worried about my pipeline review and more worried about the looming psychotic management style that is in your future.

OR maybe your new boss just needs to be trained on how to work with you through your feedbacak.

FiresideChads

Good Citizen

1

Account Executive

Ask to move it but provide a reason. Don't say "it's too early". Say that's when you join corp on the Pelotan, that's when my masters swim practice is, that's the time my wife schedules for sex... Etc.

SheWOLF

Opinionated

1

TC Sales

BS leave me alone. lol

Machine

Politicker

1

Enterprise AE

Love me the opportunity to be the first thing on people’s minds

dryspongebob

Opinionated

1

Business Development Manager

That’s the norm for me since I manage an international remote team - someone’s getting the short end of it, and I would rather it be me or someone else in management so that I don’t mess with anyone’s motivation.

exec

Acclaimed Answer

0

Account Executive

an 8am 1:1 is ridiculous and it sounds like you're in a toxic workplace. my manager and I used to meet at 9:30A, which... to be honest... didn't really give me enough time to send some morning emails + run through and update all my opp's that had been untouched since the last 1:1. Turns out, he thought I preferred early mornings. Simple miscommunication and now we do a nice 4P session!

NYCsalesbro

Old School Bravo

0

Enterprise AE

Nah fuck that that mid week early afternoons or bust... if you have a good relationship with your manager you should move it.. say you like to workout in the morning and want ample time to prepare for 1-1 and ask to have it later in the day

DonDraper

Politicker

0

National Sales Manager

Move it. Technically in some countries it is illegal workplace behaviour to have meetings that are deemed Mandatory before 9am. I dont know specifically where you are but that is extremely unreasonable.

steakalldayerryday

Opinionated

0

AE

What's stopping you from blocking time on your calendar to prep for your 8AM the day before?

Huntergatherer

Opinionated

0

AE

Reminds me of the DAILY 7:45AM team meeting I had every morning last year...

MR.StretchISR

Politicker

0

ISR

Live laugh love gather

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