any thoughts on the SDR appreciation week?

Savages, lately I've been following content from general corp and couldn't help but notice his post on the SDR appreciation week.


We had it announced internally days ago and it was terrible - especially because HR made it sounds as if being an SDR was some sort of disability (WTF)


is your team/company celebrating it? Curious to get your perspectives.

Is this a thing?

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๐Ÿงข Sales Management
20
DaveFromCollege
Notorious Answer
23
Account Executive
Company doesn't acknowledge any of that stuff. I feel like it was huge in the SaaS space and all but that little niche on LinkedIn was the only place I saw it.

Thought it was pretty cringey tbh and this is coming from an SDR. Want me to feel appreciated? Give me a roadmap to AE, give me a raise, the last thing I care about is a post on LinkedIn tbh. Maybe that's just me.
MSPSales
Politicker
5
Partner Development Manager
I mean ya 100% valid. When I was a SDR there was no guideline or path to promotion and thatโ€™s all I really cared aboutย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
4
Sr. Customer Success Manager
True that - sometimes what's missing is some sort of Roadmap to success or well-established career paths.
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
3
Sr. Customer Success Manager
@DaveFromCollegeย IKR! Cringe everywhere. Want to show love? there are thousands of things you can do for the SDR team - I hate when HR starts posting on the slack channel those hyper cheerleader notes... instead of actually doing something.ย 
officeminion
3
Account Director
100% Giving them a week is making it fake... SDR's are often hugely underappreciated by the company. However an AE knows how valuable a good SDR is and and will make sure he/she is taken care off. (And not just one week a year)
PeterSwan
Opinionated
1
Sales Specialist
I'm 100% with you on this
AssistantToTheRegional
Politicker
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Many of the SDR Appreciation posts were lists of demands to fix the SDR model like a roadmap to AE. So in theory, you should be in favor of them.

CadenceCombat
Tycoon
0
Account Executive
+1 for @DaveFromCollegeย 
Chep
WR Officer
0
Bitcoin Adoption Specialist
Preach
YoungGoat
Opinionated
6
Surgical Technology Specialist
Seems like something companies support for show to make it seem like they value and support their SDR's. If they really support their SDR's they'll prove it with their actions when it isn't SDR appreciation week.
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
couldn't agree more - I deeply believe that SDRs are driving 90%+ of the operation on their shoulders. I think is the MOST important role in the company.ย 
Stringer
Arsonist
4
SDR
Seems like a way to gain leverage over how hard they work. Also, I don't need a pat on the back... Just give me more money.ย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
4
Sr. Customer Success Manager
incentives ftwย 
Haast
Notorious Answer
4
Account Executive
Im for it. Its a tough job and you ultimately get very little recognition or fuzzy feelings from the gig itself. If youre company isnt lauding you, then pretty much nobody is.ย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
Absolutely - As an AE have you experienced something like that?ย 
Haast
Notorious Answer
1
Account Executive
From both sides, for sure. I felt like a better than average SDR, but even positive responses from people meant that i pass it off and never talk to them again, whereas rejections are things I was expected to pursue and likely get rejected again and again before closing out, so unless I'd get direct positive feedback from the AE or my mgmt, it was pretty thankless even if you crush your number. On the AE side you can tell when providing good feedback to an SDR that they dont receive it often. Theyre expected to do a good job so usually it gets taken for granted, and if they dont, or someone perceives they didnt, they end up as an easy target for blame.ย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
Sounds like you're being a great advocate of best practices.ย 
Haast
Notorious Answer
1
Account Executive
I guess, it always seemed to me to be in the best interest of the AE to provide feedback as often as possible, but i think some AE's have an "us or them" mentality and dont want to risk their own position by enabling an SDR
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
feedback is gold when it comes from friends and leaders
salesnerd
WR Officer
3
Head of Growth
This is the first I've heard of it.ย 
SethDavis
Fire Starter
3
Enterprise Account Manager
You don't buy a hooker flowers
BCD
Politicker
0
BDR
ouchย 
YaBoi
2
Manager, Business Development
Instead of the BS Linkedin posts people should have offered to broker meetings and take meetings.ย  If the 6sense ppl and Gong wanted to they would set up time to speak with SDR/BDRs about wha they do not post some crap onlineย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
you are what you do - not what you say. 100% YaBoi
beachNsales
Politicker
2
Sales Manager
My company didn't acknowledge it. I sent a few messages to our SDRs that work with us though. Not making a big deal about it, but just sending a thank you basically.ย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
3
Sr. Customer Success Manager
sharing is caring :D
beachNsales
Politicker
1
Sales Manager
I hear it can be fun
No_ty
Politicker
2
Sales Dir.
never got that
Kinonez
Celebrated Contributor
1
War Room Enthusiast
You are not alone!
Kinonez
Celebrated Contributor
2
War Room Enthusiast
I thought it was cringy, and for no particular reason! This has to stop!
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
cringy and dangerous
Kinonez
Celebrated Contributor
2
War Room Enthusiast
Dangerous for sure!
cifu
Opinionated
2
SDR
this is just lame
FightingFistDrangon
Politicker
2
Director of Sales
SDR's should be appreciated everyday, IMO.
Hercules
1
Regional Sales Manager
I think every week should Be!ย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
Indeed!! carrying 90% of the operation with zero appraisal, recognition, or incentives.ย 
SalesHead
Opinionated
1
Enterprise AE
As a xDR manager, I made a post on Friday......but almost forgot. I honestly feel like I support them pretty damn well on a daily basis and always do my best to be appreciative for their hard work. I cringed writing the post because I honestly felt like I was only doing it because I needed to. I appreciate the hell out of my team. It just felt weird being 'forced' to do so as to not feel like a bad managerย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
Best leaders are first in battle and last on retreat. It's great that you're sharing the love with your team every time you can.
DaveyDimes
Acclaimed Answer
1
Account Executive
I would love to see a company show some love to SDR's by giving them a % increase for sourced deals that close during "SDR Apperciation Week". Can make it the last week of a random month so everyone has deals in play. Appreciate them by giving them $$$, not a note from HR in a slack channel everyone has muted.
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
"not a note from HR in a slack channel everyone has muted" - I'm taking this for my personal use next time I gotta deal with them. Thanks Savage.ย 
DaveyDimes
Acclaimed Answer
0
Account Executive
Hahahaha, use at your own risk!
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
3
Sr. Customer Success Manager
Danger Jackywaky Risktaker Master of cadences is my full name haha I'm a gambler.ย 
DaveyDimes
Acclaimed Answer
1
Account Executive
Absolutely love it!!!!
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
:Dย 
AssistantToTheRegional
Politicker
1
Enterprise Account Executive
I am in favor of the posts that were lists to show what was broken and needed to be fixed.

I don't like the posts that are just like showing appreciation without solutions.


Happy SDR appreciation week, my sdr is the best (even thought hey are miserable)
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
1
Officer of โ™ฅ๏ธ
having an SDR appreciation week is like a scapegoat, like oh you have a whole week for yourself just be quiet about your injustices.

Seems like having an SDR appreciation week, implies we have not been appreciated the rest of the year.ย 

which overwhelmingly seems to be the opinion of actual SDR's and not their out-of-touch managers & executives.


Seems like it's retroactive, 'oh god, the sdrs.'

'hey we know you're at the bottom of the food chain, and underappreciated, and undervalued, but let me tell you how much money you make the company and that we appreciate it, we value you so much. just know that okay? but still, we aren't raising our salary or comp plans because they are 'competitive'

Honestly it makes me feel like shit for being an SDR like oof, im in the wronggg place if people refer to us like that.
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
1
Sr. Customer Success Manager
" Seems like having an SDR appreciation week, implies we have not been appreciated the rest of the year. " GOLD
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
1
Officer of โ™ฅ๏ธ
๐Ÿ˜ฌ
madtea
Good Citizen
1
Regional Director
An appreciation week for any role is just weird. As an employee, appreciate me always with money, constant recognition, and career developmentย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
1
Sr. Customer Success Manager
Clear career path is critical for meย 
CaneWolf
Politicker
1
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
It feels as if it came from the same place as when your company gives you a gift card, rather than money in the bank, from a SPIFF and then you're taxed on it.

Everyone knows it's a hard, essentially thankless job. Rather than a pat on the back, pay them or help them get promoted.
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
0
Sr. Customer Success Manager
Absolutely - We work here to give extra bonuses to the team
sweenmachine
Executive
1
Enterprise SDR
Just another thing the participation trophy era has created. It's pretty soft tbh
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
time to stack xD
thesalesprophet
Executive
1
CO-Founder/CRO
I loved it! Think it needs to happen more often and for more roles.ย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
As a Dir of Sales - which roles you consider need more appreciation?ย 
thesalesprophet
Executive
1
CO-Founder/CRO
I think the AE's deserve more than they get. Commission is great but more credit is deserved. They are closing the deals for your company, keeping YOUR company running.ย 

SDRs for sure because they out their representing the brand, bringing the meetings in the first placeย 

I think engineer appreciation needs to happen more- the ones that make the product/solution work. They deserve shoutouts, and being recognized for their work and visionary thinking.ย 

Too many companies take for granted what goes on day 2 day and we need to be empowering others. Sharing and highlighting the amazing roles that make shit happenย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
1
Sr. Customer Success Manager
It is safe to say, holistic approach to every role?ย 
thesalesprophet
Executive
1
CO-Founder/CRO
Yes 100%ย 

airpistols
Contributor
1
Account Executive
My company barely recognises the sales staff, let alone the SDR'sย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
0
Sr. Customer Success Manager
Don't get me wrong - I love my SDRs. In fact, they bring 80%+ of the company's revenue. I just don't go with that BS weekly thing
PresidentSkroob
Opinionated
1
CSM
I can appreciate the intention behind it, but it didn't really get much traction at my company aside from a call out in a meeting to the one SDR (me). Meh ๐Ÿ˜‘
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
meh x2ย 
champchamp
Arsonist
1
Certified Savage
A few good topics were brought up on LI, such as compensation and career growth, but most of them were BS LI influences trying to glorify themselves.

As others mentioned, if you appreciate our work, pay us well and provide us opportunities for growth.

It is also nice when AEs let you know that a meeting went great and are excited about the opportunity, I like my AEs so I feel more motivated when I am truly helping them.
stratman
Politicker
1
Sales Engineer
Appreciation is not getting fired
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
sounds fair
Riss
Opinionated
1
I donโ€™t even know anymore ๐Ÿคช
I"m very middle of the road. I think this could be fun coming from the sales / marketing teams. Like AE's giving a bit extra appreciation or manager doing a nice little team thing (pizza/lunch/etc.) but I think when it becomes "company wide" or like a linked-in holiday it loses it's fun aspect and becomes a little cringe.ย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
cringe everywhere
Smithy
Politicker
1
Director of Sales
I think itโ€™s cringeworthy as completely unnecessaryย 

if they need a special week to show they care then youโ€™re at the wrong company IMOย 
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
gotcha -ย 
MaximumRaizer
Politicker
1
Sales Manager
Best thing ever!
Blackwargreymon
Politicker
1
MDR
Thought it was pretty cringey tbh and this is coming from an SDR. Want me to feel appreciated? Give me a roadmap to AE
Clashingsoulsspell
Politicker
1
ISR
Many of the SDR Appreciation posts were lists of demands to fix the SDR model like a roadmap to AE. So in theory, you should be in favor of them.
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