Artemis

Business Development Representative

BDRs - aka The Pledges of Sales

I was inspired by a conversation I had with another sales savage on the platform...

How do you feel BDRs should be treated? I've seen organizations where they're pretty much like gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe, and others where they're treated as equals to even the highest paying rep.

I'd love to hear ya'll's takes!

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13 comments

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Rallier

Politicker

SDR Manager and Consultant

Any org that treats BDRs like pledges is a place you should avoid

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Everyone should be treated with the same level of personal respect from CEOs to the office janitor. A job title doesn't make someone more or less worthy of respect.

That said, an entry level person can be given less professional freedom and their opinions considered more lightly than a senior employee who's proven themselves to be valuable. Think the top AE asking to work from home vs the brand new BDR in their first week on the job. It wouldn't be crazy to say yes to the AE and no to the BDR.

Artemis

Politicker

Business Development Representative

I completely agree! And I've actually seen that exact example take place in my own office. Didn't go so well for the BDR haha

WildManRandy

Opinionated

Business Development Representative

It is all about servant leadership.

MrNiche

Valued Contributor

Senior Account Executive

I think the SDR:AE relationship is the biggest factor here. If your AE isn't you biggest teacher, advocate, and champion for when you want to be promoted, you're either a shitty SDR or should work with another AE (assuming you have a 1:1 alignment with AEs).

I established partnerships with my 2 AEs to the point where I knew about all their deals, even the ones I didn't source. I was an extension of their business - almost like I was their assistant, but in a good way. This relationship helped me a ton when it came to interviewing to become an AE and got me some great recommendation letters from those AEs.

That all said, I think the BDR/SDR role should be seen as a weed out course. No special treatment until you've proven your value & you can either sink or learn to swim in the role - it's a huge way to determine if someone will be successful as an AE. Obviously standard respect applies here but most of my interactions with SDRs are for coaching, not collaboration. They should be treated as students and the ones who aren't eager to learn and progress should probably be let go... of course those are the ones who will end up bitching about being treated like a pledge because they couldn't own up to sucking at being an SDR. Gotta pay your dues to some extent!

Artemis

Politicker

Business Development Representative

This is really excellent input. Thank you!

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

I've been lucky to have only been places where BDRs are treated as a valuable resource. However, I have heard horror stories where BDRs are treated not all too differently than interns. 1:1 relationships with the wrong AE will end up killing you, so if you feel like you're being treated like a gopher then try to get out of that one.

Artemis

Politicker

Business Development Representative

I've heard the horror stories too. Fortunately I haven't witnessed them firsthand!

BlueJays2591

Politicker

Federal Business Dev Director

BDRs should be treated as a part of the team, nothing less.

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

BDRs don’t get enough appreciation for the most part. They go through the shit to set up meetings and get constant rejection. Organizations should really appreciate them more for the most part

paddy

WR Officer

Director of Business Development

Everyone's gotta pay their dues man. You're welcome for the inspo :)

Artemis

Politicker

Business Development Representative

Haha don't plan on getting any commission cuts on this one ;)

paddy

WR Officer

Director of Business Development

Raking it in already!

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Artemis

BDRs - aka The Pledges of Sales

13 comments

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