inboundsalesrep

SDR

Control freak higher Up?

What do you do when you see a ship sinking but the person in control is not willing to change their methods? I have noticed a pattern in our sales process that has not been working but the higher up keeps pushing for it rather than switching to other methods that have been working. Do I just let the ship sink and swim?

😤 Conflict Resolution

🧠 Advice

💩 Shitpost

25 comments

Sort by:

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

I would be vocal about this, speak up and propose other options, if they listen to you and your option works, that’s jackpot, if they don’t listen, follow orders until they realize you were right. Both cases speak great things about you!

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

I agree with this approach. And if you anticipate them not changing, causing you to lose money in the foreseeable future, I would recommend having one foot out the door to be ready to jump to another company.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

This!! if the ship is sinking and the captain is throwing more water in abandon ship before it sinks completely!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Play the game until you get a better offer.

inboundsalesrep

Politicker

SDR

True, really don't have any other options as of now but to keep doing what I am doing and hitting my teams goals. There will be a big realization soon.

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

You leave. End of story.

Telehealth_2the_Moon

Notable Contributor

Director of Business Development

Yeah this shit sucks, it usually is someone who isn't competent at the boss level job and is reverting back to what they were good at. The issue is that things change and they likely haven't changed things since "in their day".

Really if you think the company doesn't stand a chance to make it, then jump when you can. We are in a rare employee market right now which makes that easier.

Otherwise you can either play the game their way and deal with it or go it your way and hope the results speak for your approach. If you go with doing it your way, this wouldn't be something you'd want to share with your peers. You don't want to be seen as trying to convince the team to go your way rather than the companies.

Chep

WR Officer

Bitcoin Adoption Specialist

Would love a little more insight into this higher-ups methods? Is he/she just botching the disco/ demo calls or sending out poor quality cadence emails? What are they so resistant to change up that you believe could benefit the organization?

inboundsalesrep

Politicker

SDR

So demos could be better since we have a lot of overflowing top funnel and no moving pipe. The resistant to change is he is not open to market change or targeting future business it has to be now.

Chep

WR Officer

Bitcoin Adoption Specialist

Ridiculous hahahahha. I know everyone wants to build a pipeline that closes ASAP but come on. You can only rush your buyers so much before you turn them off. Hope your higher up can figure this out sooner rather than later.

Stratifyz

Big Shot

Account Executive

What does this stem from typically? VC's breathing down the necks or just poor leadership?

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

It’s hard to stay motivated when leadership isn’t willing to hear teams input.

AnchorPoint

Politicker

Business Coach

IF I am on that ship, I am fighting like hell. What is your leader doing to correct the situation? If the captain is set on going down with the ship, that does not mean you have to stand by their side.

JC10X

Politicker

Senior Sales Manager

Have you tried different ways of explaining it? do others agree with you and if they do how are you using their support?

inboundsalesrep

Politicker

SDR

Yes, this has been an ongoing thing for 2 months and I do have other support they will just not budge

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

How are you going about delivering the feedback to them? Are you just saying "hey this doesn't work" or are you coming to the table with an alternative solution with proven results behind it? The more concrete and effective you make your solution, the more likely you are to gain some traction.

I have dealt with these types of leaders before and they dig their heals in HARD because they dont want to be wrong. They think that since they are the boss, they are always right. The less emotional and more fact based you can state your argument, the more likely they will eventually sway, but it wont happen immediately.

inboundsalesrep

Politicker

SDR

Multiple huddles a week describing what is going on and trying to meet a solution that works then about a day later everything just changes back to normal. Which is super frustrating because it seems to resignate in the meeting but then goes from one ear out the other after

cw95

Politicker

Sales Development Lead

I think, from experience, go to someone above that person (unless you can't then I can't offer advice) and say what's going on. Generally, the people up top won't see what's going on within sales on a daily basis so when you let them know, action will take place. Hopefully anyway.

inboundsalesrep

Politicker

SDR

Yeah its tough he is the highest title on the top of the totem pole

cw95

Politicker

Sales Development Lead

Ah, I guess (if you stay there for long enough) do what you think is best and then show them the results? Equally, carry on for a bit and show them it isn't working and suggest doing what you think will work well and then produce results?

Stratifyz

Big Shot

Account Executive

If you give a shit (which you should) then try to voice your changes. Hopefully, you have data to back you up - the data tells no lies :) You might walk out with a lot more respect if your idea actually benefits the long run.

inboundsalesrep

Politicker

SDR

Good point! I do provide data but hard part is I have 2 CRMS with data points in each and one of the CRMs is super dirty and hard to prove a point from because this is what the higher up has used his whole tender rather then the CRM I use

Stratifyz

Big Shot

Account Executive

What is the point you are trying to make to them? Is it something a report/dashboard can solve?

Incognito

WR Officer

Master of Disaster

Hiiiii I work here

GDO

Politicker

BDM

Tell them what and why is not working. But do it in a scientific or with facts kind of way.

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

Press Careers

If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.

inboundsalesrep

Control freak higher Up?

25 comments

Related posts

Most annoying confrontation with boss / higher ups

How do you stay in control on a sales call?

How to get a raise, When your boss doesn't control it???