Difficult AE

I'm an SDR and working with one particular AE is proving very difficult for me and other SDRs in my company. for the purposes of this post, let's call this AE Sam. we (the SDRs) run the discovery calls alone and then book a meeting with Sam. 

Sam hasn't been at my company very long - less than a year. people don't seem to like him very much. but I have heard a few people say Sam is 'very knowledgeable' - but I'm yet to see evidence of this. Sam has very little in his pipeline currently. 

Myself along with other SDRs do our outbound prospecting, run discovery, and book meetings with Sam. Very often discovery goes very well, lots of notes taken, pain identified, right person to speak to, meeting with Sam booked in. 

Sam then seems to run his meetings so badly it is so embarrassing for us to watch. He doesn't read any notes from discovery, doesn't let the prospect speak, is terrible at building any kind of relationship with the prospect, and it is often the case the prospect leaves the call looking noticeably annoyed and no next steps in place. 

The problem is for us (the SDRs) this is affecting our numbers and makes us look bad. What would you do?

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17
braintank
Politicker
10
Enterprise Account Executive
I'm sure Sam's manager is aware. Just keep doing what you're doing and it'll sort itself out.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
8
🦊
Sam sounds like they haven't been trained properly. Have empathy and let Sam's manager take care of the situation. 
Don
Opinionated
0
SDR
Fuck Sam. Shouldn’t have been hired if he doesn’t know how to do the job.

Move him down to sdr if he hasn’t been trained well
Filth
Politicker
6
Live Filthy or Die Clean
I'm in a similar position - I've now had prospects email me after meetings asking for next steps and if they are a fit b/c the AE doesn't know how to properly follow up.  I've talked to the AE but now if enough time goes by after a successful disco and his follow up - I talk directly to the manager b/c those prospects becoming closed deals affect my money too.

Fight for your money - call out bad workers, first to their face and if no change to their boss.
Lioness
Good Citizen
0
Sr Field Enterprise Account Executive
Agreed
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
6
SaaS Eater
If Sam is this shitty at his job he will no longer be an AE you have to work with in 3-6 months. Keep doing your thing
Sunbunny31
Politicker
5
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Bring it up in your 1:1 with your manager.    Your manager can then deal with it with Sam's manager.  If it's a training issue, it will be addressed.  If it's not fixed soon, the Sam situation will self-correct.

Lioness
Good Citizen
0
Sr Field Enterprise Account Executive
This is good advice. 
peachykeen
Politicker
2
sae e-commerce
This won’t go unnoticed. I can imagine it’s frustrating. Depending how comfy you are chatting with ‘Sam’s’ manager, and you guys as a group express your concerns? But that could be treading on ground you don’t wanna be treading. Hard to say. Or just flat out tell Sam to stop being a fucking idiot.
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
1
Rolling 20's all day
Is Sam (and your other AEs) only responsible for doing a demo and sending a proposal?
If you're responsible for doing all discovery, I wonder why it's set up to have them passed along after you've created rapport.
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
hahah yeah this is not only on sam, but on management. I would keep doing your job. he will eventually be fired. 
Justatitle
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
I mean, if the calls are recorded go to your manager and let them listen to it. Pretty easy to get the point across when it’s blatantly obvious 
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Are Sam's calls recorded?

If so bring it up to your manager, and they'll approach Sam's manager to review.

We went through this recently on my team, and thankfully we use Gong, so our Director could see how shit this dude was. 
bendandsnack
Politicker
0
Account Exec
Lol I work with 8 AEs & deal with this constantly.

Don't be quiet about it, say something to your manager as it'll subsequently affect your manager's numbers too.  Especially in this remote world, not everyone sees what you see. 

Also ask the AE to follow up, after the meeting be like "hey do you need help drafting a follow up? I'd like to make sure that gets out soon" 

I'm a diva in that I won't prospect for an AE who drops the ball on my meetings, however I'm in a position where I can do that, not sure how you guys are structured. 
CaneWolf
Politicker
0
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
This is a situation in which your manager needs to be on it. That's his/her job!
DataSlangah
Politicker
0
SAE
Wait.  Sam sounds like a clown and will be gone soon, if his pipeline sucks as bad as you make it sound.  
LittyMcGee
Good Citizen
0
Account Executive
I've been in this position when I was an SDR. Is "Sam" at least flipping these intros so you get the credit towards your quota? or is he saying they arent qualified?
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