oldcloser profile picture
oldcloser profile picture

oldcloser

💀

Arsonist
Politicker
Big Shot
+11

Do you have 100% confidence in your direct supervisor?

Real confidence- the kind that says when I bring them into a deal, they'll 100% add value, solve, or even get a deal done. The kind where you know that second voice is going to smooth over a rough spot in a deal or a conflict with an employee. Total trust. 

I had one in the broadcast radio business 23 years ago who had that touch. He knew me well enough to give me enough rope to hang myself but always had the answer when my best thinking wasn't good enough. This kind of leadership has disappeared in the KPI ERA. 

"There are no such things as people problems. People problems are process problems. And process problems are management problems."
🏙 Corporate Experiences
🏋️‍♀️ Leadership
23

36 comments

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HVACexpert
Politicker
8
sales engineer
I do actually, the owner of my company is awesome and does a good job, let’s everyone be themselves and work independently
oldcloser
Arsonist
3
💀
And you deserve every bit of that sanity.
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
3
Account Executive
#humblebrag right there ^^^

Let me know when you're hiring. I'll take a look for sure.
js2458
Politicker
7
Enterprise SDR
Nope - my supervisor was about to get let go because they didn't hit quota but my company let him stay bc no one else wanted to lead the SDR team. Feels weird being coached by someone who "failed" at the job...
oldcloser
Arsonist
3
💀
Thing is, quotas are 100% man-made. So are market conditions, but they’re unbeatable. He may have killed that quota in a different climate. But probably not. He’s the dude that took the job nobody else wanted.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
6
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I’ve had this twice. Once at my current company - yes, I trust my manager will add value. I don’t always agree with her, but we talk things through and collaborate. She doesn’t kill my deals, she doesn’t scare off the customers, and she’s great on the phone.

My other really great one is at my previous employer, and she is one of the only people I would consider going back there to work with. Super smart, didn’t believe in internal roadblocks (she’d get right through them) and unbelievable to work with.

I’ve had other good managers - mostly because they got out of my way. But those two are notable because they push for more and are supportive. I realize how lucky I am. My current org is a little too focused on OKRs and KPIs..but I suspect my team is being shielded from most of it.
oldcloser
Arsonist
3
💀
Yes- this is what I’m talking about. This keeps a person in their job. This fuels the “one more call” thing. Wise to acknowledge the rarity of it. And how damn fortunate. Happy for you!
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Without these people, jobs can be real grinds.
HVACexpert
Politicker
3
sales engineer
🙌🏻
CadenceCombat
Tycoon
5
Account Executive
Regarding your example, yes, I’ve had one supervisor where I knew I could count on him to never jeopardize a deal and was always a net positive on a call.
oldcloser
Arsonist
1
💀
That feeling of quota and beyond lives when that's in the house.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
4
Bravado's Resident Asshole
Meh…… no
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
Yes I actually do. Now.
SaaSsy
Politicker
3
AE
No! Only had 2 solid RVPs in my career that I was 100% confident in.
oldcloser
Arsonist
1
💀
And I’m guessing it wasn’t your most recent 2.
SaaSsy
Politicker
4
AE
haha how'd you guess...I've definitely found that the older I get, the less helpful "leaders" are. I'm sure you've experienced similar being in sales for 10+ years - like is there a point where you're just smarter and better than everyone else and can't be coached?
oldcloser
Arsonist
2
💀
Sure, the learning curve flattens over time. There are only so many variations you will ever run into in a specific business.

But... wouldn't it be cool to have a guru anyway? Like - in pipeline meetings. They would say shit like - “Hey, don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be” instead of the usuals.
SaaSsy
Politicker
1
AE
It would be cool, yes
punishedlad
Tycoon
3
Business Development Team Lead
The head of my department is the absolute top performer at my company and I love working underneath him. Great leadership and leads by example.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
This is awesome! Very happy for you. Giving everyone hope.
oldcloser
Arsonist
1
💀
Mygad. How awesome is this!
Maximas
Tycoon
2
Senior Sales Executive
Well not my current one,but maybe one or two max in my entire career!
Pachacuti
Politicker
2
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Lol…. I only have 100% complete confidence in myself, barely.
HappyGilmore
Politicker
2
Account Executive
Too early for me to tell (just started a new job recently)
oldcloser
Arsonist
1
💀
🙏🏻good luck
Justatitle
Big Shot
2
Account Executive
69%
oldcloser
Arsonist
1
💀
Yeah- been there 😂
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
2
Account Executive
Currently? No. If I bring anything to my current supervisor all I'll get is him spitting out a slogan from the company handbook.

I've been lucky that he's the first manager I've had this issue with.
Filth
Politicker
2
Live Filthy or Die Clean
I can think of one... but the more I read comments on this post, the more I think maybe I should be somebody's manny/rabbi. Don't know if I have the background for it on paper but love teaching and supporting and love being part of a win anyway I can. Leave it to the WR to make me start thinking again.

Good post @oldcloseras always.
oldcloser
Arsonist
1
💀
May just be your time 👍
kneehigh
Politicker
2
Senior Enterprise AE
My immediate manager has now left and he did not add any value at all when I bought him in, if anything he added another layer of communication to our COO/CRO and what got passed on was typically wrong or just not true. Couldn’t rely on him for anything. Now I am reporting to the COO who is also co-founder and he adds a lot of value at the senior levels more to sell the vision of our company and get prospects excited.
oldcloser
Arsonist
0
💀
Sounds familiar. So many managers operate out of fear of getting caught not knowing something. Glad they're out of your way.
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
2
Account Executive
Confidence they are a piece of shit and they'll never be invited to the house.
Irishman
Catalyst
1
Business Consultant
Been lucky enough to work with a few through the years that I could rely on - working with one currently. Hopefully, I'm doing the same for my team
oldcloser
Arsonist
1
💀
In my opinion, this is the correct aspiration. We should be serving people while putting up numbers.
Irishman
Catalyst
1
Business Consultant
Absolutely - no reason why you can't do both

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