DungeonsNDemos profile picture
DungeonsNDemos profile picture

DungeonsNDemos

Rolling 20's all day

Big Shot
Politicker
Acclaimed Answer
+10

Do you think that becoming a SDR Manager is a trap?

Idk about you, but in my opinion it is. As an individual contributor who loves winning deals, I don't see much upside to becoming a SDR/BDR manager short of getting management experience.

Friends have shared that it can be a black hole of a position that's hard to get out of.

Am I wrong?

Is it a trap to become an SDR Manager if you want to sell in the future?

Attached poll
*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.
🧢 Sales Management
🤷‍♂ Poll
🎯 Career Development
21

25 comments

Sort by:
CadenceCombat
Tycoon
8
Account Executive
Its not a trap per se but it’s also not a direct path to sales leadership as some may hope. I’ve seen SDR Managers move to AE roles but I’ve never seen an SDR Manager move directly into managing closing sales teams.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Closing is such a different motion than opening...it's a different skill set. And closers need managers who can provide guidance along the way. I mean, if you have those chops already and want to get management experience, it's not the worst thing in the world, but it would be better to be moved to managing a sales team.
oldcloser
Arsonist
6
💀
For management experience, herding that kind of crew can be really rewarding in all kinds of ways. It can also reinforce your own chops. As a stop on a career map, it’ll take some talking to move up. But you know this, already.

It always takes some talking to move up. You gonna be fine.

DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
2
Rolling 20's all day
I’m not taking the position but I appreciate your thoughts!
Gasty
Notable Contributor
6
War Room Community Manager
@DungeonsNDemos : In the not-so-thrilling world of SDR Management, there are two types of characters I've encountered:

1. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬: Often referred to as "Dashboard Managers". Their strategy? Simply amplify the stress from the top and double it down to their teams. Feedback from their crew? Well, that's a one-way street, and it's not headed upstairs. Their go-to strategy? Dial up the 90's nostalgia: "More calls! Remember the golden ratio: 100 calls, 20 answers, 5 chitchats, and voila! 1 meeting.

2. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬: These well-intentioned souls are trapped in a management maze. Sandwiched between sales, their own SDR troops, marketing, and occasionally, the product team. They want to be the heroes, but alas, SDRs rarely enjoy the spotlight like sales does. They juggle, struggle, and sometimes crumble, often playing the villain for the greater good. A role with more battles than rewards.

I loathe the spineless spinners but pity the overwhelmed optimists.

Thanks for the tag, @jefe
TheColdestColdCall
Executive
1
Enterprise Account Executive
This was a great read - thanks @Gasty !
Revenue_Rambo
Politicker
5
Director, Revenue Enablement
Some of the happiest people I know in sales stayed in the SDR realm. It doesn’t get all the glory of a manager of closers, but it also doesn’t have the same level of pressure.

If you enjoy being at the top of funnel and are good at coaching and developing young reps you could easily carve out a long career.
jefe
Arsonist
4
🍁
I feel like @Gasty could provide some valuable insight here.
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
1
Rolling 20's all day
Gasty always has some insight!
jefe
Arsonist
1
🍁
Usually, but pretty sure he's got some direct experience here.
BTQ
Politicker
3
Account Manager
Agreed I feel like there's always a way out but you kind of pigeon hole yourself for outbound managing exp.
braintank
Politicker
3
Enterprise Account Executive
It's a dead end
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
Let's have a funeral
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
2
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
You’ve moved into sales Ops when you do that. It is middle office. You might be able to move back to a closing role, but at a lower level.
GDO
Politicker
2
BDM
You can always go back to being an IC in my opinion
Mothy
Politicker
2
Account Executive
I made that stop on the career journey, and just recently got out of it. Mine looked like SDR -> SDR/SDR Manager -> SDR Manager -> Director of Account Management and Business Development (Manage AM's and SDR's, absolute nightmare and both teams struggled) -> Director of Account Management -> (Soon to be) AE.

I am extremely lucky that my CRO has my best interest at heart and knows where I end up so he is willing to move me around. All that to say, depends on your leadership.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
I couldnt imagine being a SDR Manager, "hey guys lets hit the phones" every day
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
1
Rolling 20's all day
Haha that’s exactly what I’ve heard from some of my SDRs. Each day becomes “let’s go make more dials guys?”
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
You low on metrics "Make more calls"
Want to get promoted "Make more calls"

Want to not get PIPd "Make more calls"
slaydie
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
depends on if you want to be in management or not. It could be a great way to get into management/leadership
1
Retired Sales Professional
If that's what you truly want to do then go for it. Don't let a voting pole discourage you from aapplying to the role you truly want. But understand the role your getting yourself into, continue to grow with the role and you will do well.
cache.money
Opinionated
1
Manager, Business Development
What is the deal with people shitting on BDR Management? It’s great profession for the right person. If you’re not passionate about being a BDR Leader, you should never become one.
NoSuperhero
Politicker
0
BDR LEAD
I like what I'm doing as an SDR manager, however, I really enjoyed the training part of it. That was simply awesome.
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
It's a tough spot, it's hard to motivate and work with closers if you haven't every actually yourself.
The trajectory of the org is important too.
Phillip_J_Fry
Opinionated
-1
Director of Revenue
Kinda. The only move I've seen SDR managers make, is into CS. I've rarely seen an SDR move to AE, even more rare to see them be a successful AE. SDR Managers, I have literally never seen them move to any other sort of management role.

Related posts

20
Members only

Is the SDR role a trap?

Discussion
🚀
🎯
👨‍🌾
40
Are you stuck in an SDR role despite having 3+ years of sales experience?
30% Yes
70% No
186 people voted
10

Annoying SDR team/lazy SDR Manager

Discussion
🐱
😂
✌️
10
25
Members only

The SDR trap is ruining sales

Discussion
✌️
👨‍🌾
35
What is the biggest lie you were told as an SDR
44% "you will be an AE in 12 months"
20% "we always hire our SDRs to be AEs"
28% "we have great training here "
7% add yours in the comments
124 people voted
Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.
Apple Store logo
Products
The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U
Company
About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty
Contact
Press Careers
© 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy Legal and Privacy Center Sales Jobs
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.