anothersalesgiy

Enterprise Account Executive

Ever have the feeling management doesn’t actually want to help yiu?

working at this new company about 8 months and got hired being told it would be a role getting great coaching and guidance. have consistently gotten the sense that asking for what I actually need is damaging my reputation and the team really does not collaborate on any info or best practices.

just curious is this common across your experience too?

really want to join an org that has a good growth culture but it seems like when revealing that to the hiring manager they say they have it and kinda just agree and yes man me until I'm signed and in the door then leave it up to the fire to see if reps last

🧠 Advice

🎯 Career Development

🤠 Culture

33 comments

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NoSuperhero

Politicker

BDR LEAD

Yeah, it may feel that's the case from time to time (specially WFH), however, I usually don't take those kinda things personal most of the time people are busy doing something they were asked to do or that it was already scheduled. So be patient and during the time you're waiting make sure you've done your own homework to resolve the problem.

Most people want to help, in my experience.

ChumpChange

Politicker

Channel Manager

^ As a manager... thank you for posting this. At the MM to UM levels, we're getting pulled in 5-6 directions so we have to manage our time effectively. Knowing we're in sales we can all agree that time equals money. On another note, someone in your company's leadership team should have a process fleshed out for this specific scenario. It sucks to work remotely and feel like you're lost.

NoSuperhero

Politicker

BDR LEAD

Yeah for sure!

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

I can completely understand that my manager is helping with and managing all of the teams deals as well as prioritizing which reps are doing the best and he feels is utilizing feedback more effectively. All while juggling his own manager and presenting a quality story for the current circumstance.

We did have a 1:1 where he literally said to practice the concept of CYA and since then I’ve noticed that’s exactly what’s been happening. I do think he’s a good guy but you’re right about thinking there should be a process but really there isn’t and it seems like there are too many fires for anyone of influence and authority to care.

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

Officer of ♥️

Cya?

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

Ugh super rough. Sorry you are not getting what you need, especially if you taking the initiative to ask and seek it out.

It is SUPER hard to understand how this works before joining.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

I have worked somewhere like that, but then I learned how to start asking questions the right way based on the manager's personality.

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

Please say more… I could totally be the asshole here and just going about this the wrong way. How did you learn to do this?

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

I started reading personality books. I learned early on when I was in restaurant management which is absolutely grueling, how to manage my manager. Which meant, I needed to learn how to stroke their ego in order to get what I wanted/needed.

Read these two books, and it may help. Maybe not where you are at currently, but it will help down the road. How to Win Friends and Influence People is the first. The second is Wired That Way.

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

Love Dale Carnegie. Haven’t heard of the 2nd but I’ll check it out. Thanks antiASKHOLE!

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I agree with this - asking for insight and input rather than "I don't get it", for example. (Not saying you're doing this anothersalesgiy).

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

Haha I’ve adopted the model of
Look for an answer, come first sharing what I’ve done, then ask for additional advice/guidance

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Has that been working for you?

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

Not quite. I’ve turned to growing connections on LinkedIn and finding help in other communities plus reading books about my industry to get better acquainted

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

As in, bringing more insight? I admire your focus on growth and learning. I am sorry you’re not getting the kind of support you’d been promised.

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

Getting help using that model hasn’t been currently fruitful. I’m getting the sense it’s more because they don’t know and aren’t willing to tell me so tbh.

Thanks for the encouragement. No choice but to keep keeping on 🙂

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

I haven't experienced this in an Enterprise role. 🤔

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

lol... Sir.. Dis Foxy has had many "sirs" in vise grips. Balls of steel she has.

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

😂 my bad - madam - is that more appropriate or do we need to bust out the leather and ball gags?

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

You sir are blessed.

To be fair I may be the problem. How do you normally go about creating a relationship with your manager? I think I could stand to learn better as well

coletrain

Politicker

Account Executive

I would like to add to my other comment on "what to look for in a new opportunity." from the thread you posted earlier.

4a: make sure you have an honest conversation with someone on the inside in your/similar role instead of trusting the hiring manager in line with "you gotta like the people you work with"

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

Great advice coletrain, I do think that’s a good idea. Not always sure how to spark an authentic conversation with random AEs from another org tho… I did reach out to some in two orgs that I’m interested in and went the route of a compliment and honestly sharing my situation and asking for advice.
Seems to get a pretty standoffish response, got any suggestions for a different way to approach it?

coletrain

Politicker

Account Executive

In some cases, I've had a hiring manager set up the meeting based on their feel of the org and then it just be us two.

One thing I will say, if you get a standoffish response that could be a red flag

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

Fair point. So do you think just being upfront and letting them know I’m interested in the org and looking for some insider info is a good route?

BourbonKing

Valued Contributor

VP of Sales

Sales manager tells you everything you want to hear in order to get you to take the job...yep, it happens. Two things you can do in the future to try and avoid this from happening again:

1. During the interview, when offered the opportunity to ask questions, ask: "Think about two people who have been in this role for 8-12 months--one who is crushing it and one who is really struggling. What's the difference between the two?" Then follow-up: "How are you addressing the one who is struggling? What's being done to help them succeed?" Forcing them to give specifics vs. a hypothetical answer will be very telling.

2. Ask to speak to one or two people in this same role. Interview them--What kind of initial training did you receive? What does ongoing coaching look like? How many people are succeeding vs. failing? How is poor performance addressed? Are the goals realistic/attainable? If you could go back in time, would you still accept the offer to work there or would you take a different offer/keep looking?

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

Those are both solid af. Thank you for sharing man

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

Do you have good relationship with other AEs? Did you try to know what and how they do this ?

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

I’ve had a tough time actually forming a bond tbh. We’re not into the same things. My approach has been to just be nice and interested in what they have to say but we really don’t like a lot of the same things.
Maybe I just need to put in more effort?

activity

Politicker

VP, Business Development

Depends on the org. Some have felt like this and then there have been others that want to jump in and help whenever they can.

anothersalesgiy

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

Yeah I guess every org has there great/good/ bad

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

Officer of ♥️

Let me guess series A

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

Officer of ♥️

Make sure you google it first

CRAG112

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

Trash people in management and above in the sales world.

yeah. That’s normal.

get connected with sales people one on one before you sign your next gig. Try to talk to as many people as you can.

a good org would do the following in an interview
- ask about you
- have an open convo, not give you a few minutes at the end to ask questions
- make the conversation about you and how they fit
- want you to ask tough but insightful questions
- could walk you through the business environment and what you gave day to day
- will show you data that proves their total sales target achievements.

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anothersalesgiy

Ever have the feeling management doesn’t actually want to help yiu?

33 comments

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