dncsv

SD manager

OG Sales Savage

Feel like I'm eff you see kayed.

Been an SDR manager with my current company for almost 6 months.

My team is performing well after the first three months being nuts with turnover and hiring.

Boss is "difficult to work with" and basically snipes any time something comes up that she doesn't want to talk about or if she gets annoyed with one of us (sdr managers). It's usually super uncomfortable and sometimes really hard not to take personally.

Anyway- last week I made the mistake of talking about how these remarks mess with me when it seems like I'm mostly getting criticism from her lately. It blew up into a huge argument and now she wants to put me on plan. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if I got the boot later today.

so much anxiety. this would be my third termination in a row which already sucks. i've tried to apologize and offer solutions but she doesn't seem to want me around any more.

i went to hr about it and explicitly asked for confidence, though I don't trust that much.

i wouldn't be holding on so hard except that I straight up relocated from several states away and hired my entire team.

any advice?

🧢 Sales Management

😤 Conflict Resolution

11

23 comments

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hh456

Celebrated Contributor

19

sales

ok, this is gonna be a little bit cold but it truly changed the way my professional career went.

- if one person to you in the morning is an asshole, they're an asshole.
- if everyone is an asshole to you, you're the asshole.

I am sure you are a great person, but if you keep getting canned, try to figure out why.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

4

SaaS Eater

I agree completely. I was with OP until they said they have been termed 3 times already. Fool me once shame on your, fool me twice, shame on me.

Take a look in the mirror and see what's truly going on here.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

3

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I'm not OP, but it doesn't sound cold to me. A straight up self-evaluation is necessary, and may be the only way to make critical adjustments to break this cycle.

CaneWolf

Politicker

2

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

Yeah, there might be a sensitivity issue at play here.

Flippinghubs

Opinionated

0

Account Executive

Yesir

dncsv

OG Sales Savage

1

SD manager

Totally. I've had a ton of introspection after each time this happens. And it's hard not to beat myself up.

Ultimately-- I think I have a tough time managing up.
My issues are almost always with management, I typically don't run into any conflict with teammates (that I know of).

So here's what I need to figure out right now:

How can I work better with leadership?
How do you normally interact with leadership?
What are the big no-nos?
And what are some things that I should do?

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

12

sales

Maybe you shouldn't manage up at all. Focus on your team hitting quota and crushing the phones because that's what you were hired to do.

I'm C-Suite so please excuse this lashing I'm about to give, but it may be helpful to you since you keep running afoul. Know this is with a focus on helping you not just keep your job but grow in your next one. If this pride harming paragraph helps you keep your job in the real world, then that's a net positive in my book.

SDR Managers are shift leaders at McDonalds. You're there to ensure the process is being followed, your opinion isn't needed or wanted. This whole apparatus was built, grown and successful before you came around. It'll be the same after you're gone. The best way you can work with leadership is to follow instructions and do their bidding. Interact by asking for clarity in any ways you don't understand your directives. Big-no's are managing up. Contrary to what is said during onboarding, everyone's input isn't valued. Decisions are made at the top, by very few and they're in that position for a reason.

Sorry if that gets me some downvotes, but my god you're running out of employment options and your reputation will begin to proceed you. Gotta get it under control.

Love,
Grizzle

EDIT - to provide some context.

dncsv

OG Sales Savage

0

SD manager

that's really helpful. I appreciate your wisdom.

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

1

sales

just crush it. make money. let your results speak. that's how you move north.

DataSlangah

Politicker

0

SAE

I agree with you, Grizzle, about your asshole comment, keeping your nose to the grindstone, and hitting your number out of the park. I disagree with you about not managing up, and the shift leader at McD's comment is just a complete jagoff thing to say. You lose credibility when you denigrate people's roles and marginalize their feelings. As a "C-Level" executive, I would expect more class and EQ.

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

3

sales

Unfortunately it's the truth. Scale companies are designed to have high school graduates filling roles. We hire college graduates though because it shows you can complete a long project & process information.

Think about Walmart. I generally don't ever see an employee on the floor during hours outside of the register/deli. They stock at night and the few who wander around during the day aren't much help. Yet, Walmart works. How is that possible?

McDonalds wasn't a reference to the quality of person, it was a reference to the design of the operation. The manager's job is to make sure people show up, follow the process, handle the occasional hiccup and make sure seats are filled to make the place function. Any meaningful decision making happens in Chicago.

Thank you for replying @DataSlangah , I appreciate your feedback and forcing me to clarify. That was needed & I deserved the strong words for communicating poorly.

FamilyTruckster

Politicker

6

Exec Director, Major Accounts

Eating popcorn waiting to see what happens here. @GrizzleMcThornBody has the right message here

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

0

sales

I just love all of you

FamilyTruckster

Politicker

1

Exec Director, Major Accounts

You’re the shizz grizz.

funcoupons

WR Officer

6

👑

Just fyi it's ok to say FUCK on here, we're all adults.

I won't add anything else since @GrizzleMcThornBody is on point as per usual.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

Fuckity fuck fuck.

funcoupons

WR Officer

1

👑

Rat shit
bat shit
dirty ole twat
69 assholes tied in a knot!

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

1

sales

*high fives*

UserNotFound

Politicker

3

Account Executive

I'm with @GrizzleMcThornBody 100%. This is now a pattern, and it's time to do some introspection and decode it and work on it.

Diablo

Politicker

2

Sr. AE

Damn, this is bad! Curious to know what were the reasons in the other company? Did you get a feedback from previous management/your team members to see what they feel about you and what change they would like to see in you to make you ban ideal manager.

Sometimes we are the problem and we don't realize, time to dive deep to learn more about onself.

dncsv

OG Sales Savage

0

SD manager

previous company, I was blindsided.
company before that was performance and attitude (hardcore burn out but I was vocal about the burn out)

SaaSguy

Tycoon

1

Account Executive

Taking feedback is an important skill.

dncsv

OG Sales Savage

0

SD manager

yeah. trying to get there.

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