aiko

Sr. Account Executive

Forecast time

Can you get fired for over estimating your forecast?

My companies FC process is pretty intense at the end of every quarter and I have deals that gave verbal commits last week, but are ghosting me this week. I've called, emailed & even had my leader reach out, but nothing is coming through.

This is the second quarter in a row that its happened and I'm afraid that it looks bad. It makes me feel shitty. Any advice?

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17 comments

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braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Yeah, you can get fired for this.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

You can which is why you document everything. The CRM can definitely be your friend here

aiko

Politicker

Sr. Account Executive

So, documenting even if I come under my commit, will make it better?

punishedlad

Tycoon

🧙‍♂️

Logging good notes and showing that you've been actively trying to pursue the verbal commits that are ghosting you certainly helps your case.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Uh, totally yes.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

Sales

Are you in a high volume low deal size company? So you missed on say 10 deals out 60 this quarter, or did you miss by 1 deal with a 1.2mm ACV? That matters in this scenario.

Also look as to why you’re forecast is off. Do you actually have the things lined up to close? What’s missing?

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

So what happened last quarter? Did leadership come back to you and ask what happened?
If you said you have nothing to commit, what will happen?

aiko

Politicker

Sr. Account Executive

Last quarter I was under my commit by a few thousand dollars. This quarter I will be again with one day to go. If I say I have nothing to commit to start, that would have looked better.

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

Yes, if it's truly bullshit.

Document, document, document.

aiko

Politicker

Sr. Account Executive

Not bullshit at all. They will be coming in next month after finally getting ahold of them. But still.

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

All you can do is be transparent with your leadership.

Can they jump in to help move the needle?

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

Yes, you may get fired for this but hopefully you won't.And my advice is always to be more reasonable moving forward.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Are you committing a number, or specific deals?

And yes, forecast accuracy is a key part of sales. Have you been accurate in the past?

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

Underpromise, overdeliver. 55% of the time it works every time!

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

You definitely can hence documentation always help to justify

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

So this is something you can get terminated for unfortunately.
Your intentions are good and you are verbally committed but then something happens and the verbal doesn't mean anything.
My recommendation to you would be that unless the legal process/negotiation has started not to forecast the deal.
I would also recommend you speak to management to ask how they would like you to deal with this situation to get better.

finboi

Notorious Answer

Fi-nance

You gotta focus on facts with your boss and learn from your mistakes my friend. Yes, unreliable forecasting is bad for business and can get you fired.

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aiko

Forecast time

17 comments

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