bonez

Account Executive

Handling Feedback as a more Senior Seller

What up fools,

I wanted to see if anyone had some advice around something new I'm dealing with. I just got promoted to an account management team and really enjoying it. I'm learning I'm really successful when I can build relationships, get to know folks, understand their biz, and approach things like a true consultant. That said, I have some new issues with my new manager I'm struggling with.

New boss is very on top of things and really digs in deep into what's goin on with an account. Not in a bad way at all, he's really proactive and in general a big help. However, I am never the most organized or detail oriented but I make sure I'm on top of things with my accounts - clients are happy and keep buying from me. Recently I've been getting a lot of feedback around little things like "Why are you waiting to meet your client at your next bi-weekly meeting when you want to close a deal by Dec 31st? Try and get things on the books sooner." or "Have you tried asking x department for their help with this? This should be your first action". It's always little things and nothing major like "You didn't ask follow up questions - wtf", or "you have no idea what their procurement looks like do you?".

The reason I'm struggling with this is I'm a more senior member on the team and I feel like I shouldn't have to be reminded of this - it makes me worried that things are reflecting poorly on me or that I need to quadruple check things. I have been in leadership but in a different role and realize sales leaders are different. Is this normal for even senior sellers to be receiving help from your managers like this? Most managers I've had offer help on deals when I'm stuck but this one is super proactive which is new to me. I'm just new to getting such proactive feedback and want some advice from other sales leaders how you view someone that gets this type of feedback.

One major point is that I am doing well and I get compliments too - plenty of good jobs, or you handled this well, or even being used as an example - so it's not like I'm just getting critiqued all day.

Looking for advice around how best to receive this type of feedback, responses to it, and how to make adjustments.

Thanks!

🎈 Mentorship

🧢 Sales Management

💆‍♂ Mindset

10

17 comments

Sort by:

jefe

Arsonist

4

🍁

Sounds like a bit of a micromanager..

bonez

Politicker

3

Account Executive

Definitely a bit of that too for sure. I think my question is really, what kinda feedback is normal the more senior you are?

jefe

Arsonist

3

🍁

I think not nitpicking should be the norm. And that sounds pretty nitpicky to me.

bonez

Politicker

2

Account Executive

I feel that. It definitely felt a bit too granular.

jefe

Arsonist

2

🍁

You should have earned a certain amount of trust, even latitude.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

4

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

You may be ok. My manager asks because she wants to know the answer. If she asks why I’m doing something, I just tell her why. I do find it helps me remember things better and think through my own practice. There is no wrong answer in my world as a senior seller - I always have a reason that makes sense. It also enables her to roll up all the deals to her manager with confidence that things are are as stated.
It may just be that this is part of his process and nothing to be concerned about at all.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

3

Sales Rep

This can potentially be your leadership wanting to give one coach-able takeaway for every meeting. Especially if you are doing well and they say you are too, then maybe that’s the case.

Since it’s all little things, that might be it

bonez

Politicker

2

Account Executive

This is pretty in line with other comments I’ve seen him make to other sales staff. Good chance it’s this.

TennisandSales

Politicker

3

Head Of Sales

I would just tell him how it’s making you feel.
I bet he has no idea that it bothers you.

bonez

Politicker

2

Account Executive

I’ll definitely bring it up in our next 1:1. Thought maybe this type of feedback years into sales is normal haha

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

Let us know how that conversation goes bb. ❤

Arzola

Valued Contributor

0

Business administration

totally agree

VFG

Good Citizen

3

SDR

Personally, I don’t trust micro-managers. In my experience, they tend to be incompetent, dishonest, and emotionally unstable.

I’d say just keep an eye out for red flags. My big 3 are lack of clear communication, ego, and emotional instability. If you sense these are beyond a tolerable threshold, it’s bad news bears. This person will eventually lash out, and you’ll end up as collateral damage.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

3

War Room Community Manager

Do you think their questions are unreasonable?

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

This is a very good question.

Mendizo

Opinionated

2

Sr. Director

Just have a chat with the manager; as some have noted, they may not even be aware you are taking it this way.

People manage differently, and from your note it sounds like this manager is generally decent. They also aren't giving you feedback that reeks of full on micromanaging (otherwise they'd probably be having you fill out a checklist for each and every task, putting in specific dates for reachouts, etc..), so perhaps they are just trying to come up with useful/helpful ideas (or at least in their minds, it's useful). I've been guilty of this myself, and when running a large team (I had 14), it's also hard to balance who needs what kind of help. Some AE's were very self-sufficient, some AE's needed a ton of hand-holding. It starts to bleed over a bit between AE's. Again, the spirit of where this manager is coming from seems to be a good place, so talk with them and just help them understand how it's coming across.

Also, outside of yourself as an example (as I believe you when you say you are on top of it and others recognize it too), I've seen 'senior' AE's be completely idiotic when it comes to sales process and cause big issues, so I never take seniority as a sign that I as a sales leader can give them free reign. Trust but verify.

heatmiser

Good Citizen

0

Key Account Manager

I always love it when less successful sales people in their careers who are in leadership roles try to coach a successful sales rep. I believe this is more of an insecurity on them in their role vs you are in yours. Keep focused on what you need to do to getting the job done keeping them informed along the way. Their recognition of your wins will soon bring those comments down.

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

© 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.