(Hypothetical Scenario) If you had to take up another role in your org along with sales, which one would you go for?

👑 Sales Strategy
21
softwaresails
Politicker
19
Sales Manager
Marketing... because I wouldn’t really be adding anything else to my plate 😉
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Haha
sahil
Notable Contributor
12
Deepak Chopra of Sales
I deeply believe the best salespeople would make excellent product managers. 

The best PMs have a deep, intuitive understanding of their users. They understand their pains, frustrations, motivations, and desires. They walk in the shoes of their user, and in doing so, have strong instinct on what products to prioritize. But they also must be experts in data, using analytics and metrics to support (or refute) their own assumptions. 

It's like that old adage: strong beliefs, loosely held. 

The best salespeople channel their customer innately. They spend time where their customers live, read their content, build strong relationships, and deeply understand both what the prospect wants from the product and WHY they want that. Great salespeople know how to pitch their product better than any product marketer could ever teach them, because they know their customer that well. 

But great salespeople are also experts in using data + analytics to uplevel their performance. They are constantly testing new theories, changing up their approach methodically to deliver better results. They can also use that same data-driven approach to sell, figuring out clever ways to justify the cost of purchasing the product vs. benefits gained.

The biggest weakness of a salesperson turned PM is: optimism. Us salespeople are hopelessly optimistic when it comes to deadlines, feature capabilities, etc. We have to be, in order to do a job where you fail 99% of the time but are still willing to pick up the phone that 100th time. PM'ing is all about being a skeptic. You have to assume that you will miss release deadlines, features will be underwhelming, results will be weak, etc. Then use that skepticism to sharpen the axe and not fall victim to drinking your own koolaid. 

So if you're able to turn off the "happy ears" while maintaining that deep understanding of a user... a future in PM'ing awaits many top sales pros. 
Ace
Arsonist
1
CEO
This is really great. I agree with the optimism point. The context switching can get real!
TheCloser
Member
0
Director of Sales
I second this whole heartedly. Have often thought of making the move into Product if I ever decide to stop selling my soul to make quota. 

I'm also noticing a significant pick up in "Revenue Operations" roles and seems like that would be a natural fit if you're good with tech and numbers. I feel like I do a lot of what rev ops people already do as part of my current role just to appease management.
Salespreuner
Big Shot
3
Regional Sales Director
Strategy
Trinity
WR Officer
2
BusDev
Same here. I enjoy sales/sales strategy but really miss the corp strat.
Salespreuner
Big Shot
0
Regional Sales Director
Perfect
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
So that comes under marketing?
Salespreuner
Big Shot
1
Regional Sales Director
Nah sales & corporate business strategy 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Got it. Yeah, that's a good extension
Salespreuner
Big Shot
0
Regional Sales Director
Indeed
Trinity
WR Officer
2
BusDev
Same as VKN_Salespreneur. I actually miss doing corporate/business planning. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sales strategy but it's only one part of the business.
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
I feel you. I think I'd lean towards that too tbh
Salespreuner
Big Shot
0
Regional Sales Director
Thanks for acknowledging 🙌
Chep
WR Officer
2
Bitcoin Adoption Specialist
training or recruiting 
Ace
Arsonist
1
CEO
Nice one. Although combine that with sales and your hands will be always full
Chep
WR Officer
0
Bitcoin Adoption Specialist
That's a good point. I've seen companies who have people doing both, but also ones where people focus solely on one or the other. I'd prefer the latter 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
So a more focused approach?
Rallier
Politicker
2
SDR Manager and Consultant
CEO because I'll get paid more, duh
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
That's one way to do it
SADNES5
Politicker
2
down voters are marketing spies
Partner Affairs. Love to argue on the clients behalf with 0 consequences. 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Lol
funcoupons
WR Officer
2
👑
Recruiting
FindingZEMO
Fire Starter
2
Technical Sales Manager
Definately RnD...if you do sales well, you know what your customers need most. If you do RnD well, you design what your customers need most.
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
That's a great dept to be in!
newboy
Valued Contributor
1
Complete Sales team
Go for Marketing. You'll love the free time.
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
😂😂
Salespreuner
Big Shot
0
Regional Sales Director
Haha🔥
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
Training or become a specialist. Maybe recruiting, but don't know much about it.
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Well you can always learn
MMMGood
Celebrated Contributor
1
Senior Account Executive
Demand Gen. I think that team could use more seasons sales savages. 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
IKR
beermoney
Politicker
1
Business Development
100% product management or product marketing 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
For me, CS or PM
CaneWolf
Politicker
1
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
We need project managers right now so I'd do that. Also, I could control what happens to my closed deals WAY more which would be a nice thing to have.
Ace
Arsonist
1
CEO
Yeah @sahil actually talked about salespeople becoming great project managers on this thread above
CaneWolf
Politicker
0
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
He said product management which is actually different. Not all projects managers are good project managers but the reverse is probably true. Rectangle/square situation.
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Aah, makes sense
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
1
Sr. Customer Success Manager
Management - to empower the sales teams
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Managing sales people?
FeedTheKids
Politicker
1
Solutions Consultant
Sales Engineer or Marketing. 

SE - I'm already helping answer the team's questions and cleaning up diagrams behind the scenes. 

Marketing - already got my hands in the cookie jar. 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Thats smart
Worf
Politicker
0
SDR
Marketing. Because we (as salespeople) can probably do it better.
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Lol
Salesisfun
Opinionated
0
AE
Partnerships 100%. Something about the strategic moves just gets me
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
That's interesting. I'd choose partnerships too maybe. Alliance manager
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
0
Officer of ♥️
HOW DARE U
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Haha, just feeling the room my friend
sales7
Politicker
0
Commercial Product Enablement
commercial product 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
What kind of product?
sales7
Politicker
0
Commercial Product Enablement
commercialising the product the company sells, so connecting the technical to the commercial & needs of the market
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Oh, that sounds interesting!
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Training / On-boarding
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Isn't that still a part of sales? Well post-sales roles 
thegoodleads
Good Citizen
0
Senior Account Executive
Strategy for sure. 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Many people going for the same haha
thegoodleads
Good Citizen
1
Senior Account Executive
Yep! I thought it was funny the person who said marketing - you'll have more free time.  I had WAY less time and no work-life balance when I was in marketing. Actually, same for strategy, lol, which is why I went back to sales.
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Totally feel you on it!
Commodore
Good Citizen
0
VP of Sales
I wouldn't.  NOPE no way.  I might join a committee or or group to plan a customer event tor something like that but another role, NO WAY! I have seen this too many times in my organization and its a way to get sales people to do the job of two and only pay you for one.  And if your quota still has to be meet, then you really are screwed. I'm either in sales and crushing it or I'm whatever cruising  that.  You don't get me doing two for one.  This isn't McDonalds. 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Damn you feel really strongly about this
Commodore
Good Citizen
0
VP of Sales
Yup.  I've seen it a lot and been asked and declined.  My favorite is a Sales manager with sales quote of their own while babysitting new hires with quotas.  Nope. 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Yeah that's good. A little bit of training and coaching is involved
Commodore
Good Citizen
1
VP of Sales
I'm just to busy getting my numbers.  I'm good at what I do and the highest paid rep in the entire company.  I'll happily help (coach) a new hire but I am not responsible for him/her.  If they see the value in my assistance and knowledge I am here to help and ask nothing in return.  If he/she makes it, it only strengthens our organization.  And helps us grow as a company. 

Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
100%. One way to go about it would be your coaching + their accountability
jjdicaprio
Old School Bravo
0
VP, Sales
I think that the Rev Ops function, and running one, is getting really interesting at technology companies. 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Thats a good one. Its kind of a spinoff of sales
twothousandandchael
Good Citizen
0
Director of Sales
💯 Marketing. No accountability or performance necessary.
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Hahah
Rigeyyy
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
Marketing. Easy gig
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Lol
BCD
Politicker
0
BDR
CSM
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Any particular reason?
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
I would not.

If you have a sales job, and another job.....guess what.....sales will drop. You'll get let go for not making sales.

This is a trap question.
5

My company is acquiring Another company. Any advice going through a merger in sales?

Advice
11
7

When do you know if it's best to move on to another job opportunity?

Advice
19
33
Members only

I was hired at a really good start up about 4 months ago for a SDR role that I was told I wouldn’t be in for very long. They’re gonna go public in the next year, but Zoom Info reached out to me about an Account exec position. Now I’m wondering if I should take the guaranteed route to AE or let my shares vest and get to AE at the place that took me. Usually I wouldn’t consider jumping so quickly, but AE is AE.

Question
30
stay or go
53% yes, start closing
47% no, dont be impatient
310 people voted