Is it harder to move up in sales than it used to be?

I can’t help but notice on LinkedIn that back in the day it seems like a lot of high ranking execs had like 1 sales gig for a couple years and then instantly became a VP of sales or enterprise sales leader.


Maybe I’m just working for the wrong companies but it seems like now the path is much much longer.


Do you agree? Why or why not?

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8
GuyBews
Opinionated
3
Director
Also, you'll find the people apply only their most recent title to their stint at X company.  Person could have started as Sales Manager 2011-2013, then Sales Director from 2013-2015, then VP Sales from 2015-present, and they'll just put VP Sales from 2011-present. 

Piece of advice: try to not worry as much about how quickly others are advancing, because you'll always find people that are moving up faster than you.  Just try to continue to improve your craft, get better every day, focus on your goals and you'll find success.
GuyBews
Opinionated
2
Director
I can't speak to how it used to be.  But the key today is you have to make the decision you want to be a leader of people rather than an individual contributor.

It's one thing to crush your own quota -- it's an entirely different beast to coach, advise, and manage others' performance to get them to achieve quota.

I typically have seen people succeed in this by jumping from Sales Manager at one company to Sales Director at another.  Same with Sales Director at one to VP Sales at another.  Usually, companies won't move you up as fast as you want to move up, so you have to find another gig that can fulfill that for you.

Look at the sales leadership at your current company, what qualities you value vs. don't value from each, internalize and apply those traits to your own style, and work to build up your own managerial style.  That's what's worked out for me thus far.
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
1
Director Sales and Market Development
I see this as it has changed, i also see tech at large as a gig economy. I am on my 6th PE flip here and have a job for 2 maybe 3 years max. Maybe 1 promotion per place. I am forever envious of the 20 year at one company people. The latter is rare the bouncing every 2-3 seems to be the norm. Just get hired higher at next place ;)
Blackwargreymon
Politicker
1
MDR
Piece of advice: try to not worry as much about how quickly others are advancing, because you'll always find people that are moving up faster than you. 
Chep
WR Officer
0
Bitcoin Adoption Specialist
Think it really depends on the companies growth and success. Much easier to get promoted when all cylinders are firing at a given company
MR.StretchISR
Politicker
0
ISR
I voted other because I basically pull my numbers out of my ass
Clashingsoulsspell
Politicker
0
ISR
Salesforce but also track my team on excel and hope they match lol. Cant get fully away from myself to depend on SFDC, i always run a spreadsheet in the background
39
Members only

Do sales managers need to be better at selling than their sdrs/aes?

Question
51
Do sales managers need to be better at selling than their sdrs/aes?
49% Yes
51% No
198 people voted
23
Members only

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