startupminion

BDM

Mental health at work

I have recently transitioned into a tech sales job, and my prior experience in sales was in the professional services industry. I've been in the role for 3 months, and my mental health is suffering. At this point I'm questioning if I'm even cut out for sales altogether, or if I should consider a career switch. Some things that get to me in this job:

- weekly dashboard review for ranking of activity levels among reps, and the ones with the lowest numbers need to explain themselves

- when I've been at the bottom and explained that I was busy prepping with demos, was met with responses of 'pipe gen is discipline, just got to do it', and a colleague saying 'i've got a confession to make, I've got no life, it's just me and my cat, so I don't mind working till 1/2am'

- manager likes to play a game called 'how well do you know your deal' where we randomly call up a deal and the rest of the employees (including those from other functions) need to grill the rep on it

- manager also like public rebukes for even small mistakes, like having a deal on the pipeline that isn't part of our focus, or when a deal record is not 100% updated

any advice/insights or personal experiences are greatly appreciated, thank you!

14

33 comments

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braintank

Politicker

7

Enterprise Account Executive

Find another job if possible. This place is toxic

startupminion

Executive

2

BDM

Thanks for the affirmation. I really wasn’t sure if it’s because I am too ‘soft’ and can’t withstand pressure, because my colleagues are saying this place is chill and culture is so good in comparison to other tech sales orgs they have been in. Therefore scared to look for another tech sales job actually >.<

ChickenWings

Opinionated

0

Tom Callahan's Son

Nope.

Withstanding bullshit from a bully leader isn’t pressure worth seeking.

None of the above focuses on outputs, sharing success, or giving direction. It’s appears to be a reflection of your leadership’s pessimism.

Their focus appears to want to be in the right places (consistent pipe gen, data hygiene, knowing where your deal has gaps) but they then enforce instead of support.

startupminion

Executive

1

BDM

Thanks for lending clarity to my situation! Have you come across sales leaders that support instead of enforce? What does that look like?

ChickenWings

Opinionated

0

Tom Callahan's Son

I've been fairly lucky with leadership.

They all had different styles, but the reoccuring themes seemed to be trust and respect. My actions spoke to my effort, therefore, I earned it...but it was a two way street.

To me, support looks like an earnest effort to help navigate and elevate. Enforcing is simply berating an undesirable result with no support.

Much of being successful in sales is on you, but if your leadership is unwilling to help with learning what you don't know they are failing you.

Remember that middle mgmt takes a heap of shit all day they need to filter down to you. If they're just passing the message along without the positive parts above, it's them that can't handle the pressure instead of you.

punishedlad

Tycoon

6

Business Development Team Lead

I promise you not all sales organizations are like this, and this one sounds absolutely terrible. Bare with it as long as you can until you find a new job.

startupminion

Executive

0

BDM

My colleagues who have been in other big tech firms say that this place is already very chill in comparison, so I’m worried that other places will be as bad or worse.

ZVRK

Politicker

5

Enterprise Account Executive

This sounds awful, also, I`ve been there. Sounds a lot like my first job (selling business loans at a small-ish commercial bank).

They did the same thing, weekly meetings, if you`re in the bottom 3, you`re in red and have to explain yourselves.

I mean you can bear with it for a while, but eventually, you don`t want to stay somewhere this toxic. I would start looking.

startupminion

Executive

0

BDM

Did you manage to find another sales job that wasn’t like that?

ZVRK

Politicker

0

Enterprise Account Executive

Yup, on my 4th sales job atm, not a trace of that kind of harassment :)

startupminion

Executive

0

BDM

Wow! Okay that gives me hope. Do you mind sharing what industry is that role for? (Am thinking if it’s tech sales that’s the problem)

ZVRK

Politicker

1

Enterprise Account Executive

Sure, first job in banking, second digital marketing agency, third executive training, current job AE with an HR tech enterprise SaaS company.

startupminion

Executive

1

BDM

Thanks for sharing! So it is possible for a tech sales org to be without this kind of scrutiny hmmm

jefe

Arsonist

5

🍁

This is not normal, but also not as uncommon as it should be.

Life is too short for a toxic workplace.

startupminion

Executive

0

BDM

Have u encountered this and if so, how did you deal with it?

jefe

Arsonist

3

🍁

You're not really going to be able to institute systemic change, so the only real option is to find somewhere new. Keep your head down in the meantime, and stay sane.

TennisandSales

Politicker

3

Head Of Sales

yeah ive been here.

for the time management part, have you reached out for help on how other reps are managing to get out reach done and prep for demos?

also, if a teammate is deciding to work till 1 -2 am....that is on THEM. not you. that does not mean you need to do that or you HAVE to do that to be successful.

the public rebukes from a manager sucks. i would tell them in a 1:1 that your not cool with that, and that your fine with taking criticism, but if it could be in private, that would be better.

also, not all sales teams are run like this.

startupminion

Executive

1

BDM

The response was the staying up till 1/2am.. and I know the other reps do go overtime quite a bit and sometimes spend the weekend working. So it seems like longer hours is the answer?

How did you get past such a situation? I already feel like quitting 😭

RandyLahey

Politicker

3

Account Executive

Start looking elsewhere. Once you mortgage your mental health, it can take a very long time to regain a sense of normalcy.

startupminion

Executive

1

BDM

I’m not sure if there are better places out there though. My colleagues are telling me that this is really chill compared to other tech sales jobs they have been in, so I’m afraid that going to somewhere else will just be jumping from the pot to the kettle.

Maximas

Tycoon

2

Senior Sales Executive

Jump the ship, the place that makes you suffer is certainly toxic, nothing else to say!
Much of luck.

Pachacuti

Politicker

2

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

It’s sounds like a junior sales floor. And yes, sales is like that in many places. I’d give it a bit more time, but you know you so if it’s not something you can hack, go find another job. Sales isn’t for everyone.

HVACexpert

Politicker

1

sales engineer

Fuck this place. I’ve been at places where the culture wasn’t great and it almost killed my sales career. Now I’m at a place where sales is fun again.

Get out!

startupminion

Executive

1

BDM

Wow great to know that there r good places out there. Where you’re at now, do they not do these weekly activity leaderboard thing?

HVACexpert

Politicker

1

sales engineer

No I’m at a private family owned company. Great culture and great people. Everyone is helpful, and there is none of that peacocking bullshit. Everyone just goes out and kills it.

startupminion

Executive

1

BDM

That’s heartening to hear. Thanks for sharing!

Diablo

Politicker

1

Sr. AE

Looks like you are not in the right company.

startupminion

Executive

0

BDM

Or it could be that I’m just not good enough? I can’t make it up the leaderboard, not when I’m not willing to sleep at 1/2am or work weekends..

Diablo

Politicker

0

Sr. AE

If you self doubt yourself you will never be where you want to reach. Start feeling good about you and start appreciating yourself. It’s free and helpful.

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

1

Account Executive

Manager sounds like a punk/micromanager. I've had good and bad. He's definitely on the bad side imo

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

Yeah...I'd be looking for a new gig on the down low.

Justatitle

Big Shot

0

Account Executive

seems pretty toxic, and sales is already mentally destroying...

startupminion

Executive

1

BDM

Tell me abt it. Sales is already mentally destroying, and this makes it worse. That’s why I’m questioning if I even still want to be in sales 😭

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