takethemeeting

Micro Managers- do they ever F off?

I recently took a full-cycle sales position for a start up and have been crushing my quota. Closed 5 deals in 2 months with net value of 400k in revenue.

This is my first closing role and I'm pumped about my success thus far. My manager, however, is not.

I get multiple calls a day checking in on lead status, send daily pipeline reports, and get constant criticism for how I'm handling the sales cycle. Additionally, I took a vacation the week of thanksgiving and got shit on for not focusing on pipeline.

I've always let the numbers do the talking but that doesn't seem to work with this manager. Is this what it's like for all AE's?

I understand this company is his baby but I am being micromanaged to the point where it's a fucking nightmare working for this guy. Rant over.

🧠 Advice

😤 Conflict Resolution

🧢 Sales Management

22 comments

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funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

No, this isn't what it's like across the board. I think this situation is more common with early stage startups, where like you said the company is the founder's "baby" and they're directly involved in day to day operations. Many founders have no idea of how to manage people.

Can people change? Of course. Is it likely to happen soon? Likely not. In some situations I'd recommend having a frank discussion with your boss to discuss their expectations and gently tell them that their very close management style is distracting you from being able to close business. In this situation, I wouldn't. To have that kind of blunt conversation you need to have good rapport with a leader who has an open mind. If this guy scolded you for taking time off around Thanksgiving when you're crushing quota I get the feeling that he isn't a reasonable person who'd respond well to this type of conversation.

Your two choices are put up with it or find a new role.

takethemeeting

Opinionated

Absolutely not a reasonable person. For now I’m drinking out the shit funnel until I can find another AE role where I can be appreciated.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

To answer the question in your title, no. That's why they are a micromanager.

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

If it's their first management role I could see them growing out of it. Some people get a little overzealous when approaching management for the first time.

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

Keep your head down, let the numbers speak for you, and then get the fuck out after a year or so.

buckets1

Politicker

Founders can be fucking nightmares to work for. Full stop. Plz don’t expect me to care as much about the company as you when I have less than 1% of the equity you get.

Wellss

Tycoon

Channel sales

Sadly no, in my experience they never fully back off. The last time I was in a position like this, I waited until my quarterly review to bring up how their management style is almost counter productive. I found I was spending more time talking with them & updating every little detail in the CRM, that I could have used to be working my accounts. I tried to go at it with that approach and got hit back with "well you do understand it is my job as your manager to manage you". Ultimately I left the company :)

To funcoupons point, yes people can change. But it might take multiple people bringing up the same point for this to happen & it surely won't happen overnight.

Sorry you're dealing with this type of management! I know how unpleasant it can make your day to days.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Micromanagers maintain self-worth by exerting their self-perceived power/control over you. They will not let up, not for a second, because that would mean losing that power/control, leaving them out in the wind and easy to kill.

takethemeeting

Opinionated

FattySnacks

Politicker

Senior Account Executive

Wasn’t meant to sound hostile btw. Just finished reading “Extreme Ownership” so trying some new mental gymnastics out

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

Sales

You can try to fight fire with fire here. Overwhelm him with shit. Just constant updates over the course of a week or so should send the message. Be petty. Hour updates on calls and emails. It’ll be a giant pain for you, but after a week set a call and ask to discuss what the appropriate cadence is going to be, going forward.

Otherwise polish the resume and move.

AssistantToTheRegional

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

This is it. Overwhelming with kindness does the trick.

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

I would imagine that this has a lot to do with the churn rate in startups, especially with sales staff. These guys are still trying to figure out how to make shit work and most don't trust their people enough to just aim them in the right direction and let go.

Your best bet is to look for new ops and if shit doesn't get better by end of Q1, dip out.

FattySnacks

Politicker

Senior Account Executive

Have you had a frank conversation with him?
Have you have a frank conversation with yourself?
Numbers matter most but he has metrics and reports to track as well. Are you making his life more difficult?
I’m sure you’re crushing and I congratulate it but given “I let numbers do the talking” I would venture to say there are some fundamentals you’re not doing for him that he needs help with.

TheOverTaker

Politicker

Senior Account Executive

micro managers gonna micro manage.
maybe try and have an honest conversation with him about it

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

This is the only way that some people know how to manage. It's how they think they are justifying their position. There are far better management styles and managers out there. For example, even if your cycle/pipeline management needs work, a good manager provides guidance and doesn't get buried in the weeds.

If it's impossible for him to change, make your money and look for an exit.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

Many small smart ups don't understand what mental wellness is as all they are bothered about is the number. As this is a year end, they might need numbers to show to their investors or the buyers. You're doing good, don't get bogged down because I am sure that company is not your permanent home

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

To answer your question, no, thats not what all managers are like.
I've worked for a founder like this before where it was his baby and it gave him the worst blinders. He wasn't able to see the pitfalls and then also micromanaged everything to shit.

So. Going forward, I would recommend setting expectations together if at all possible as this is wasting both of your time and mental energy when it could be weekly updates rather than daily.
If you think he would be receptive to an honest and open conversation about what it takes to succeed together (and extending trust) then I would do so.

Fenderbaum

Politicker

Retired Choirboy🪕

...

slaydie

Big Shot

Account Executive

Any updates here? Im curious if you spoke to him or not and if so how the conversation went

nomdeguerre

Executive

Account executive

If your manager is also the founder, which it sounds like, then you are SOL until the company grows enough that he/she is forced to hire a sales manger putting a layer between you and the founder.

If your manager is not the founder and you have a good relationship with the founder and you are killing your quota, then you can have a blunt conversation with the founder and explain that unless the manager gets off your back you're leaving.