Navigating path from AE to team lead

We're a small team of 4 AE's and I'm by far the most experienced with the company and there's a few junior AE's my CEO wants me to help out on deals with. The thing is, our average deal size especially for SMB is around 15k-50k and the deal flow is low, so having 3% really isn't worth it to me.


He asked me about what it would take % wise to have me help out with them, as we don't have a director of sales. I have about 5 years of AE experience and don't feel i'm fully ready for a director of sales role and have been crushing it as an AE so I don't want to divert time away from my deals, but also feel like it's a chance for me to ask for a promotion. Curious if anyone's been in a similar situation, what title i could ask for, increase in base etc.


My initial thinking is to ask for 5% of all deals closed from the junior AE, an increase in base or new title but not sure what i really want.

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7
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
3
ERP Sales
I think you would need all 3 (base increase, % on deals, title change). Since you are basically a manager you deserve manager pay.
In previous roles a Team Lead made 5% of all deals of the members they support, base had a 50% increase, and got a fancy title.
Curious would the % of the deal, change the % of the deal the junior reps get? How do you think they are going to react
Sadboysales
Opinionated
2
Account Executive
Junior rep is the one pushing for this originally, CEO is realising they're right. My base is quite low at the moment as it is
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
Go get paid.
jefe
Arsonist
1
๐Ÿ
All of this, and all of those.

Take a manager title, not director, given your tenure. And get that money.
TennisandSales
Politicker
3
Head Of Sales
if I was the CEO asking you to help out the team, and you came back to me with an ask of a new title, new comp plan, and higher base pay, id say no flat out.

Sounds like the CEO is asking for you to spend a portion of your time to help the team. So i would do a few things first:

1. get clarity on what his/her expectations are.
- How many hours a week would they expect you to be helping?
- are you jumping on calls? - Are you meetings 1:1 to talk through deals?
- Are you helping to set meetings?
- What results is he/she expecting to see?

2. You need to think about if you would like to be a Sales Manager (that would be the next step I would not shoot for director of sales)
- if you are not interested in advancing your career in that way then it changes you how approach this. - if you are then you can be more intentional.

3. Offer a lower commitment option first - mention you would be open to allocating a certain number of hours per week to helping the team. - lay out how you would do it: 1 hr per week per rep, team deal reviews ect. - Also make it clear on your goals. If you want to be a manager, You need to tell the CEO that is your goal. - Give a timeframe of how long you will do this team lead activities and then mention after that time frame if its gone well you want to talk about a promotion to Sales Manager and a comp plan that reflects that.


If you go in to hard to fast i dont think it will work out as well for you.
Sadboysales
Opinionated
2
Account Executive
This is really good feedback, i'd like to take the approach of laying the groundwork up for success and like the line of questioning here
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
This!!! I couldn't have written it better. This is some great feedback!!
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
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lowhangersalesbanger
Executive
1
Account Executive
Welcome to your new role as Sales Manager. Get a 20k bump in base and take a percent of all new business. Include a separate % for deals you do yourself if you are still expected to work as an IC
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