DataCorrupter

Account Executive

Valued Contributor

New Manager, New Territory, Recipe for Disaster?

What's up savages. I've got a question for you all.

I had an interview the other day with a late-stage, but not IPO yet, company. The hiring manager is new to my territory, literally moving down that day with him family in tow. In our conversation, I asked what are some things that led you to be successful in his current (AE) territory, he answered, and I got a feeling that wouldn't work here, the regional difference is just too much. So I asked how he was planning to tackle the new territory. Same exact answer. DUH. People and regions have their own personality, norms, etc. I think he's naive to think it's just gonna work the exact same way.

Since I've been in sales, I haven't seen one manager move into a new territory or move up market and kill it yet...but sometimes you gotta revisit those biases.

Question for you all: have you seen a time where a new manager moved into a new territory and killed it? Or does it go the other way more often? Am I crazy in thinking it's naive that the exact playbook is gonna work everywhere? Let's get your thoughts.

Who is crazy here?

Attached poll

He's crazy. DataCorrupter is crazy.

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

🏋️‍♀️ Leadership

10

13 comments

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jefe

Arsonist

4

🍁

Missing an option for you both crazy....

But I think you're right to have some reservations based on his answers as reported.

NoToBANT

Catalyst

3

Senior Account Executive

He probably has a process and he should be open to adapting his playbook

You probably have a process and you should be open to adapting your playbook

You’re both right and wrong!

Trial and error. A/B test

Say something along the lines of “hey manager, you have your process and I love another perspective and willing to give it a go. Would you also mind if I used my method for 50% of it, so we can come up with best practise?”

If he says no to this - he’s a sick head

NoToBANT

Catalyst

1

Senior Account Executive

This was fully meant to read - Dickhead**

DataCorrupter

Politicker

2

Account Executive

I thought you were gonna call him a poopy face next

pirate

Big Shot

2

🦜☠️ Account Executive

I agree with you... It's not the same playbook for every continent and in Europe you need even more country specific approach.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

2

Sales Rep

I am going with you are both right. Not knowing his answer, I would assume he listed best practices, which are scalable and can work in other territories. However, you need to adapt to the feedback your prospects are giving and need to adapt

J.J.McLure

Politicker

2

Owner at *redacted*

I think the crazy leans towards him, if you have something that worked before 100% give it a try but keep a close eye on it and adapt to the new territory

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

So - are you taking the job, or no?

DataCorrupter

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I just didn’t follow up after the interview. I’ve had another VP move into territory for out of town, run the same playbook, and wonder why it didn’t work, never bothering to change. Not gonna go through the experiment again 🤷🏻‍♂️

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Once bitten...

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

1

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Depends on the product and customer. Successful managers know how to manage territories, and a lot of it is leaning on the sales team to understand the customer base.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

Be kind to yourself 🥂

justadude

Fire Starter

0

The only sales guy

If he wasn’t there would you have the same reservation?…. No (my assumption)
Has that new-to-town manager been selling that product longer than you? Yea (my assumption)

If I got those right, AND the pay is better, AND it’s a product/vertical you want to sell… then I don’t think you should even bring his ability to sell into question, probably need a quick ego/gut check.

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