SPT

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

No motivation - put on a PIP

I was warned by my manager I would be put on a PIP and today I was. The company is a startup and laid off 15% two months ago and cannot get investors for Series C round. I also have a high base salary. No other sales person made their number in Q2 and I'm sure I will not survive this PIP. My manager wants me to "make lots of phone calls" but I have zero motivation for anything. Do I even try? Or just do the bare minimum while job hunting? I can't even fake enthusiasm.

🧠 Advice

☂️ Layoffs

☠️ Unemployment

43 comments

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BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

Sounds like you should just fake it until you find something else. It doesn't seem like things will improve much there.

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

Account Executive

Sounds like a paid job search to me

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

This sucks. Sorry to hear it.
Imagine it this way:

You’ve got 1 pill from each of 2 prescriptions from a career doctor. 2 pills total. When you picked up the scripts the pharmacist told you that 1 pill would would make your current job palatable for 30 days. There would be no heat, but you won’t beat the PIP.

The other pill will get you a new job. But nobody has ever survived taking both pills. It’s too much for any human brain.

I think you know which pill to take.

Good luck ✊

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Love this analogy

Revenue_Rambo

Politicker

Director, Revenue Enablement

Absolute truth.

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Ekkk...I honestly don't know which pill you're reccomending I swallow?

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

New job pill, my friend. PIPs aren't designed to be beaten. It's tough to see it all clearly when you're in the middle of it. You know you don't have it in you to fight through it. Parlay your experience and accomplishments in that role and find a happier home.
I don't think it sucks everywhere.

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Thank you, friend 🙏

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Dust of the resume and get interviewing, if you a in a slump and put on a PIP, you need to protect yourself

Revenue_Rambo

Politicker

Director, Revenue Enablement

If your PIP metric is “make lots of phone calls” then you are already done. Without a specific target no matter what you do can be pushed back as not quite good enough.

Use the time to look for your next role.

You can choose to make calls or not, but not putting in some effort may bring you to an end faster than the PIP.

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Thank you. Yeah..."make a lot of phone calls" makes me feel like my boss is just using me to generate business for HIM, since we sell into Enterprise and I cannot source and close a new deal in these 3 months of the PIP. I'm resentful!

RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Executive

Goddamnit. I'm sorry you are going through this man.
I feel like PIPs often have the exact opposite effect of what is intended. I guess state your disappointment but also mention that you will move on and focus on improving.
But yeah, get that job search going.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Use your perch to find a new spot asap

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Try and job hunt at the same time. Your priority is you and your future. If you can do both, do it. Looks like it is a lost cause, but make them fire you and get as much out as you can

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

It's likely I'll be put on a PIP end of the month as well since no one in NA has hit quota at my company. I've been here like 2.5 months and leave for my PTO next week.
Honestly, I kind of welcome it. I'll be moving to Germany in October to start grad school and I need some change/to be away from sales for a while. I wish you the best of luck, friend.

HappyGilmore

Politicker

Account Executive

Shoot I'm sorry to hear that.
As others have said, use the time to fire up some job applications and get some interviews going.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

Sorry to hear that. Show them what they want to see while you search for the new role. All will be good man, all the best!

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Paid job search, unless you REALLY want to stay there. If that’s the case - get off bravado and start make those calls!!

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

I don't want to leave. But now I feel humiliated.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I get that. It’s somewhat insulting. It might be best for you to get in front of things so you have options moving forward.

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Do you mean job hunting? Or trying to accomplish the PIP?

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Gasty just posted a list of companies hiring AEs. Sorry this has happened, but hope you can find something better.

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Would you please post the link here? I can't seem to find it.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

@SPT Here you go: https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/who-s-hiring-aes-7-11-23

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

🙏

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Start looking now.

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

Gotta find a new gig absolutely!

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Thank you...I'm trying.

CPTAmerica

Opinionated

President/CRO

You have to find a way to suck it up and put in the effort while you're still employed. I know it sucks but you never know what might happen. They may cut your boss before they cut you (I've seen it happen). 100% focus on job hunting at the same time. Best of luck!

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Yeah, been there, bare minimum to keep the paychecks but interview everywhere else.

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Thank you 🙏

iamtheone

Executive

Enterprise SDR

Literally same situation. They’re just trying to squeeze everything they can before they let you go. Start networking and interviewing immediately and do bare minimum just to get him off your back a bit.

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Thanks. Very sorry you’re in the same boat 😞

Global Operations Director

Get outta there. Motivation won't magically return if you survive the PIP! What's really keeping you there if you aren't being successful and enjoying what you do

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

True! Thank you. Plus, our product is stalled, no one is buying it...hard to be successful, for sure.

CRAG112

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

Fake it until you make it. They’ll be paying unemployment no matter what.

BadColdCaller

Politicker

Account Executive

You can see the writing on the wall, time to leave - no specific coaching for the PIP and based on blind metrics is no way to work

buffinsc

Member

Account Executive

If its attainable I would go for it, motivation can be tough to find but jobs are tough to find as well.

Def look for a job but give this job 100% while you look, will be even sweeter leaving when you beat your pip and make your manager look like a fool.

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Good point. I didn't mention in my orginal post that my manager has been my manager at 3 other companies, over the past 10 years. He brings me over, where ever he lands. So, I don't want to burn the bridge down. I'm not sure if the PIP was his ideas, or upper management's. Very sad, all around.

buffinsc

Member

Account Executive

I hear ya, tough situation all around. I’m sure he has some pressure coming down. Best to you and in the end all works out!

LambyCorn

Arsonist

A mfkn E

Might sound corny as lambycorn but, motivation isn't always there - what does stick is discipline, that will pull you out of mental shit holes/Its funny because, im not one to talk. I do great when motivated but im not disciplined so, when unmotivated, i dont do jack lolhope this helps a bit :c

mdawg

Member

VP of Sales

Beat the pip and secure a new job. I did that once and quitting while I was the top performer was the sweetest revenge! Good luck!

New Customer Acquisition Account Executive

Start the job search. Don’t do what I did and try to conquer the PIP.

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SPT

No motivation - put on a PIP

43 comments

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