SaaSguy profile picture
SaaSguy profile picture

SaaSguy

Account Executive

Tycoon
Big Shot
Politicker
+8

Performative Busy Work?

Anyone else dealing with a recent string of senior management pushing down random performative KPI's or tasks?


Spending hours mapping out people in major metros "to meet with in person" (knowing it wont happen)


Asking for a bunch of vanity outreach activities (not actually caring about results seemingly)


I feel like this is foreshadowing something negative at my org.

Have you experienced this?

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10 comments

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Pachacuti
Politicker
10
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
My mngt has a giant spreadsheet with many, many columns of differing criteria they want checked off. Most of it is busy work, but it also demonstrates activity and that an account is actually being worked. As long as something is checked off every now and then, everyone is happy.

Do the busy work. That's why you have a salary.
Filth
Politicker
4
Live Filthy or Die Clean
Management doesn't know how to manage and is catching shit so they are implementing activities they can see and feel to relieve and relay up the chain.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
๐ŸฆŠ
Yup. Sounds like they are trying to get the heat off of themselves.
DataCorrupter
Politicker
1
Account Executive
EXACTLY.

And yes, OP, this usually means the board/C-suite is looking at the Sales org more in depth, and your bosses are reacting and giving you the busy work.

You probably won't know the outcome until it happens (RIF, reorg, etc). Just take notes mentally about the things you hear, how people act, etc. Then remember all of it next time you run into a similar situation. If it keeps getting weirder and more high pressure, get your resume ready.
jefe
Arsonist
2
๐Ÿ
Not right now but I've absolutely seen it.
Phillip_J_Fry
Opinionated
2
Director of Revenue
Worked a role where I was #1 or #2 every quarter out of ~75 reps. We had a minimum of 25 calls to be made each day. My calendar would be absolutely packed everyday, so I would end up with 12 calls, but with 6 hours of talk time. I would constantly get chewed out because I was half of the "required" metric.
When I'd point out that most people had 30 calls with a total of 12 minutes of talk time, it was totally lost on them. Quantity > Quality apparently.
I eventually had to go to my boss's boss and ask if I was being paid by the number of calls I made, or how much revenue I brought it. It was the most asinine, short-sighted thing I've dealt with in any company.
LambyCorn
Arsonist
1
A mfkn E
i was just told im running out of things to put you to do lol so.. maybe yes
Revenue_Rambo
Politicker
1
Director, Revenue Enablement
Not surprised. With more and more teams missing their projections, middle managers are being placed squarely on the chopping block. Some will have been working toward KPIs already, those that are at risk will be trying to measure any possible impact as a means of staying on.
Justatitle
Big Shot
0
Account Executive
Isnโ€™t sales fun kids
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
0
Rolling 20's all day
I feel like this is half of what my base pay is for. I just shrug and do my thing

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