ChickenDinner

Account Executive

Valued Contributor

Realistic or positive patty?

In sales our bosses are often asking about how the year is lookin? How the quarter is lookin? How the month is lookin? Even how the week is lookin?

And I tend to be a very realistic person so I tend to give a more realistic answer about who I think might close and who likely won't based off of various buys signals, etc. But it often feels like for me and for my friends in sales that our bosses just want you to be a positive patty and to tell them that all goals will be met perfectly even if it isn't realistic.

Does sales leadership want you to give accurate forecasts or to just tell them positive things and brush the yellow flags and concerns under the rug?

Realistic or positive patty?

Attached poll

Be realistic as you forecast even if it means not hitting quota Always be a positive patty no matter what!

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

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19 comments

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Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

8

Sales Rep

In the crm, always have a positive spin. In 1:1s I am honest with what is realistic

alonzoharris

Politicker

2

Partner Manager

This is the way.

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

7

Account Executive

You never want to be known as the rep that overpromises underdelivers

cashmachine

Politicker

2

AE (Account Executive)

this.

salesdetroit

Politicker

1

Director

As I was reading this, I literally had flashbacks to people I worked with years ago, and that’s basically all I remember about working with them.

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

0

Account Executive

Underpromise overdeliver is a lifestyle choice

CuriousFox

WR Officer

5

🦊

Be realistic unless your boss says otherwise.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

4

Professional Day Ruiner

being honest with your boss is important. but being honest with yourself is importanter. lol. I see reps all the time who aren't intentionally embellishing when forecasting. they just aren't honest with themselves in regards to what they can actually get over the line each quarter

dreadpiratescript

Politicker

4

Producer

maybe phrase your realism around focusing on disqualifying the opps in the pipeline that you arent feeling good about so you can spend more time and energy on the "positive" opps. positivity as lame as it sounds goes a long way

jefe

Arsonist

4

🍁

Realism is always the best course of action. Tempered optimism is fine, but inflating forecasts usually does nothing but bite you in the ass.

tightlines

Politicker

3

Account Executive

I'll fool myself if I'm not realistic tbh

Diablo

Politicker

2

Sr. AE

I would be realistic rather than being a big mouth who would be on top of the list when they want to layoff reps

Pachacuti

Politicker

2

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I try to be publicly positive but internally I'm realistic.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Forecasting needs to be based on reality, but there's a range in there as well. Room for the high end and the worst case.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

1

War Room Community Manager

Many of them want you to be positively realistic

Coastal_crusher

Politicker

1

Sales Director

This can bite you in the ass if you ever have actual opportunity coming up but your boss doesnt believe you

Fenderbaum

Politicker

1

Retired Choirboy🪕

Positivity is somewhat contagious, while realism can sometimes be interpreted as negative. With that said, I'm always realistic.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

0

Sales

You have to be positive on the stuff you can commit to. Always hide a little for yourself so you can backfill easily.

NoSuperhero

Politicker

0

BDR LEAD

Be realistic with a positive swag!! Don't overshoot, but do try harder than what you accomplished the previous quarter, at least that's how I do it.

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