Mothy

Account Executive

SDR to SDR Manager

Hey savages, my manager is quitting and from the sounds of things, I am in the short list to take over his role. Any tips for the interviews, for transitioning into a manager role, or for being the best SDR manager possible?

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👨‍🌾 SDR

14 comments

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Notmyrealname

Politicker

Personally I'd pass on this one. I'd much rather a ton of AE experience before managing any sales related teams for so many reasons. If you have to take it, I'd be offering to do it only in a caretaker capacity for a fixed term until they find a suitable candidate. Gives you the most outs and leaves a lot of options open for further progression. But that's just my opinion based on what you've given.

Mothy

Politicker

Account Executive

That’s a good plan.

Mothy

Politicker

Account Executive

Would you suggest trying to negotiate a raise into the caretaker capacity?

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

It ain't a promotion if you don't get more money.

Under no circumstances should you agree to this without a raise.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Do you actually want this role?

Mothy

Politicker

Account Executive

I would like to be in leadership eventually. Basically my only reservation is pigeon holing myself into exclusively top of funnel.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

That's a fair reservation. In my opinion SDR manager can be a bit of a trap.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

As others said, don't take a promotion just because it's available. Make sure it's something you really want, especially since it's a people manager position. If your hearts not in it you'll end up miserable and the team will suffer.

KendallRoy

Politicker

Had a couple of early discussions recently for potential SDR Manager roles. Comp offered was lower than the SMB AE package I just accepted. I’d consider it a career-limiting move. Team lead to show leadership skills, sure, but you don’t want to be put in the SDR box without closing experience forever.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

To start: Do you want to manage SDRs forever, or do you want to become an AE/closer?

Mothy

Politicker

Account Executive

My ultimate goal is VP of Sales/CRO however many years down the line. Thats why my primary reservation with potentially sliding into this role is being trapped in a top of the funnel place forever.

TheLaughingWolf

WR Officer

Business Development Manager

I've been in your situation and still am. My manager left and they asked me to take over. Added a shit ton of responsibilities and no financial incentives.

This is what I am in charge of, not saying that you will be in the same position as myself, but just for a heads up.

Interviewing/hiring
Onboarding
Training
Weekly 1:1's
Group training
All the admin work
Carrying a full quota still
Creating training materials
Being a therapist for everyone under myself

Now, I am still trying to get a pay raise for this. It has been 8 months since I have taken over the role and it's always, we just need to hire a few more people. Then you can transition to a full time manager and get the raise and not worry about carrying a quota.

If I would have known what kind of a shit show I was in for when they first asked I would never have agreed to take on the position.

I am currently looking elsewhere cause I'm just done to be honest. My fucks are as baron as wins are for the Arizona Coyotes.

You're company will probable not be as ridiculous as mine has been. But go into it with caution. Do not offer to do this role for no raise, or to still carry your same quota.

Good luck if you do decide to take this position.

Mothy

Politicker

Account Executive

Thanks for the insight. I am meeting with our CRO today to talk through things, and I think I will frame it as a caretaker capacity as another user suggested, with a raise bundled in. I don’t want to be trapped in top of funnel limbo forever, but I do want to move into leadership at some point. Definitely won’t accept if it’s a ton more responsibilities with no additional incentive and also carrying my own quota.

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

It's hard to move on from this role to anything else outside of larger BD/SD management.

Is that the path you want long term?

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