captaincommission

Sales Enthusiast

Struggling with the Jump to Management (Managers-Advice needed!)

I’m wanting to make the jump from an IC role to management (first time), but I want to make sure I’m really ready for it. War Room help me out please!

What are some indicators that you’ve seen that make a seller ready to manage?

What were the biggest hurdles you’ve had to face when you made the jump to management?

🧢 Sales Management

🚀 Career Goals

✌️ Growing Pains

11 comments

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saaskicker

Celebrated Contributor

Enterprise AE

Look at your managers calendar, ask yourself, do I want that type of day-to-day. Me personally, absolutely not.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Yeah I prefer being responsible for myself. Too much spreadsheets and crap for me.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Great advice! I'd also say to look at the substance of those meetings, and who they are with, and who is managing the manager - because now you will be in the middle.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

this is GREAT advice! the calendar reveals all!!

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

I have some advice, but you're not going to like it. It's well thought-of, well researched and coming from personal experience. Here's the advice:

𝐃𝐎𝐍'𝐓

Sellerguy

Opinionated

Sellerguy

Another factor to consider is where your passion lies within sales. Is it to make a shit load of $? Probably IC.

Or do you get deep joy and fulfillment when you enable/empower someone to succeed? Management.

Personally I’m the latter but my selfish objective is to be such a good leader that I accomplish the former as well

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

These are the really important questions to ask yourself.

And the calendar advice from @saaskickeris GOLD.

Stringer

Arsonist

SDR

A good indicator is what influence do you have on the sales team?

Are you already helping out on calls, providing advice, writing cadences, and supporting the team? If so, and you enjoy it and don't feel like it's detracting you from your sales goals, it could be time. I'd combine this with a leadership course honestly.

I'm a decent sales rep, but have jumped into Keenan Gap selling training course. Same parallels apply.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

you have to be ok with working with people and not on deals as much.

will you be ok with the team getting the credit and not you?

Are you ok with putting out fires?

Do you get joy when other succeed even if you get no recognition?

would you be ok with your reps making more money than you?

if you answer yes to most of these.....then maybe you would be a good fit!

DefaultSalesDude

Executive

Director

Great suggestions so far but would add…

Think back to those times when you were with your girlfriend/boyfriend when they had all sorts issues in their personal life that also affected their work life (some perhaps with you) and then think of how you would then motivate them to not make the same self-sabotage mistakes you told them not to do but they can’t resist doing.

Then times that by 5 (or however many you’ll be managing)…

Then put your pay and personal success on the line for how often you’ll succeed.

If you feel you can, might be a good fit. If you don’t like other peoples problems, not a great fit. *Remember - you don’t need a manager title in order to lead or help others. You can still help others while crushing your own IC goals.*

salesVP80

Opinionated

VP Sales

Are you more interested in seeing others succeed or seeing yourself succeed? In management, you are successful when others are. Read Sales Management Simplified, the one minute manager and first break all the rules. If you still want to be in management after that exercise, look at your managers calendar :)

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captaincommission

Struggling with the Jump to Management (Managers-Advice needed!)

11 comments

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