alexpe2294

Sales Account Manager

Valued Contributor

What can I do with too much free time to feel more productive??

So I'm managing a team of 12 SDRs for a software company but we've been doing this for a while now so they don't really need too much support or supervision. They know what to do and how to do it well. constantly exceeding quota and not needing too much coaching. I've been managing this team for 2 years now and I've been with the company for 5. Came in as an SDR and moved up because of my results.

The issue is that sometimes I get bored and feel bad for not being so productive and I feel like I could be doing so much more and give my full potential. Of course I put in the work but I feel like I'm efficient enough to have enough bandwidth for more. I've already mentioned this to my boss (director of sales development) but there isn't that much going on in the office right now for him to hand me any more responsibilities/teams/challenges, (or that's what he says).

And on the other hand, I know I should just take advantage of the relaxed times since I'm still getting paid and I'll probably want a break if I was constantly busy and being more productive; you know the grass is always greener on the other side.

So what should I do? Push more? Look for options at other companies? Just wait? What would you do?

🧢 Sales Management

☕️ Workflow and Daily Habits

22

44 comments

Sort by:

CuriousFox

WR Officer

5

🦊

First of all, kudos to you for doing your job well. Your team is a reflection of you.

Are there promotion opportunities at your current company? If not now is a good time to browse on the down low.

alexpe2294

Catalyst

1

Sales Account Manager

Thanks, @CuriousFox! There aren't any promotion opportunities at the moment. Thanks for the advice! I might have to start looking on the down low to try to challenge myself a bit more.

TheRealPezDog

Notable Contributor

3

Account Manager

Take up golf, you can spend a shitload of time doing that.

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

haha thanks. I've been reading to kill more productively but still feel kinda empty.

Phillip_J_Fry

Opinionated

2

Director of Revenue

If you are planning on staying at this company, I would get with other departments to better understand the company as a whole. Find out what campaigns are being sent out by Marketing, new features that Engineering is working on, chat with executives on company direction, what accounts do your AE's want more focus on, etc.

You'd be surprised how much some of this information can help while you're working deals with your reps. Plus, showing initiative to get the big-picture view is probably a bonus when promotions are up for grabs.

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

Love the idea! Thanks a lot!

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

2

SaaS Eater

Well done running a well oiled machine. This was something I battled in my first management role, and have had to since grapple with in a remote world.

I was talking to my director about it and I found it interesting that he told me to take advantage of it now. Stay on top of the team, make sure they continue to produce and you have career progression mapped out for them, but if you have free time invest it in yourself. Whether its fitness, learnings a new skill, picking up a hobby etc. Taking this approach keeps me fresh, has not hindered any of my promotions and keeps me motivated to work.

In short, embrace it, and find a way to use it to make yourself better. Whatever that means to you.

alexpe2294

Catalyst

1

Sales Account Manager

Thanks, man! Love the advice!

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

1

Rolling 20's all day

That's great, man. What I might recommend is that there is always more to learn about your current market, or take time to reacquaint yourself with other sales processes (read/listen to sales books).
Always keep sharpening your skills!

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

Agree! been reading sales and negotiation books. I'm also dipping my toes on the crypto/stocks investment markets so that's cool.

ColdCallFartBoy

Celebrated Contributor

1

Business Development Representative

Prepare yourself for the next step in your career path

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

It's a bit scary but might just be what I need.

Kiona

Opinionated

1

Head of Business Development

SELF DEVELOPMENT! take a few LInkedIn / coursera courses and use this time for improvement.

What got you here, will not get you there.

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

jm good point Kiona! Thanks! I'll check out Coursera and give it a try.

msp_sales

Opinionated

1

Full Cycle Sales

Audiobooks, audiobooks, audiobooks… Did I mention audiobooks?
These go especially handy if you have a headset for making calls. You can just listen to the chapter in five or 10 minutes.

msp_sales

Opinionated

1

Full Cycle Sales

Plus, It makes admin work exponentially more bearable.

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

haha yoo that's one of the things I've been doing! Just finished The RIchest man in Babylon and Never Split the Difference. Thanks!

NoSuperhero

Politicker

1

BDR LEAD

Dial, Dial, Dial! I wrote this without reading. Just my first thoughts hahah

But, I've read now and well I'd def ask your superiors what they need help with. Or start coming up with dashboards that show where things can get better. There's pain somewhere, just gotta look in the right places.

alexpe2294

Catalyst

1

Sales Account Manager

Jmm yeah I thought of that,. like what could we improve as a company? even if it's not within my dept,. I'll keep looking around

NoSuperhero

Politicker

0

BDR LEAD

Yeah exactly, but I'd be careful with that, here's where you can start talking with other department leaders and see where joint efforts can take y'all. You don't wanna overstep boundaries and whatnot.

The King's Cross fire in London happened because department heads didn't talk to each other and didn't overstep into each other's work. So there's definitely value in work with peers and other departments.

CaneWolf

Politicker

1

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

Have you tried drugs?

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

I have! Not a big fan of them during work hours though but thanks! haha

DatSaaS

Executive

1

Sales Executive

Soak it up and enjoy. That’s the beauty of being out of production. Get married. Have kids. Follow the Don’t send them to daycare. Get a dog. Golf. Follow the stock market. You’re in a good spot. Soak it up.

alexpe2294

Catalyst

1

Sales Account Manager

That's what half of my brain keeps telling me.

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

1

MDR

Take up golf, you can spend a shitload of time doing that.

NoSuperhero

Politicker

0

BDR LEAD

Dial, Dial, Dial! I wrote this without reading. Just my first thoughts hahah

But, I've read now and well I'd def ask your superiors what they need help with. Or start coming up with dashboards that show where things can get better. There's pain somewhere, just gotta look in the right places.

Stratifyz

Big Shot

0

Account Executive

Boot up New World and get to crafting!

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

jmm

Stratifyz

Big Shot

0

Account Executive

What is JMM?

AShank15

Good Citizen

0

Sales Representative

Kthing

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

thanks

AShank15

Good Citizen

0

Sales Representative

Nothing

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

thanks

AShank15

Good Citizen

0

Sales Representative

Read

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

thanks

TheNewyorker

Opinionated

0

Sales Lord

Start a podcast/ some sort of series to promote the products you sell?

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

jm I could bring it up to my superiors. thanks!

wHaTyAgOtCoOkInG

Catalyst

0

Solution Consultant

Take advantage of the time you have: Gym / Hobbies / Learn a new skill. You can only deliver so much at work, you have to look after you too.

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

thanks! love it

GDO

Politicker

0

BDM

What I do:
- run errands
- work out
- read
- walk the dog

alexpe2294

Catalyst

0

Sales Account Manager

thanks!

VineMic

Executive

0

Account Executive

@alexpe2294 You can take two approaches if you choose to stick around:
1) Your SDRs are doing well but they still have to do bitchy things like making reports, crafting BASHOs + sequences and all of the necessary things to win. You can offer to take up more of this work so the role becomes more plug and play, that way your SDRs will continue to work damn hard, give you a hell of a SDR manager score (probably even LinkedIn recommendations too), and lets be real, this is an easy way for you to better familiarize yourself with the tools, get certifications and open up doors for future sales op roles if you want to go that route. Either way, your team loves you and there isn't going to be one manager or Director that can say anything to you.

2) You can say I've done what I need to do on the work side of my life, now it's time to focus on the personal side of my life. You're being treated well and you know your team has your back. You now start to pursue other hobbies outside of work (not during work hours but you know you'll have your evenings and weekends which is clutch). Pick one to make you healthy and another hobby that will bring out your creativity.

Final option is you say the hell with this and you peace out to another company but ideally in a Director of BD role.

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

0

ISR

First of all, kudos to you for doing your job well. Your team is a reflection of you.

Error32

Politicker

0

ISR

Are there promotion opportunities at your current company? If not now is a good time to browse on the down low.

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

© 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy Legal and Privacy Center Sales Jobs

If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.