UrAssIsSaaS

SaaS Eater

What is 1 thing you wish your manager would ask you

Hey Savages,

As I mentioned yesterday I am moving on from my current role and taking on a new team/challenge in a few weeks. I will be taking over a new team and have begun thinking about how I will structure my first 30/60/90 days.

I've taken over new teams in the past but I am curious, What is the one thing you wished your new manager would have asked/implemented when they took over your team?

Or, on the flip side, something they did that really turned you off/broke trust/eliminated buy in.

Appreciate the insights.

🎈 Mentorship

🥎 Training

🧢 Sales Management

29 comments

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poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Here is what my favorite new manager of all time did:

1) Tell me what is working
2) Tell me what is not working
3) Tell me what I can do to help

This set us on a level playing field, illuminated true issues that were going on, and made me and my team feel like we had a partner and not some newly promoted fucko trying to make a name for themselves.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

Lol no fucko's wanted here.

Jokes aside I love it. Simple but like you said just level sets everything.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

I've been thinking about what I could add to this, but PBC has it 100% right.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

Ya he pretty much nailed it right off the top.

goose

Politicker

Sales Executive

One thing I learned long ago as a new manager to a team is “set standards and refuse compromise“. Many times a new manager is keen on bending over backwards for their reps and many times they are way too over the top. We all know what we are doing here. These are my non-negotiables. Let’s get to work. Then, go with what @poweredbycaffeine says…. That shit is gold.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

Ya I wholeheartedly agree, one thing I learned early in my management career and have mentioned many times on here is being respected by your team, not just liked. You hit the nail on the head with setting the bar and working with the team to hit it, not the other way around.

MCP

Valued Contributor

Sales Director

Yeah, I did that once. Team staged a coup. The new higher standards were seen as the new world order because the prior boss didn’t give a shit and had no rules or structure. Mediocrity was the way and generally accepted. He didn’t even tell the team I was coming.

mitts2

Politicker

Account Executive

First thing he asked me how I wanted to structure our 1:1s. Seems like silly housekeeping at first but it was actually a helpful way to set the foundation and get an understanding of how he could be most helpful to me. Some people prefer one long 1:1. Others prefer several shorter sessions. I appreciated the flexibility / freedom and his willingness to adapt his coaching style / time management to fit my needs.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

The devil is in the details.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

Sales

Best thing he can ask, is for an update on a deal that’s supposed to close. I love when that happens 15/20 times a week.

congrats on the new role!

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

Well played

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

Sales

Can you tell what kind of day I’ve had haha

dwightyouignorantsale

Politicker

Account Executive

During every 1-1, my manager asks me - How can I help? - Is there anything I can escalate? - How are you? (And not just in a small talk type of way, but he stops and will say “how are you really doing? Which has helped take a lot of stressors off my plate)

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

I am always told to be upfront if there are any suggestions or I see any missing pieces that can be implemented. I love this.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

Communication is key, people are scared to voice that stuff sometimes. What has your manager done to make you feel comfortable vocalizing that stuff?

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

We believe in being transparent so whatever challenges exist we discuss it with the whole team and if we feel that can bring +ve impact, we action it together.

FamilyTruckster

Politicker

Exec Director, Major Accounts

Hopefully you ask them the same questions!

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Yes, this too.

cw95

Politicker

Sales Development Lead

‘What do you think works best? Let’s do that instead?’

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

quite simple, im here for it

sellingsellssold

Politicker

SDR

Ask what they currently like, what they would like to see change or improve, and what you can do to help them.

RedLightning

Politicker

Mid-Market AE

Every person likes to be communicated to differently. Maybe something along the lines of "what management style do you work best with?"

In terms of gauging skill levels - write out like 10 topics for recurring training - something like prospecting, cold emailing, objection handling on cold calls, etc. Ask the reps what they'd feel comfortable presenting to new hires and which they wouldn't. it'll give you a good idea of where they believe they need improvement

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

Good stuff, I like having them own training to highlight their own strengths and weaknesses.

UserNotFound

Politicker

Account Executive

The only time I ever had a manager who was new to management that I didn't hate... one thing he did at the end of our first year was send a survey to the entire team to answer anonymously for feedback on how he was doing as a manager. Legitimately took the feedback and tried to implement it. Refreshing AF.

One thing I really love when managers do is dissect a recent Win and a recent Loss with me, asking the questions like "What do you think the difference maker was? Is there anything that you think leadership could have done to prevent the loss?" It makes me think critically about my deals and it gives me a real-world experience to pull form instead of 'what can I do for you'.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

Big fan of doing deal autopsies with my current team and plan to bring that to the new one as well.

And feedback was something my first director told me to ask for constantly so its something I work on constantly seeking out and implementing.

Flippinghubs

Opinionated

Account Executive

How are you doing?

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

3 days in and absolutely crushing

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

I wish he would ask: "how much more do I need to pay you and how can we change the comp plan to help you work harder?"

anarchicsun

Opinionated

how do you like to be managed. Surprised it's not asked more often, but people can be very upfront about whether they need a kick in the arse or a hands off approach; and if their numbers slip, you know what you need to do

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UrAssIsSaaS

What is 1 thing you wish your manager would ask you

29 comments

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