punnirno1
What makes you hate your (otherwise likeable) VP of Sales?
I hate my (otherwise likeable) VP Sales when they...
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17
"Has absolutely no idea how our product works nor the interest to learn"
I might be having something totally different in mind, but I actually don't mind when a VP of sales chooses not to do that (in favour of adding impact to the biz in other ways like deal coaching, or making sure we get resources needed, setting the tone, forecasting and all that BS).
IMO it's simply not their role to learn the ins and outs of the product. They're not there to sell the "how", they're there to sell the "why"
IMO it's simply not their role to learn the ins and outs of the product. They're not there to sell the "how", they're there to sell the "why"
Interesting point. My personal belief is that selling the 'why' to customers is synonymous with (and often pursuant to) selling the 'how' to the team. Especially more so in a competitive market (which is also where we usually see shorter VP tenures on avg.). The things you mentioned are definitely a part of their designation, but the role demands so much more.
Then again, impact areas like deal coaching or tone setting can only gain from product knowhow. I guess a VP who checks all the boxes is a hero every company needs, but probably doesn't care/do enough to deserve.
Then again, impact areas like deal coaching or tone setting can only gain from product knowhow. I guess a VP who checks all the boxes is a hero every company needs, but probably doesn't care/do enough to deserve.
Look I get your point, and I agree to an extent, but if you don't at least get the basics how much help can you really be?
LOL, this is definitely an interesting one! I guess I gotta change one of the prompts to "...leading/knowing by example" :)
Ok my last job we had a VP of Sales we called Diamond Danny (after wolf of Wall Street of course). He was like 25, worked for a consulting firm who placed him in here and was annoying as fuck.
(1) He’d come around once a week to ask us to like his LinkedIn posts. He wanted to have 5,000 engagements on one post for some algorithm he believed in and would use us to boost engagement. He was only there 3 days a week anyways so this was extra annoying.
(2) he suffered from affluenza. We discovered this when he flew back to DC to watch the nationals in the World Series. We were all joking for him to be safe and carry hobo stab insurance and he told the group he grew up in DC & thought it was a nice city to grow up and live in. (Yikes) So obviously he knew everything about business & sales.
(3) he turned off all advertising and all reps had to go outbound. No more inbound leads or warm leads, etc.
(4) he had one of them metal nalgines with a rubber lid and he’d always twist it and it would make that squeaking noise. Annoying.
(5) he’d always ask when I woke up and I’d say, “about 15 minutes before work.” And he’d tell me he got up at 5 every day to get ahead of the competition. Which I’d reply, “what competition?” And he’d smirk and leave.
(6) we couldn’t do anything right. We were constantly 100% to goal and it was always bad.
(7) he got fired about 7 months into his gig. He turned over the entire staff and he got turned over as well. The client fired him and the consulting firm as well.
Hated that guy.
Damn, I guess Danny boy wouldn't have qualified as 'otherwise likeable' O_o
I LIKE telling his story.
This probably needed to be multi-select..... But having to update 15 different platforms/places to close a deal has got to be one of my biggest pet peeves today
I know, right? It really is a cocktail of things.
And yeah, data entry sucks. There are companies that are trying to automate/simplify this but God knows how that will pan out.
And yeah, data entry sucks. There are companies that are trying to automate/simplify this but God knows how that will pan out.
I didn't vote here. If your VP does one of these things it's bad. If he does more than one then you work for the wrong person... or maybe it's your fault.
I concur. :)
Most upper management will highlight the months you don’t hit quota even if you previously broke the company’s PR last month, in fact they might even tell you the margin you dropped month by month. What do you mean leads are shit? You where hitting quota last month what changed? …. The leads…
My amazing ex-boss used to say "It's either strong leadership or strong leads." I miss the guy.
Sounds like a cool guy!
I generally enjoy my VP of sales. He’s a down to earth guy, but on occasion he does this odd thing where he starts talking about how much money there is to be made and just starts putting numbers into a calculator as though it’s inspiring. It’s so odd. I too can put big numbers in a calculator and multiple by my commission rate. How about we talk about leads that will get me there instead?
LOL. That’s what I call “leading by the wrong example”. I guess some VPs just struggle a lot with understanding what helps or pushes others, even if they mean well.
He definitely means well, I think it’s almost just a time filler. Like “we don’t actually have much to chat about today so, let’s do fake math”
Maybe one of these days you can invite your VP to do some fake math and estimate how many hours of your time he has wasted doing such fake math 😁
These all sound annoying.
Well, sharing sure is a nice way to earn some catharsis.
HA! Where was the "All of the above" option? 😆
Didn't put that one in, otherwise every one of us would have blindly upvoted it!
No direct interaction ever despite me consistently closing 2-3x my number
Who knows if this is grounds for them saying to other guys "Look at how that guy manages everything by himself, I don't even need to catch up with him ever" #WeDontTalkAnymore
In their defence, there are 4 layers of middle management separating us, but I have a good relationship with all the other layers
I hate this poll due to the number of options. Can't I just tell you I hate my VP because they're so damn good and it makes me feel like I have a partner-in-crime instead of an enemy? I have nothing to hate...but @paddy 's interns.
:) Finally, somebody in love! I guess "Man, they're too likeable" was not what I was going for as a poll option.
Also, interns who are into stealing liquor are despicable. So I feel you.
Also, interns who are into stealing liquor are despicable. So I feel you.
Hold QBRs and berate underperforming reps.
To this day I don't understand why one would 'berate' reps for not performing, esp. when they were lauded in the last cycle. #smh
Mine right now is actually pretty great. Just moves my 1:1s constantly.
being completely disconnected from the front lines. talking that talk when they don't understand what its like to walk the walk anymore.
disregarding problems individual sellers are facing across the board because they have enough quota coverage to hit their goal. when the yearly attainment across the org. is ~30%, when more directors are hitting numbers than reps, when middle management up is having great years, there's a problem.
disregarding problems individual sellers are facing across the board because they have enough quota coverage to hit their goal. when the yearly attainment across the org. is ~30%, when more directors are hitting numbers than reps, when middle management up is having great years, there's a problem.
So sad yet so common. This is where leadership (or lack of it) becomes apparent.
He confuses long, nonsensical, 35 minute rambling about how awesome he is at the beginning of each sales team call with inspiration and coaching.
I guess that's what searching for motivational videos on YouTube OR watching Coach Carter on weekends does to you.
I hate it when my VP gets mad and single me out in-front of colleagues for showing up to the team meeting 40 minutes late.
At the same time I love it when my VP is in complete silence seconds later after I drop a voided check and signed docs
Daemn! That’s a sniper move indeed 😎 #LivingUpToTheName
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