Posts in Team
In Search of Sales Unicorns. Apply Here.

Sales success requires a major investment of time and resources from the top. Sales leadership is all about defining the sales strategy, developing the right processes, sales tools and collateral, building a sales-driven culture, coaching, training, and of course -- ringing the bell!  

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The Pitfalls of Overemphasizing Personal Chemistry in Selecting the First Sales VP for Your Start-Up

As a startup CEO, the decision to hire your first Sales VP holds significant weight in shaping the trajectory of your company. While personal chemistry between you and the finalists may seem appealing, it's essential to recognize the potential risks of relying too heavily on this factor in the final decision-making process.

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It IS a Dilemma - Remote vs. Hybrid vs. In-Person Sales Leadership

It is a tug-of-war between remote, hybrid, and traditional in-person models. This seismic shift has not only altered the dynamics of how buyers and sellers interact. It has also prompted a rapid evolution in the expectations and methodologies of sales leaders, and what factors business owners might consider when hiring.

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"I'm Looking for a Sales Leader with a Rolodex Who Can Hit the Ground Running"

I have conversations on a regular basis with business owners and founders who expect much more magic on the sales side of their businesses than they would otherwise with other functional areas like HR, Finance, or Engineering.

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How Much to Spend on Your Fractional Executive

Fee models for fractional executives have an art and a science, a balance between multiple factors, and an element of “as-high-or-as-low-as-desperation-takes-you” to it. And that is not too different from the permanent job market: There are job postings for a VP of Sales on Indeed right now, one making $80k, the other over $500k a year.

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What's the Right Time to Hire a Sales Leader?

"We will wait to hire a sales leader until we have more customers."  While it may seem like a prudent approach to save resources, this strategy can have both advantages and disadvantages. Here's some thoughts as we explore what might be behind this statement and whether it's a wise decision for a growing company.

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Hiring an Interim Executive: What to Look For and How to Ensure a Successful Placement

Learn how to find the right interim executive for your business. Evaluate skills, experience, and cultural fit to ensure a successful placement.

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Building an Accountability Culture in Sales Teams

When both sales reps and sales leaders are held accountable for their actions and results, it fosters a sense of ownership, trust, and transparency within the team. How do you build an accountability culture in a sales team?

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Scaling Draper & Olsen: Navigating the Pitfalls of a Growing Services Firm

A gifted founder CEO, often with a vague-at-best exit strategy, who’s both the lead technician and the company’s best/only salesperson. And a resistance to standardization, usually attributed to the bespoke, variable, heuristic, or technical nature of the work itself. 

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