Now, we were in a pickle. Our top salesperson for last year, $450,000 in gross sales, was on the chopping block to be fired.
In January, he had been promoted to sales manager, moved to a guaranteed salary equal to last year’s total comp, and now he was failing. Relieved of all, but the most critical accounts, he was supposed to be leading the sales group, holding meetings, inspiring, helping others to set targets and holding them accountable. As a salesperson, he was great, as a sales manager, he was the pits.
Classic mistake. Take your best producer, whether it is in sales, production or research and make them the manager. Management requires a totally different skill-set, with a high interest in getting people to work together, miles apart from producing technical work.
Once done, tough to get undone. No one likes to move backwards. Most importantly, whose fault was it?
The company for promoting him.
It is sad when this happens and it happens too often.
Mike, thanks for your observation. Most of the time I am south of you, but not today. Couple of days here in Toronto on to Halifax tomorrow.
Tom I own a company of about 35 employees, I love reading your blog, most of the time I find myself punching my desk and yelling at the screen at the end of your posts. It’s like you can see inside my soul!