Stop Threatening Salespeople...

I can't count the amount of times I've heard or seen a sales manager say to their salespeople...

"If you don't hit your sales target I can't guarantee you'll keep your job"

In what world is this a successful way to lead your team to success??!!

Where in the "Effective Leadership" book does it tell you to put an immense amount of pressure and fear into your team to get them to be successful in their role? That's right, it doesn't. Why is it then that so many sales managers, sales directors and other leads feel it's acceptable and productive to do it?

Here is a CRUCIAL reality...

That pressure that you put on your sales team when you threaten them...

It will get passed straight on to your CUSTOMERS!

When your salespeople feel the pressure they put that pressure right onto your prospects and customers. Is that really what you want?

Putting pressure on prospects isn't a successful way to increase sales or win deals. Most of the time it will just scare them off, sometimes forever or worse yet, create a bad reputation that will spread.

Here is my advice...

Try a different approach. If a salesperson or your team is struggling to hit target, don't put pressure on them, SUPPORT them.

Work WITH them and not against them.

Don't make them fear for their job, make them feel safe.

Simon Sinek puts it perfectly in this video, it's all about showing empathy.

Here's the funny thing though...

That's EXACTLY what we tell our salespeople to do with their prospects and customers!!

We tell them to show empathy, to have a strong EQ and utilise Emotional Intelligence yet as a leader they do the opposite.

I have seen so many amazing salespeople managed out by terrible managers. All they needed was a bit of support.

Here are my top tips:

• TALK to your salespeople and sales team and LISTEN to them. Again this is what we expect them to do with prospects and customers so it is important you treat them the same way. Actually listen to them, understand why they may be struggling and then work with them to find some solutions.
• Don't just tell them what to do, in fact don't just show them what to do, do it with them. If they need to make more calls, make more calls with them. If they need to send more emails, send emails with them. If they need to book more meetings, book more meetings with them.
• Make them feel SAFE. Make sure they don't fear for their job or feel pressure, make them feel safe, appreciated and supported. You'll get a significantly better response and performance from them this way.

Have you ever had your job, or seen someone in your team have their job threatened because of missing target before? Equally have you had managers that have been supportive when someone has struggled?

Let me know in the comments!

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About the author: 

Daniel Disney is one of the world's leading Sales, Social Selling and LinkedIn experts. With over 15 years sales experience, Daniel has mastered how to use social media to generate exceptional results, both in social engagement and in revenue generated. His brand new Online Social Selling Masterclass Course is helping salespeople all over the world generate MORE sales with LinkedIn and Social Selling.

Daniel is also a highly in-demand international keynote sales speaker, is the UK's leading sales blogger and is also the Founder and Owner of LinkedIn's most popular sales publication, The Daily Sales. With an audience of over 450,000+ followers and growing by thousands each week, his content reaches millions of salespeople far and wide.

To inquire about Daniel keynoting or speaking at your company or event, or to find out more about his 1-day and online LinkedIn/Social Selling Masterclass please email contact@thedailysales.net.