Sales Leadership at a Startup: The Red Flags

As a sales leader at a startup, I know firsthand that it's not an easy job. You have to be open to wearing multiple hats and work hard with limited resources. However, it's also rewarding to be directly contributing to the success of a company. In a recent post on LinkedIn, I shared some indicators that someone might not be a good fit for sales leadership at a startup.

One of the biggest red flags is when a sales rep or sales leader says, "That's not my job." At a startup, everyone needs to be willing to pitch in and help out in any way they can. Another red flag is when someone asks about work hours. At a startup, you need to be willing to work hard and put in extra hours when needed to help the company succeed.

When someone says, "That's not my fault," it shows that they're not willing to take responsibility for their actions. Effective sales leadership requires taking ownership of both successes and failures. Similarly, when someone asks, "Who writes the decks around here?" it shows that they're not willing to put in the effort to learn and contribute to the team.

If someone says, "If I don't get paid a bonus, I'm not doing that," it shows that they're only motivated by money and not by the success of the company. Being a sales leader at a startup requires a passion for the product and a desire to see the company succeed.

Other indicators that someone might not be a good fit for sales leadership at a startup include saying, "That was my idea," showing a lack of teamwork, and saying, "I'm not that good at excel or running reports," showing a lack of willingness to learn new skills.

In conclusion, effective sales leadership at a startup requires continuous improvement and a willingness to work hard and wear multiple hats. When building a sales team, it's important to look for indicators that someone might not be a good fit for the startup culture.

Bonus: if you want to figure out if your new sales leader is going to work out, download my free guide here.