I meet with a lot—and I mean a lot—of startup founders and early-stage sales leaders who build their sales plans based on what they want to happen, versus the reality of what is happening. I get it, because I did it myself the first time I needed to build a sales plan. Here’s how the […]
Does Work Suck? No, but…
I read “Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It” by Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson right before the Coronavirus hit. And because many business leaders are thinking about if, how, and when their staff will return to the office this is an interesting book to consider right now. Not sure how this one got on […]
An OKR Primer
Just when I think the world doesn’t need yet another introduction to OKRs, I talk to a company struggling to implement them. As an OKR convert (someone who didn’t like them, and now enthusiastically loves them), I think this stems from over complicating it and getting in your own way. While it can take a while […]
7 Reasons Why Companies Should Offer Workplace Flexibility
Full disclosure, I wrote this article just before companies started sending employees home to work due to the Coronavirus. It was scheduled to go live mid-March and I hit the pause button. But with companies starting to re-consider opening their offices in a limited capacity, it seemed like the time to resurrect this. Running a […]
How to Successfully Onboard Remote Employees
At my last company, at least 50% of the staff we hired were onboarded remotely. You CAN onboard a new hire successfully and have them fully engaged in your organization, whether you are a “butts in seat” company or totally remote-friendly. Onboarding a remote employee is similar to onboarding an in-office employee, so a lot of […]
Create a Culture of Say-Do
Do you have a culture of Say-Do? I heard this new term in a meeting the other day, and I loved its simplicity—“say-do”. As in, say you are going to do something and then do it. Say-do is an aspect of culture many companies struggle with, especially in hyper-growth mode or times of upheaval and […]
The Importance of Customer Success in SaaS—and How to Help Your Customers Succeed
Customer success in SaaS is fast becoming the first line of attack to boost conversions, raise customer happiness, and reduce churn. Every day, a strong customer success strategy is becoming more and more essential for SaaS companies. So what exactly is customer success, how does it work, and are you “doing it right”? Don’t worry, […]
More Tips for Managing a Remote Sales Team
A few days ago I posted some tips for managing a remote sales team. Those tips were fine, but they were also pretty basic—the stuff we have to do as sales leaders, no matter what. So, I thought a follow up with more specific remote management advice for leading a nascent sales team. Articulate your […]
Tips for Managing a Remote Sales Team
As a modern sales leader, there will be times you need to manage a remote sales team. Now is likely one of those times. If you have the good fortune of leading an established sales organization you will probably make a smooth transition to working from home. In that case, this article probably isn’t for […]
Stress management for startup leaders living through crazy times
I know that stress management may seem like the least important thing on your list right now. But stress management is exactly what you, your family, your staff and your company need. It’s how we rally the troops, keep our relationships intact, maintain perspective, and make sound business decisions. No point for me to say […]
