Having to fire someone from your team is not a position most sales managers want to be in. It is never an easy decision to make. But there are times when it must be done for the greater good of your sales team. A poor-performing or troublesome sales rep can have a negative impact on the entire team.
Here are some telltale signs it is time to let go of a salesperson:
This is perhaps to most obvious reason to let a sales rep go. If they don’t meet sales targets time and time again, it’s time to replace them with someone who will get the job done. Failure to act will negatively impact overall team performance.
All companies have standards and practices employees are expected to follow. If a sales rep breaks these rules, it could be grounds for dismissal. Breaking rules could put the company in a compromising situation that could even lead to legal issues.
A lot of issues sales reps can experience can be resolved with coaching and mentorship. But if a rep is not open to coaching and does not take your feedback seriously, it is time to move on. If they are not willing to buy in and invest in the program, you shouldn’t waste time and effort investing in them.
People don’t want to be around others who have a negative attitude. It can be demoralizing. But many sales managers put up with reps with bad attitudes because of their performance. Failure to address this issue could have a more far-reaching effect. If a rep continues to have a bad attitude, even after they have been spoken to on multiple occasions, then it is time to cut ties.
If you start to get complaints from customers about your sales rep, it is something that needs to be addressed right away. Listen to the sales calls. Speak with the rep about the situation. If complaints continue, you should let them go or it could negatively impact your company’s reputation.
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Jace is a sales recruiter with almost a decade of experience building high-performing sales teams in North America, across Europe, Asia, and Australia. He also has plenty of tips to help your sales team increase revenue!