19 Simple Ways to Make Your Best Reps Leave

If you lead a sales team, here are some proven and simple ways you can make your top performing sales reps leave (Note …I am not quite sure why anyone would want their top reps to leave, but I have seen all of these things first hand, so I thought I would compile a list for easy reference in case you find yourself so inclined?):

1. regularly change the compensation plan
2. reduce the commission rate if reps start producing big sales and big commission cheques
3. penalize the sales team for poor post sales delivery
4. refuse to comp sales reps on certain types of sales that generate desirable profits for the company
5. fail to support them with proactive product management, strong product development, professional delivery and effective support
6. invest nothing in marketing and brand recognition
7. make them spend a lot of time completing reports and doing other non-selling activities
8. hire sub-par sales reps and keep poor performers on board
9. step in to take over accounts reps have worked hard to acquire and develop
10. focus on hours and activities instead of results
11. forget to be a cheerleader that distracts everyone from the daily rejections
12. require reps to make cheap travel arrangements which waste valuable selling time
13. don`t provide best practices and resources such as objection handling scripts and reference material
14. ask reps to lie to customers and prospects in order to close more business
15. avoid coaching and constructively helping the reps be bigger producers
16. refuse to leave your office and visit customers
17. pay commissions late
18. take credit for closing deals the reps close
19. imply that selling is the easy part of a company`s success

If you actually care about the success of your business and you find yourself doing anything on the list above, stop yourself immediately!
Eliot.