Question of the week:

Jimmy,  thank you for taking the time to answer questions as it relates to sales.  I just returned home from my national sales meeting and I was really disappointed to learn that I was not selected for the Senior title designation.  I got so frustrated that I decided not to attend the last meeting session with my team.  I have won an award this year and have a lot of offer my company, but feel that the company doesn’t value me enough to provide me with the senior title.  What should I do?

MY STAB AT THIS QUESTION:

Dear _______________,

Thank you for sending in your question as I have witnessed this as a sales manager and have seen many colleagues go through the same disappointment.  Many factors go into deciding who gets promoted to senior and who doesn’t.  It is important to understand that we all get passed up at some point in our career but the important thing to consider is how we react to this news.  A senior title is given to those with exceptional sales results, leadership, maturity and most of the time, just timing of all the factors that makes an individual qualify for the promotion.  Leadership has nothing to do with title, and you can be a leader from where you are with or without a title.  By not attending the last meeting session, I am afraid to tell you that this shows lack of maturity and leadership.  You have let your sales manager down as well as your team for your own personal frustrations.  It is tough to go back into a meeting with your peers when you have felt as if your spirit has been damaged and you feel frustrated, but a sign of maturity, loyalty, professionalism and leadership will be displayed by standing tall and going through with your accountability’s.

There are reasons why you didn’t get the promotion, this time.  The key word here, is “this time”.  It is your job to learn why and how you can better position yourself for the next promotion.  Be sure to do so in a professional and mature way, without being immature and leaving your team hanging by not getting what you wanted.  I know this sounds harsh, but coming from a sales manager, I would feel abandoned by you, especially if I had put you up for nomination for the position.  If you react negatively, your chances of getting the senior title will be tougher to get, because of your displayed reaction.  Act professionally and learn why you didn’t get it and set a clear set of expectations to set you up for the next go around.  For example, I didn’t get senior title until my 3rd try.  I didn’t get hired to sales management until my 5th try.  The thing I can tell you is that, you dust yourself off, stand tall and continue forward with a positive and professional attitude.  Things will come your way, and sometimes it is a test as to how you react and more importantly, how you don’t.

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