Your next sales hire could be worth hundreds of thousands in revenue. They could also quietly cost you the same – without ever raising a red flag. There is one hiring mistake even seasoned CEOs, Sales Directors and Heads of HR still make — and it is more common (and costly) than most realise.
Lena had always loved sales. She thrived on the challenge, the people, the buzz. But lately, something felt off. She was spending more time making excuses than making contacts.
Emma had done everything right. She built a sharp, talented sales team. She ran weekly check-ins. Brought in a top-tier trainer. Even hired a performance coach to boost motivation. The playbook was textbook perfect. But the numbers? Flat.
Meet Emma, the Director of Sales at a fast-growing iGaming company. Smart, driven and deeply committed to her team’s success, she rolls out coaching sessions, leads motivational talks and invests heavily in training programmes. Yet week after week, the numbers refuse to budge.
You thought you had built a solid team. Marco, the charmer. Sarah, the steady performer. Lena, the eager newbie. David, methodical and precise. But lately, the spark is missing. Sales are stalling. Calls are down. Every 1:1 ends with the same vague promise: “I’ll try harder”. You want to believe them. But something is off. Here is what they are not telling you – not because they are hiding it, but because they do not have the words.
Sarah used to light up every sales meeting on your team. She was your star. Always closing deals. Always upbeat. When Sarah spoke, the room paid attention. She did not just hit targets – she crushed them.
Hiring a new salesperson can feel like a gamble. Impressive resumes, confident interviews, great personalities – yet how often does the “perfect” hire fail to meet expectations once they hit the field? The truth is, great interviews do not always lead to a great salesperson.
You know prospecting is key to your success – yet some days, you just cannot bring yourself to do it. You hesitate, delay, overthink and promise yourself you will start tomorrow. Sounds familiar?
If you have been following my articles on Sales Call Reluctance®, you already know that it silently holds back even the most talented salespeople – and that inaction comes at a cost. Every hesitant sales call, every delayed outreach and every excuse translates to lost opportunities, lower revenue and underperforming teams.
If you have ever hesitated before making a sales call or reaching out to a prospect, you are not alone. Many salespeople struggle with Sales Call Reluctance® – a hidden barrier that holds them back from reaching out to prospects.