What do you do if your Direct Sales team is struggling to meet unrealistic deadlines?

- Be transparent about why deadlines may be aggressive and work with the team on a strategy that acknowledges the challenges. Clear communication prevents burnout and ensures that, even under pressure, the team feels supported and aligned with the overall mission. - Ensure that achievements, even incremental ones, are recognised. When the team feels appreciated, they’re more likely to push forward with high energy and motivation, even when deadlines are challenging.

From the very beginning, why you as a team leader gave unrealistic deadlines to your sales team? The sales quota is not set from today to tomorrow, so first of all you Yourself need to review the list of tasks and goals. Then discuss with the team, provide support and resources, implement better time management strategies.

1. Assess the situation: Identify the specific reasons why the team is struggling to meet the deadlines 2. Review and adjust deadlines: Work with the team to reassess the deadlines and make them more achievable 3. Provide support and resources 4. Communicate effectively 5. Implement better time management strategies 6. Foster a positive team culture 7. Monitor progress and provide feedback By taking these proactive steps, you can help your Direct Sales team overcome challenges, improve performance, and successfully meet deadlines in a more efficient and sustainable manner.

Assess the Issue: Check if deadlines are achievable and if the team lacks resources or training. Negotiate Deadlines: Discuss more realistic timelines with leadership or clients. Provide Support: Offer extra resources or training and improve team collaboration. Prioritize Tasks: Focus on high-priority tasks and minimize distractions. Monitor Progress: Check in regularly, address issues, and celebrate progress. Refine Strategy: Adjust targeting to focus on high-value prospects. Manage Expectations: Communicate clearly with all stakeholders. Support Well-being: Prevent burnout by offering flexibility and support.

Unrealistic deadlines can crush team morale and productivity. As a sales leader, your first step is to assess the situation objectively. Are these deadlines truly unattainable, or is there room for improvement? Start by: 1. Communicating openly with your team 2. Identifying bottlenecks in the sales process 3. Providing additional resources or training 4. Negotiating more realistic timelines with management Consider implementing: ? Time management workshops ? Sales automation tools ? Incentive programs for meeting interim goals Remember, pushing too hard can lead to burnout and turnover. Balance is key. Ultimately, the bravest thing a leader can do is push back against unrealistic expectations.

Targets are targets. Start by accepting that. Start by doing things, executing stuff. Cut the idea that targets are negotiable, they are gravity. The fact of accepting has an immediate influence on your mindset and a positive one. In defensive driving they teach you to focus on the gap, do NOT look at the object you do not want to hit, look at the open space next to it. If you don't know what this might mean, watch the footage on the loneliest tree in the Ténéré desert... It got hit by a rally driver because he was looking at the tree, in the middle of a desert. Same goes for Targets.