Should You Promote Your Top Salesperson to Manager? - Ashley Herd
Sales POP! Podcasts: Insights from Top Experts in Sales, Marketing, Leadership & More.
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Show Notes
Promoting your top salesperson to manager seems like a no-brainer. They exceeded every target, so leading a team should be easy, right? Wrong.
Star performers often succeed through "unconscious competence"—they're naturally gifted but can't explain their methods to others. Without management training, they struggle with coaching, delegation, and difficult conversations. Your sales champion becomes a frustrated manager leading an underperforming team.
The solution? Assess leadership potential separately from sales performance. Does this person enjoy developing others? Can they handle conflict constructively?
Forward-thinking companies now offer dual career paths—letting top performers advance without managing people. For those who do lead, provide structured training and mentorship. Management isn't a reward for individual success; it's a distinct skill requiring dedicated development.
Great salespeople deserve recognition. Great managers deserve proper preparation.