I Had a Mean Sales Guy

Summary

• I once had a very successful salesperson who closed three times more deals than anyone else. However, he wasn't a team player; he bullied others and made them feel inadequate.
• Despite his high performance, I decided to let him go. After his departure, the rest of the team tripled their output.
• The team felt much freer and more successful without his negativity. They were constantly criticized by him, which had previously held them back.
• This experience taught me that some people try to make others look bad just to make themselves look better. They aren't necessarily high performers, even if it seems that way.
• It's important to recognize that a negative presence can hurt team morale and overall productivity, even if that person appears to excel individually.

Video

How To Take Action

I would suggest looking closely at your team or yourself to see if anyone or anything is holding back progress. Sometimes, it's not about how good someone appears in numbers. Their behavior and how they treat others can impact everyone negatively.

A good way of doing this is to start a conversation with your team. Make a safe space where team members feel comfortable sharing how they feel about the work environment. It's important to listen to their concerns about negative influences without judging them.

When you find someone or something hurting team morale, address the issue directly but kindly. If it's a person causing problems, try having a one-on-one conversation first to see if they’re open to change. If not, sometimes the best decision is to let them go for the team to thrive.

Remember, it’s not only about individual performance but how the team works together. Encourage a supportive environment where everyone feels respected and heard. Celebrate team successes together to build morale.

If you’re working alone, think about how you talk to yourself. Are you being overly critical or negative? Changing your inner dialogue can also improve your productivity and happiness.

These steps don’t need a lot of time or money, but they can make a big difference in how well you or your team perform.