Comments on: Relighting The Fire – Recovering From Sales Burnout http://www.salesbloggers.com/2009/02/relighting-fire-recovering-from-sales-burnout/ Where the top sales bloggers share their perspective Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:29:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Skip Anderson http://www.salesbloggers.com/2009/02/relighting-fire-recovering-from-sales-burnout/comment-page-1/#comment-16743 Skip Anderson Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:13:01 +0000 http://www.salesbloggers.com/?p=759#comment-16743 Retail sales can be very, very challenging, in part because of the schedule involved. Unlike most B2B sales positions, retail companies are often open 70-90+ hours a week, and since sales coverage is required, it falls on the shoulders of the sales team to work an unconventional work schedule (hooray for you if you are able to work out a set schedule with your manager that requires no more than five days in a row...it's possible to do in some companies, but impossible to do in some retail companies, too). It sounds to me that you are getting burned out because of the schedule. Whether your manager will pave the way for an adjustment to your schedule that will make it more reasonable (particularly in the number of hours worked per week), this is up to him/her, but while most people can work a crazy schedule for a while, it gets old after a few months or weeks for almost anybody. You'll have to figure out how your boss is likely to respond to you saying "I can no longer handle this." If you think your manager will respond favorably, then do it. If you suspect your manager will react negatively, then it's possible you may have to move on. I like to see employees and managers strive for mature, effective communication about issues that arise. Yet, I know there are some managers (and some employees) who won't respond positively to this. Best of luck Roxy. Retail sales can be very, very challenging, in part because of the schedule involved. Unlike most B2B sales positions, retail companies are often open 70-90+ hours a week, and since sales coverage is required, it falls on the shoulders of the sales team to work an unconventional work schedule (hooray for you if you are able to work out a set schedule with your manager that requires no more than five days in a row…it’s possible to do in some companies, but impossible to do in some retail companies, too).

It sounds to me that you are getting burned out because of the schedule. Whether your manager will pave the way for an adjustment to your schedule that will make it more reasonable (particularly in the number of hours worked per week), this is up to him/her, but while most people can work a crazy schedule for a while, it gets old after a few months or weeks for almost anybody.

You’ll have to figure out how your boss is likely to respond to you saying “I can no longer handle this.” If you think your manager will respond favorably, then do it. If you suspect your manager will react negatively, then it’s possible you may have to move on.

I like to see employees and managers strive for mature, effective communication about issues that arise. Yet, I know there are some managers (and some employees) who won’t respond positively to this.

Best of luck Roxy.

]]> By: Roxy http://www.salesbloggers.com/2009/02/relighting-fire-recovering-from-sales-burnout/comment-page-1/#comment-16742 Roxy Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:11:22 +0000 http://www.salesbloggers.com/?p=759#comment-16742 I'm having a problem with sales burnout related to working too much. I've been in sales for over 10 years and been very successful at it. I recently changed over to retail sales and did very well the first month, but then the boss fired one of the salesman and didn't rehire, leaving the rest of us to work 6 days a week, with sometimes seven, eight, nine or ten days working before we get that one day off. I am so exhausted and tired of being there that it has affected my sales. When trying to talk to the boss about this, all he really said was that if I can't handle it, I should let him know. Any sales job I have had before worked us no more than 5 days in a row, recognizing that salespeople need a break to 'recharge'. Do I really need to just quit, or is there something more diplomatic that could be said to the boss? Or am I entirely wrong in this? I’m having a problem with sales burnout related to working too much. I’ve been in sales for over 10 years and been very successful
at it.
I recently changed over to retail sales and did very well the first month, but then the boss fired one of the salesman and didn’t rehire, leaving the rest of us to work 6 days a week, with sometimes seven, eight, nine or ten days working before we get that one day off. I am so exhausted and tired of being there that it has affected my sales.
When trying to talk to the boss about this, all he really said was that if I can’t handle it, I should let him know.
Any sales job I have had before worked us no more than 5 days in a row, recognizing that salespeople need a break to ‘recharge’.
Do I really need to just quit, or is there something more diplomatic that could be said to the boss? Or am I entirely wrong in this?

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