#sales When we seek a seller of the new, a prerequisite must be passion. This individual should seem eager to get out of bed in the morning; even if they were in prison. The sales evangelist is self motivated. The statement alone is redundant. What need be done is not to inspire, but to make every effort not to derail a super charged bolt of accomplishment.

So, instead of discussing ways to motivate, instaed I wanted to deliver the top 10 ways to de-motivate a Sales Evangelist. Her we go:

1. Promise and do not deliver. You get two chances to do this, but after one, you have lost all credibility as a leader. The second time will shift motivation to a new job hunt. So do not say its in the next release; or you are working on it and will have it on Monday….unless it is true.

2. Lie. This is a one shot wonder. Get caught lying and your Sales Evangelist will no longer rally to the cause. Why? It is faith that binds them to the selling of the new. Faith that carries their word and that is bond. They will not support a liar.

3. Curry favor to the undeserving. If you plan to play favorites, make it on stack rank and effort alone.

4. Keep them in the dark when it matters. If it is going to help business, tell them everything. Transparency is the new black, and it is also the way to make some money.

5. Belittle or dismiss them in front of prospects and customers. That motivation to find a new job will soon follow.

6. Belitte or dismiss them in front of their peers or other employees. Same as #5

7. Interrupt them while they are working with prospects. Not direct belittling, and may not get them job hunting, but a serious demotivator.

8. Abruptly change their expectations. Territory, vertical, quota, etc… While you are dealing with an adaptive animal, these changes should be discussed in a consultative and preemptive manner. Change should be explained and placed on a timeline.

9. Show that you are not sure the direction you want to go in. The Sales Evangelist is far too busy tilting at windmills and falling on swords to have doubt in the leadership team.

10. And finally, do not pay them as promised. Never be late with a paycheck or change commissions mid stream. This is just plain rude and undeserving of the seller of the new.