Are You Chasing the Bullseye?

Last Updated on November 19, 2025 by Rocky

AI Summary: This blog helps leaders understand why real sales growth starts with honest reflection, targeted coaching, and practical accountability—not just new tools.

What Actually Moves Sales Growth

After working with all kinds of companies for decades, one thing stands out: leaders often chase the newest tools or flashy initiatives hoping for a sales breakthrough. New CRM? Check. Updated compensation plan? Check. Fresh training program? Check. But after the excitement fades, results usually look about the same.

When Tools Aren’t the Answer

It’s easy to believe the next platform or process will lift your sales. It’s also easy to get frustrated when nothing changes. Most of these fixes are bandages, not cures. They address what’s visible but ignore what’s really broken underneath. If your revenue is stuck, it’s rarely because your team lacks tools or know-how. Leaders sometimes overlook tough questions in favor of busy activity.

Start with Honest Questions

• Where are we right now?
  Get real about your win rate, sales cycle, pipeline accuracy, customer retention, and who’s actually hitting their numbers. Don’t lean on assumptions, look at the data.
• Where do we want to go?
  Ambiguous growth targets don’t help. Be specific: set your revenue and market share goals, and nail down when you want to get there.
• Do we have the right people for the journey?
  Not everyone has the skills or drive needed for big targets. That includes your managers. Can they actually coach and lift their teams, or do you have gaps to fill?
• Are our tools and processes working for us?
  Too many systems actually slow teams down. Check if your workflows help people sell, not just report.
• Are our sales managers really coaching?
  Good managers roll up their sleeves next to reps, problem-solve, and keep people motivated. Not just monitor the numbers each week.

Watch Out for Sneaky Problems

Motivation in sales isn’t random, and it shouldn’t be a mystery. Pay attention to when your team tends to lose steam, usually about three-quarters through a big push. That’s when you need to intervene, not after things slide. Don’t let sales cycles drag on because nobody feels free to walk away from bad deals. Give your people the okay to qualify fast and say no when it’s not a fit. That alone can speed everything up and boost your accuracy.

Most importantly, ask yourself as a leader: are you ready to reward what works and address what’s not? Sustainable growth takes real accountability, and sometimes that means hard conversations or changing how things are done. Skipping this step brings you back to square one, every time.

Getting Real About Growth

Big change takes guts at the top. If you want to see better results:

• Be honest about where things stand, even when uncomfortable.
• Get specific about what you want, and make sure everyone gets it.
• Line up the right people, tools, and processes.
• Make coaching part of the weekly rhythm, not an afterthought.

Own the responsibility to step in early and hold everyone (including yourself) accountable

Aim for the Right Target

Stop chasing quick fixes. The real foundation for growth starts with your willingness to get honest, set clear targets, and make decisions, even tough ones, that actually move the needle. Don’t be afraid to dig in, ask hard questions, and face what comes next. Surprisingly, that’s when real momentum begins.

www.salesdevelopmentexpert.com/sales-leadership , https://www.salesdevelopmentexpert.com/ , https://www.salesdevelopmentexpert.com/sales-team-building-is-like-knife-building/ , https://www.salesdevelopmentexpert.com/they-want-more-love-a-president-and-ceos-guide-to-sales-managers-expectations/