7 Mistakes that Cause High Turnover
Sales rep turnover can be very costly for organizations, both in terms of hard costs (actual outlay of training and other dollars) and opportunity costs (lost future business). According to Gallup research conducted in 2006 1 , five of the top predictors of turnover are: 1. The immediate manager 2. Poor fit for the job 3. Lack of commitment to quality 4. Pay and benefits 5. Connection to the organization, or to senior management In addition to those mentioned by Gallup, there are two other causes of significance: 6. Poor hiring 7. Insufficient onboarding Let’s look at each of these individually. 1. The Immediate Manager The most common cause of sales rep turnover is a sour relationship with the direct manager. This relationship is critical, and if it doesn’t work well it will lead to a termination or resignation. One CFO commented, “People need to be appreciated for their hard work, and if the employee doesn’t feel this respect then he/she will leave.” Sales manage