Good Morning. SpaceX sent the first text message from space using Starlink satellites earlier this week. Now it’s only a matter of time before someone makes the first cold call from space. “Hey, just giving you a ring from the international space station, got a sec?” 🧑‍🚀 

In today’s Follow Up:

• Sales layoffs and viral videos 📹️ 

• A sales question you should use 🗣️ 

• Sales around the internet 🖥️ 

• Sales jobs, LinkedIn & a sales meme 😂 

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Sales Layoffs & Viral Videos

We’re 18 days into 2024, and Layoffs are hitting sales teams left and right.

This week, Google announced they’re laying off 100’s of sales reps due to a team restructuring.

And last week, a video of a former Cloudflare sales rep went majorly viral, racking up millions of views in just a few days.

So, what happened? 📹️ 

Brittany Pietsch (27), an Account Executive at Cloudflare, got a 15 minute meeting put on her calendar with a Director she’d never met and rep from HR. Before the call, a teammate told her they’d been let go, so when the calendar invite popped up, she knew what to expect.

The Director started the call by telling Brittany she was being fired because she didn't meet expectations.

Brittany quickly responded by telling the two that she’d only been at the company for 4 months, and 3 of them were a part of her ramp. On top of that, she had the highest activity on her team, sent out multiple contracts, and had only been told she was doing a good job by her manager.

When Brittany asked for specific details on the performance expectations, the HR rep and Director said they did not have specific details.

After 9 minutes of back and forth, Brittany ended the video as they began discussing severance and next step.

The Aftermath 👀 

It didn’t take long for the video to find it’s way to Twitter and get a response from the CEO of Cloudflare (Matthew Prince):

There’s no way around it. Firing underperforming sales reps is required for a business to thrive. It’s a painful process for both parties. But there are right and wrong ways to do it.

What We Can Learn 🔬 

We’ve been busy reviewing the tape, and found 3 things Cloudflare should have done differently. If you’re ever in the position of letting someone go, don’t make these same mistakes:

1. Brittany should have already known: In the video,sher said her manager only told her she was doing a good job. Employees should never be surprised that they are underperforming. Regular 1-on-1s and performance meetings should clearly communicate where they stand.

2. The manager should have been there: If you're in the position of letting someone go, be present. Take responsibility and show respect. HR reps are required, but shouldn’t be the only one’s delivering the news.

3. Performance specifics: A statement like, "You are being let go due for performance reasons" should be backed with specifics. The HR rep should’ve had Brittany’s performance metrics on hand.

If You’re Getting Let Go 😒 

Sometimes there’s no way around it. The economy changes and companies over hire.

If you’re facing a layoff, here’s 3 tips to make the most out of the situation:

1. Negotiate severance: Remember, you have the right to negotiate your severance package. Closed mouths don’t get fed. It never hurts to ask.

2. Request a recommendation: If you’re laid off, ask for a letter of recommendation from your manager or director. This can go a long way when you’re looking for a new job.

3. Negotiate your termination date: Extending your employment even by a few weeks can buy you extra time for job searching. It’s always easier to find a new job when you currently have one.

Luckily for Brittany - the added attention worked in her favor.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Brittany said “Reputable companies have reached out to me and told me, ‘I want someone like you on my sales team’ ”.

So if you’re about to get fired, maybe you should hit record too. 🤔 

Checking in on LinkedIn 👀 

Pet humans… 😂 

Sales Meme of the Day

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