A short advisory video by Jason M. Lemkin arguing that sales leaders should not default to blaming the product for poor results. Lemkin calls blaming the product an easy excuse and a sign of fear or loss of confidence, advises privately discussing product concerns with management if warranted, and suggests leaving only when the product truly fails basic viability.
What's the simplest excuse in sales? What's the easiest one to come up with? People don't want the product. Product sucks. It's a sign of a loser. CRO or VP of sales is blaming the product. Doesn't mean there isn't truth to it. It doesn't mean in quiet moments, the manager, you should have discussions with the management team about what you want. If you really believe the product sucks, you should leave. Like, if it's really below, below a certain line, you should leave. But whatever you do, do not blame the product. It just. Nothing makes a zero. Listen, lying about the numbers is pretty bad. Missing the quarter is pretty bad. But just railing into the product, it's like, not only is it like railing to your children or your aunt or your parents or. It's just, I, I know that I would, I would immediately pull the CEO side after board meeting and say, listen, you got, you got. It's not going to work. Because if they've lost confidence, you're, you're. It's a version of fear. It's a version of fear is blaming the product because it's true.
