How Do You Answer A Boss For Not Achieving A Sales Target?

Let’s start by saying that not even Michael Jordan consistently met every goal he had set out. And not just him; this goes for any great and recognized person in their field.

How do you answer a boss for not achieving a sales target? The best answer you can give your boss is an honest explanation of what happened and a plan to improve for the future. You’ll want to avoid giving excuses or placing blame. Simply state the facts, and let your boss know you’re committed to improving.

There will be times when you underperform. You’ll inevitably fall short one quarter or even have an off-year. That’s not to say you won’t come back with a vengeance!  

Here are a few things to keep in mind when talking to your boss about your decrease in production:

• They will understand if you put the work in but didn’t meet your numbers. They’ve been there before.
• Don’t throw a “pity party” and feel bad for yourself.
• If you didn’t work hard enough, say that. They will respect your honesty.
• Have a plan for how you will turn things around.
• Ensure you won’t make the same mistakes and explain how you’ll grow from them.

What Do You Do If Sale Targets Are Not Met?

There are going to be times when your sales targets are not met. The beauty of this situation is that once you analyze what went wrong, you’ll make sure you don’t repeat the same mistakes moving forward.

When sales targets are not met, it will make you a stronger salesperson if you climb out of it properly. Here are a few things to do when you’re in this situation.

Don’t panic.

Take a deep breath and get a hold of what’s going on. Understand you can no longer do anything about the situation, so calm your mind down from going crazy.

You can always climb yourself out of any situation. It’s been done a billion times over by other successful salespeople. Once you re-build your confidence, nothing can stop you.

Go back to the basics.

Go back to the basics of what you should be doing and regain your focus. For example, get back to your proper sleeping schedule, your healthier eating habits, and whatever else it takes for you to feel refreshed.

Get back to the basics of your regimented schedule of qualifying, building your lead base, and presenting to a certain number of prospects daily. Break down your numbers so you know exactly what you need to do to reach your goal. These small things will help you get out of a sales slump.

Make adjustments

Take shorter and fewer breaks. Focus more on reaching your daily numbers and less time chit-chatting with colleagues.

If you usually work from home, go to the office for a few days. If you’re used to working in the office, take a couple of days to work from home. Sometimes, all you need is a change of scenery.

How Do You Apologize For Not Achieving The Target?

Your sales manager or boss will respect anyone that can take the blame. If you didn’t reach your sales numbers, tell them it’s your fault, there are no excuses, and you have a plan to reach your numbers moving forward.

You can mention that you went over what went wrong, and you’ll make sure you won’t repeat the same mistakes. If and when you say this, you must mean it and live up to it.

When you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to let your manager or boss know that you’re not here to waste their time, nor are you here to waste your own time. Remind them why they hired you and tell them you’ll deliver.

This pressure will be perfect for you to live under because once you do whatever it takes to reach your goal, you’ll be extremely proud of your resilience, which will indirectly raise your standards in sales.

What To Tell Your Boss When Sales Are Down?

There will be moments in your sales career when your sales and production are down. Whether it’s cyclical, economic reasons, or your fault, you will experience this moment.

When you find yourself in this situation, you must figure out what went wrong. Once you pinpoint the issue, make an appointment to speak with your manager or boss before they call you in themselves. Explain to them what went wrong. Again, don’t give them excuses; simply tell them you identified the problem and have a plan to get back on track.

When you do this, it displays a level of accountability. This is an amazing trait to have as a salesperson as long as you live up to your expectations.

How Do You Write An Explanation Letter For Not Achieving The Target?

If you have the option of speaking to your manager or boss face-to-face rather than writing a letter, do it. You want to get into the habit of facing issues head-on.

In this particular situation, when you speak with someone eye-to-eye, they can see and feel what you mean. Of course, that’s if you actually mean it and plan to improve.

In the case you must write a letter, the same concept applies. Don’t write anything creative or fancy. Be blunt, and do not beat around the bush. Admit you failed; tell them you identified what went wrong and what your plan is moving forward to execute and reach your numbers.

Can You Be Fired For Not Achieving Targets?

Every company has its quotas and policies. Some are very lenient, and some are very strict. So the answer is yes, depending on your company, you can be fired for not achieving your targets.

Although it sounds stressful, it can work in your favor and improve your ability to produce. Worrying about being let go for not hitting your target will force you to think bigger and expand your mind.

You are who you surround yourself with. If everyone in your company understands they can be fired for not achieving their targets, the norm will be performing in spectacular ways, and it will be frowned upon to barely reach your targets. At the end of the day, this will only benefit you more.

On the flip-side, if you surround yourself with sales reps that don’t fear being fired because of low productivity, it’s less likely people will push themselves in amazing ways, and the culture will have very little of a spark.

To achieve greatness, you need to be around people that understand the consequences of not working hard and giving it their all.

It’s your decision on who you want to surround yourself with, but know that the people you associate with will impact your success.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, if you don’t achieve your sales targets, be prepared for the conversation with your boss. You must take accountability for your actions and have a plan to improve. By doing this, you’re showing initiative, which is an excellent quality to possess.