Toxic Property Agent Sales

I once dealt with a particular London property company. One for whom the horrors I experienced sadly seem to have changed little in the passing quarter-century.

I was astonished to discover allegations set out in a local report. Surely Wolf of Wall St, Glengarry Glen Ross, Boiler Rooming is by now consigned to history? Everyone in Sales today must know that is not the way, right?

The sexual harassment, discrimination and racism allegations make for shocking reading.

Which as noted at the article's foot, the company concerned say they've taken seriously and are acting upon.

If anything like that is going on where you sell, you simply must speak out.

Accountability must occur.

You and all those affected must prevail.

Yet as I have experienced before, one such malady is seldom alone.

Venom spreads.

As can be seen through other such revelations about the sales environment.

Take this random example cited of a whistleblower;

"... she spoke of another particular 'scary' sales manager who came up to her carrying a bin while she was talking to colleagues and told her to 'put that in my I don't give a s*** bucket' and to get on with her call outs."

Yes, I've witnessed similar. With a touch of humour, impersonal and a knowing nod to process, this kind of trope can with care work I guess. Yet when "scary", it is simply oppressive and plain wrong.

Said same person described the culture as "like being in a cult".

Another indicator of this comes from the haphazard selling competitions.

Random targets plucked to award certain achievers decent amounts of extra bonus. Ranging from a week's to a month's more pay or other such desirable perk as prize.

I've seen these in action elsewhere. They cause havoc. They generate outright thievery between colleagues. They change behaviour of salesteam members in unwanted ways. They alienate prospects. They create famine.

They simply forge the wrong type of environment.

Then there's another sign. One more subtle.

"... [she] also said her female manager favoured the male workers and would treat them to trips out for breakfast".

The perennial thorny issue of preferential treatment for the favoured.

Which can be seen in many ways. Including with the allocation of attractive leads, prioritised management support, or certain events swept under carpets.

This always suffocates selling results when such benefits are viewed by others as unjust, unearned and un-inclusive.

Make sure your selling space does not allow any such like to fester.