When Leadership Means Coordinating Sales Skills
I don’t use LinkedIn as much as I used to, but a recent post quoting an old Sam Altman note—“Most careers turn into sales jobs when you get senior enough”—caught my attention.
I’ve found that to be true throughout my own career. I’ve also noticed that, while sales permeates nearly every senior position, people contribute to the sales cycle in very different ways.
Some excel at the initial meet-and-greet, some are persistent in the face of objections, and some have a deep understanding of the product or service they’re selling.
It’s up to management to orchestrate how all these skills work together. And that, in itself, is another critical senior management skill.
Copyright 2025 by Dennis D. McDonald.
