The Hardest Part of My Job and Why I Love It Anyway

Picture this: You walk into a team that's struggling.

People don't trust you yet.

They don't know if you're here to help or just another outsider telling them what to do.

That's my job.

Leading multiple sales teams, often at once.

Sometimes one, sometimes two, sometimes even three.

As a Fractional Sales Leader, I turn things around when things aren't working.

But there's a catch.

How do I get people to follow me temporarily when I'm only there?

The Answer: Compassionate Management

I'll start with some basic statements, but you all know that leading isn't just about strategy. It's about people.

People don't just follow orders - they follow those they trust.

They follow those who they think can help them achieve their goals.

That's why I always lead with compassion.

Compassionate management - for me - means seeing the world through someone else's eyes.

When someone resists change, instead of pushing harder, I try to ask, "Why is this difficult for them?".

I try to step into their world and look at it through their eyes.

It's a small thing to do, yet very powerful.

Taking over a struggling team may create friction. It's natural.

No one likes an outsider coming in and shaking things up.

But I don't have the luxury of earning trust slowly as a full-time in-house manager would do - I must gain it quickly.

So, does leading with Compassion mean being "soft"? No.

It means challenging people, pushing them to think differently, and holding them accountable.

That's tough to hear sometimes.

But I balance that challenge with:

✅ Compassion – I see where they're coming from.

✅ Empathy – I understand their struggles and try to alleviate them.

✅ trust – I show them I'm on their side for their sake, not mine.

Why I Love This Work

After leaving my corporate job, I knew stepping into struggling teams would be hard.

That's also why I love it.

The best part of my job is seeing a team shift from frustration to success, helping people grow, and watching them regain confidence.

Which was, in fairness, the best part of my full-time sales leadership roles.

The difference is that now I can do it for more teams at once. 😍

So, next time you step into a leadership role, try leading with Compassion.

When conflict arises, pause and ask yourself:

🔹 What is this person feeling?

🔹 Why are they resisting?

🔹 How does the situation look like from their side?

You might be surprised by how much trust you can build, leading with compassion.

Thanks for reading this far. See you next week!