You were crushing it. Every month. Every quarter. Your numbers spoke for themselves. So naturally, the company tapped you for a leadership role.

Now you're running the team.

But here’s the truth no one prepares you for: being a high-performing sales executive and being a great leader are two very different jobs.

You’re still expected to close deals, but now you're also responsible for coaching a team, driving results through others, and protecting morale. It’s no wonder so many new leaders feel like they’re drowning in pressure with no playbook.

The Most Common Mistakes New Sales Leaders Make

Adam "Badger" Dyrek and Jason "Boomer" Brown from the XINNIX team have seen this transition go wrong more times than they can count. Here’s what they say are the biggest mistakes:

• No mindset shift
  Still thinking like a rep instead of a leader? You’ll default to doing the work instead of building up the team. It backfires fast.

• No coaching rhythm
  If you’re only talking to your team when there’s a problem, you’re already behind. Weekly check-ins aren’t a luxury. They’re the system.

• No peer support
  Trying to lead in a vacuum? That’s burnout waiting to happen. You need a network. You need support.

So What Does Work?

Our team helps new leaders grow into their role every day, and we’ve seen three critical shifts make all the difference:

1. Shift from Doer to Developer
   Stop solving every problem. Start empowering your team to think and win on their own.

2. Lead with Data, Coach with Heart
   Use dashboards to guide, but never forget—people follow people, not spreadsheets.

3. Create Clarity, Not Confusion
   Your team craves structure. Set clear roles. Clear expectations. Clear rhythms. No guesswork.

If you or someone on your team is stepping into leadership for the first time, we can help you build the confidence and systems you need to lead with impact.
Let’s connect. We’ve got a playbook ready for you.