“I don’t care! You can fire me, but I will not tell anyone where I’m going or what I’m doing!”
This bitter outburst came as a result of a sales manager asking his salespeople to submit their weekly plan. This was the first step in developing a reporting system for his sales team.
The salesperson was serious too. He was the company’s best salesperson. Because he is so well-known and very well-liked by the customers, he is also featured in their advertising.
The sales manager knew he had a problem. If this salesperson refused, the other salespeople would feel unfairly treated if they had to complete the reports. He could see his plan fading away like a morning fog.
This salesperson is normally not that aggressive, although he has been difficult to manage in the past.
If you were the sales manager, what would you do?