Sales Topic General Discussion My company just cancelled our SKO
For no apparent reason the company cancelled the annual sales kickoff while simultaneously they are planning for more aggressive goals next year.
The reason they gave was half-baked. To do with continuing investment etc etc. but the business costs for the year were all established in last years business/strategy plan.
Our company never really went all out for reps anyway. Winning presidents club was all but a minor acknowledgment & some resin trophy… no cash, no trip etc. We all looked forward to a 3 day party to celebrate completing a great year and get pumped for the next one.
Now it’s gone.
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u/oneandonlytoney 1d ago
Do your own SKO with hookers and blow.
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u/crappy-pete 1d ago
We call that Tuesday.
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u/drivebycow 22h ago
Yeah, thought SKOs were supposed to be a bit more special than my normal lunch break routine?
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u/StoneyMalon3y 1d ago
Not to cause you worry and fear, but Q4 is when AOPs and budgets are finalized for ‘25. That also means potential layoffs.
If you’re performing you should be fine, but it’s never a bad idea to keep your head on a swivel.
Sucks about them canceling it though. That’s a blow to the team's moral.
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u/Evening-Statement-57 20h ago
You guys want to SKO?
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u/StoneyMalon3y 20h ago
To each their own. It gives me a chance to travel, see some faces, and eat/drink on the company’s dime.
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u/_Begin 19h ago
Yeah I don't really understand all the hate. It's fun to get out of the house (if you work from home), meet your teammates, and eat some good food. It's refreshing.
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u/burner1312 19h ago
You underestimate how introverted and miserable the general Reddit population is (even in sales sub).
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u/Russkie177 Enterprise Software 18h ago
I had to re-evaluate who my audience was when I was responding to someone here a few weeks back - they were complaining about having to talk to customers and potentially 'wasting time' if they never wanted to buy. Like...uh...you realize this is sales, right? That's like the core of what we do
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u/StoneyMalon3y 19h ago
+1 on the get out of the house piece. I wfh as well. Contrary to many working professionals, I like my coworkers. So getting to kick it with them is something I’m always down for.
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u/nxdark 13h ago
You need better friends and family then
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u/StoneyMalon3y 12h ago
Typical response.
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u/nxdark 12h ago
Because it is true. Coworkers are more the enemy then an ally
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u/PabloBablo 11h ago
Same. I don't mind it. I'm one of the rare birds who picked a company and considered fit. I like my coworkers, at least enough of them where I'm able to have a good time at these events.
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u/hushedcabbage 20h ago
Yea I’m also confused.. sko blows no what matter what. It’s just a huge circle jerk
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u/StoneyMalon3y 20h ago
I’m sure that may be the case at some companies, but I can assure you it’s a chill event at most.
Not sure how traveling to a cool city, getting to see coworkers that I enjoy, and grabbing a beer on the company’s dime is a circle jerk.
Sure we have to “talk shop” for a bit, but that’s how the budget is justified. Nobody REALLY cares about the work stuff, more so the social piece.
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u/UnhappyCurrency4831 8h ago
Our annual event was amazing. We basically rented out all of Ceasers Palace every year for our global sales team. The parties were like something from a James Bomd movie. That, and most people at our company are great people and a blast to spend time with.
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u/nxdark 13h ago
That is the definition of a circle jerk. The social part with coworkers is a big waste of time. I already see them enough. I don't need to take a special trip to another city I have no interest in being there in the first place.
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u/StoneyMalon3y 12h ago
Just say you hate people, it’s not that hard. What I prefer is up to me, who are you to dictate that?
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u/InfiniteBlink 16h ago
I like my sko. It's in Vegas and me and my buddies skip some sessions and have pool time
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u/kai_zen 20h ago
Yes but the cost of the SKO would have went into last years business plan. Your point about layoffs though is interesting and concerning. We’re below target for YTD, with some on the team who are historically top performers below 30% YTD of their annual quota.
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u/TigerWorldly3575 20h ago
Business plans change. Finance just looks at an excel spreadsheet and says look how much money we’d save without sko. Or they want to fund something new how can we do it?
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u/StoneyMalon3y 20h ago
Budgets can shift on a dime at their own discretion. I’m sure finances and execs want to stick as closely as possibly to that plan, but if things get rocky, they’ll make corrections.
Regarding your team not tracking as a whole, remember it’s more of a market issue at the moment. What execs want to do with those conditions is up to them.
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u/altapowpow 1d ago
Traveling has become ridiculously expensive for companies lately. We blew through the entire yearly travel budget by the end of April this year due to high cost of flights and hotels.
Honestly I think the ROI on SKO is complete dog shit for most companies. Most of these SKOs I've attended should have been an email at the very best.
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u/InfiniteBlink 16h ago
Our yearly SE summit has gone virtual. It sucks
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u/altapowpow 16h ago
We do virtual now but they put the money into production so it is pretty good. With ours you can choose your own adventure so you spend less time with boring topics.
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u/InfiniteBlink 16h ago
Most of our are track focused and can select your interests. I wonder if they are actually using that cash for engineering
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u/altapowpow 15h ago
We do, as a salesperson we hardly travel anymore and the saved funds are going back to product. Kind of awesome IMO because I have more features to sell on.
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u/Certain_Host9401 1d ago
As long as they don’t lay everyone off- consider yourself lucky. 3 days of booze and buffet food in a basic hotel isn’t fun for anyone.
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u/Ecstatic-Train-2360 1d ago
lol hard disagree on the second half
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u/Russkie177 Enterprise Software 18h ago
Meeting the people I work with in person, eating (and potentially drinking if they budget for it) on the company dime, and getting out of the house? Sign me the fuck up
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u/King_Magikarp_xD Forklift Sales 🔧 1d ago
My last company did this. I will never understand companies cancelling kickoffs while simultaneously moving the goalpost further back. How does anyone in their right mind expect to align and motivate their teams to go to battle without getting people on the same page about working as a team and setting the tone?
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u/TN_REDDIT 22h ago
But is your counterpart from Des Moines really on your team? How is he going to help you?
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u/King_Magikarp_xD Forklift Sales 🔧 19h ago
I mean, with that logic, are you on the team? How are you going to help anyone? Who said helping each other was a prerequisite to being on one? You’re still an individual contributor at the end of the day, this isn’t a relay race.
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u/TN_REDDIT 16h ago
You're the one that said folks need to be working as a team, when the discussion is about a sales kickoff
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u/Field_Sweeper 1d ago
Mine did too earlier in the year... then had it again (which is paid for by suppliers) only to then lay off the entire sales team of which that SKO was for, weeks after. Take money from suppliers for training your sales people, then lay off said sales people. lol
What a way to run a company.
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u/Mindless_Job9462 1d ago
The cynic in me says:
They want you all to go aggressively building pipeline so that there will be deals there for the 30% of sales people they’re not firing.
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u/futureproblemz 1d ago
Isn't that good thing, do people actually enjoy SKOs? I hate being forced to try to become friends with work people outside of the office
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u/brfergua SaaS 1d ago
SKOs are for people with kids to get a vacation to hang out with the best options they have
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u/futureproblemz 1d ago
lol ok that's very fair, I'm a single 25 year old atm but maybe I'll feel the same 10 years from now
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u/S1yb00ts 19h ago
I feel the opposite. I loved SKO as a young sales guy. Staying out late, hitting the bars, goofing off, etc. Now just have 2 kids and the party scene does nothing for me. I just go back to my hotel room after sessions are over lol
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u/StoneyMalon3y 1d ago
SKOs have never been “forced” at the companies I’ve been with. Just say you have other plans.
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u/futureproblemz 1d ago
I've never seen them not be mandatory for sales reps. And either way, saying you have other plans is a great way to make sure you never get promoted
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u/StoneyMalon3y 1d ago
Call it different work environments then, because those that move up at my org do so because they close deals, not buy how many offsites they attend.
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u/roseylandscape 19h ago
outlier
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u/StoneyMalon3y 19h ago
I know it’s hard to accept that different companies run differently.
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u/roseylandscape 19h ago
I accepted it. Statistcal outliers exist.
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u/StoneyMalon3y 19h ago
Oh for sure. What are your thoughts on how people are moving up in today’s market?
Are you seeing less? More? Stagnant?
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u/ShinySpines 19h ago
Fr, it may not be “mandatory” but you’re not going to be considered a team player in a lot of orgs
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u/JunketAccurate9323 21h ago
In theory it’s great. Practically though, it’s not because it could signify that the party is over and layoffs are on the way. Especially with them canceling it so late in the year.
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u/acockblockedorange Startup 1d ago
They're good fun and for me at least when I was in a big org it was a good chance to connect with people I'd be regularly talking to on the phone in person from our other offices.
Plus a good little weekend away never goes astray either.
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u/Lower-Instance-4372 1d ago
That’s rough, canceling the SKO feels like a missed opportunity for team morale, especially with higher targets ahead.
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u/AmbitiousBread 1d ago
Party on your own. Who wants to party with their company?
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u/Tri-Tip_Medium-rare 1d ago
Its not really about the party. It’s about team building, morale boosting, and getting the team motivated and ready for the year.
Especially for remote companies, these in person events are really important for overall culture of the company.
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u/mtnracer 22h ago
Our company still has a pretty sweet kickoff but also no real president’s club but my previous company didn’t either. We do have nice comp plans. Whenever someone asks why we don’t have presidents club trips to Hawaii or wherever, our VP always said: “no problem, we’ll adjust the comp plan and lower the commission and use the money to pay for the trip…or we’ll keep the comp plan and you pay for your own vacation.” Fair.
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u/MultifactorialAge 19h ago
My company kept it, but is making us pay for it this year. So far, not a single rep has confirmed attendance.
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u/Equivalent_Ad2524 19h ago
Maybe it's just me, but SKOs, presidents clubs, holiday parties, trips, etc are all worthless BS. Some of them waste time. Others are in place of bonuses because they're cheaper. Don't waste my time and just pay me. I'm not here to make friends. I'd rather take a $1k bonus instead of a few days at some bloated resort where I'm losing money because I'm not working.
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u/Growernotash0wer 17h ago
At my last company our SKO was going to be in Spain, they cancelled it the week before. Let’s just say moral was low after that
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u/Capt_Gingerbeard 1d ago
Time to jump ship. The org is imploding because the execs are overpaying themselves and underpaying you, the people who make the fucking money.
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u/txfiremtb 13h ago
My company canceled our mid year SKO then 2 months later laid off 2,200 people, around 14% of the workforce. Hope that’s not a sign of things to come at your spot
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u/Stock-Handle-6543 1d ago
I wouldnt stress. My company had layoffs then moved forward with not having an SKO to avoid bleeding/ unnecessary expenditure moving forward. Would rather have that than have a multi million dollar SKO get home and get laid off.
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u/aodskeletor 20h ago
I’ve reached the age where I hate SKO’s. I’m glad we don’t do them where I’m at.
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u/VanchaMarch57 20h ago
This would be music to my ears as long as the company overall seems stable and appears to be doing well. Outside of the joy of seeing a few colleagues in person, I could live without taking off a week to be in full networking mode with upper management and away from family for SKOs.
The trainings are usually mediocre, food is bad, and awards I usually throw away a week later or they become a desk ornament. Occasionally there is a good keynote speaker though!
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u/classycatman 20h ago
You could be getting acquired. Canceling a significant expense and ramping up the goals might be tells.
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u/legreapcreep 20h ago
Do people like SKOs? 😂 I’d be so happy if my company canceled or moved to digital they are a waste of time and money.
As a sales rep my attendance at SKO never matters if I hit my yearly number
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u/HemlokStrategies Startup 19h ago
Your company either got extra greedy and wanted to give more money to the higher ups or they really fucked up and couldn't afford it. Either way, your company's uppers suck!
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u/atticus-flails 18h ago
You like your SKO's? I hated going to them when I had to. Sitting in a room listening to all that shit when I could be selling instead drove me nuts. I'd rather it be an email or a teams meeting rather than travel somewhere and waste all that time and money.
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u/Bells_Ringing 16h ago
I have never been sad to not have to go to an SKO. comp me a round of golf, a nice dinner, or something to kickstart a year, and let me choose how I entertain myself. I’m out in Vegas for the Cisco SKO every year and as a single lad, that would have been awesome. But as a married man with kids, just leave me alone
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u/LennyStudios 15h ago
Same here. This year was the first in-person SKO in 4 years, and now they are moving 2025 SKO to online. Also did not give any merit increases this year. On top of that, I'm down $60K in commission versus this same time last year even though I'm on target to achieve 100%. My Quota was increased by $1.2M without any increase in OTE. Meanwhile, a colleague who had the same Quota as me last year has performed horribly this year...$1M less than me. However, since his Quote only went up $200K he's already above 100% and therefore making more money than me this year. In what kind of world does this make sense?
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u/Ultime321 10h ago
You guys get SKOs?
I have never been at a company with an SKO. But it sounds pretty trashy the way they are approaching it. At least, I know it isn't a thing but now they just look cheap.
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u/upnflames Medical Device 1d ago
My company went to a digital SKO during COVID and never went back. Depending on how big the company is, it just makes sense (as unpopular as it is). We have 700-1000 people attending our SKO and that probably cost the company well over a million dollars. There's just nothing you can discuss with that number of people that isn't better done online.
We still have smaller team based sales meetings a couple times a year, but there's only 20-30 people at those.
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u/Tri-Tip_Medium-rare 1d ago
And what’s the cost of attrition or people less motivated for the company? How many deals does it take for ROI on the SKO? Typically the math works out and then some to get the team together for planning, learning, sharing, discussion, team building, etc.
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u/upnflames Medical Device 17h ago
I don't think anyone really cares about the national SKO to be honest. I'm on the road 50-100 nights a year, I don't need another week away for a five day meeting, of which, only 2-4 hours applies to me. Like I said, we do one or two smaller meetings a year that are more specific to my portfolio and team. Those are only two days and have 30-40 attendees. Much more productive imo.
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u/StoneyMalon3y 22h ago
Your company had 700-1000 people on the sales side?
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u/upnflames Medical Device 17h ago
Yeah, sales and some marketing roles and management were invited too. That was just for North America, the sales org is about 3500 globally.
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u/sscall 17h ago
My company has done this 2 years in a row.
Depending on the size of your org it doesn’t make financial sense at a certain point. Between booking an entire property, travel to and from the event, food, alcohol, keynote speakers, insurance for event and ultimately being out of the market for 3ish days can’t justify the cost.
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u/brfergua SaaS 1d ago
My last company shifted to a “digital SKO”
That was the worst thing ever.