--- title: The Problem with Managing Only Activity | The Sales Blog description: Salespeople can make hundreds of calls without producing results. They can create lots of activity by sending hundreds of emails with zero results image: https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Managing.jpg --- ### [Now booking SKO meetings for 2026/27! 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Sales managers in the past measured activity as if it were the only variable, mostly because it was the only thing they had direct control over. They could literally insist that their salespeople do more work. In many cases, this resulted in greater sales, because increased activity is always the right answer when too little activity is being taken. The [problem with managing only activity](http://thesalesblog.com/2014/02/26/weak-managers-focus-on-more-activity/) is that it absolves you, the manager, of your responsibility for improving the salesperson’s performance. ## Outcomes > Activity All the activity a salesperson takes needs to generate outcomes. The outcomes are what matter, and focusing on activity alone doesn’t speak to the salesperson’s effectiveness, nor does it speak to your effectiveness as their leader, manager, coach, and trainer. If activity alone was enough to produce better sales results, then your role would be easy. The truth is, selling is more difficult now, and producing greater results requires more effort on your part. There is a certain segment of every population of worker that isn’t working hard enough to produce the results they need. There is an equally large population—maybe larger than those who lack hustle—that is taking the right amount of activity and not producing the outcomes because they need to improve their approach. More activity may produce a modest improvement in their results, but it won’t come close to the improvement possible by increasing their effectiveness. Outcomes are greater than activity. The more effective your individual salespeople are, the more outcomes they can generate with very same activity. ## Your Activity and Your Effectiveness If you are going to look at a salesperson’s activity and their effectiveness in obtaining the outcomes they need, you also need to be honest enough to look at your own activity and your own effectiveness. You need to determine whether you are spending the time coaching and developing them to better generate the outcomes they need, and you need to measure yourself on the outcome of creating the salespeople your clients need from you and from your company. If you believe that your challenge in producing results is your salespeople, you are always going to have trouble producing the results you need. When you believe that other people are your problem, that belief is the root of your problems. Only your beliefs—and your activity—can change this. ###### Tags: [Sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/sales) [2017](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/2017) Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino) on June 7, 2017 Written and edited by human brains and human hands. ![Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/ai-blog-profile-crop.jpg) Anthony Iannarino is an American writer. He has published daily at [thesalesblog.com](https://www.thesalesblog.com) for more than 14 years, amassing over 5,300 articles and making this platform a destination for salespeople and sales leaders. Anthony is also the author of four best-selling books documenting modern sales methodologies and a fifth book for sales leaders seeking revenue growth. His latest book for an even wider audience is titled, The Negativity Fast: Proven Techniques to Increase Positivity, Reduce Fear, and Boost Success. Anthony speaks to sales organizations worldwide, delivering cutting-edge sales strategies and tactics that work in this ever-evolving B2B landscape. He also provides workshops and seminars. Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn, X or Youtube. 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What we’re doing right now **is working**, even in this challenging economy. **Would you like some help?** [![Solve for Sales](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035) ### Join my Weekly Newsletter for Sales Tips Join 100,000+ sales professionals in my weekly newsletter and get my *Guide to Becoming a Sales Hustler* eBook for FREE! --- ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org/", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Anthony Iannarino" }, "dateModified" : "2021-09-17T1:30:02 PM", "datePublished" : "2017-06-07 21:31:49", "description" : "Salespeople can make hundreds of calls without producing results. 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