--- title: Weak Managers Focus On More Activity | The Sales Blog description: There are no outcomes without activity. But the right outcomes require the right activity. “More activity” is the answer a weak manager uses when they need better results. It’s easier to demand more activity than it is to determine the real outcome you need, determine the “right and necessary” activity to deliver those outcome, and […] image: https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/The%20Sales%20Blog-2.jpg --- ### [Now booking SKO meetings for 2026/27! 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But the right outcomes require the right activity. “More activity” is the answer a weak manager uses when they need better results. It’s easier to demand [more](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2013/12/14/more-is-not-better-better-is/) activity than it is to determine the real outcome you need, determine the “right and necessary” activity to deliver those outcome, and to ensure that his people have what they need to be effective in generating both the activity and the outcomes. Lest you think I’ve gone soft, many underperforming salespeople are asked to generate more activity because [it is what is necessary](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2012/07/18/why-your-sales-manager-wants-you-to-make-more-calls/) to produce greater results. But when the idea of “more” is applied across an entire sales organization, it’s a clue that it is being used a substitute for what is really needed. - You might need to make more phone calls. But you might also need a [campaign](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2013/05/09/prospecting-is-a-campaign/) of value creation in front of those phone calls to make them more effective. - You might need more opportunities. But you might also need to better work the opportunities that are already in your pipeline but being haphazardly pursued. - You might need [more leads](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2011/06/28/you-dont-need-the-glengarry-leads/)—or better leads. But you might also need a list of dream clients and a real plan to [nurture](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2014/02/22/5-rules-for-nurturing-your-dream-clients/) those relationships to create the real opportunities you need. - You might need more flexibility when it comes to your price. But you might also need to create a greater level of value and a compelling, differentiated, tailored [value proposition](http://thesalesblog.com/blog/2013/12/27/7-tests-for-your-value-proposition/). Sometimes you need more activity. But most of the time what you need is something more complicated, something more difficult to obtain. Strong managers know that *some* people need to be pushed for “more activity” to achieve their goals, but that *most* of their team needs greater effectiveness in areas where competencies are more difficult to obtain. #### Questions When is more activity the right prescription? When does getting better results require something more than more activity? Is more activity always necessary from all salespeople at the same time? Why is effectiveness more important than activity? ###### Tags: [Sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/sales) [2014](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/2014) Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino) on February 26, 2014 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" : "2021-09-17T2:40:36 PM", "datePublished" : "2014-02-26 21:00:12", "description" : "There are no outcomes without activity. But the right outcomes require the right activity. “More activity” is the answer a weak manager uses when they need better results. 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