What Founders Get Wrong About Sales Compensation

What Founders Get Wrong About Sales Compensation

Author: Aleasha Bahr November 27, 2025 Duration: 9:31
One of the most expensive mistakes founders make happens the moment a salesperson starts performing.  Revenue rises. Momentum builds. …and then the first large commission check appears.  Instead of celebrating the growth, the owner panics. They see the payout instead of the profit. Here’s the thing: a big commission check is not the problem. It is proof your business is scaling and that’s something to celebrate!  If your sales person is making good money - that means you’re making good money. You should definitely be making more than when they weren’t there.  And if you’re not - that’s a problem with the plan - not the rep. In this episode of Sales is Not a Dirty Word, common comp plan issues, how owners unintentionally sabotage their best performers and the ripple effect that can end up costing you a lot more money than you save.  Listen in to discover:  ✔ Why flat commission plans cap performance✔ The mindset shift that makes big commission checks feel good, not scary✔ How changing a working plan destroys trust and pushes talent out✔ Why competitive compensation attracts the top 1 percent of salespeople✔ How to create a tiered monthly ladder that encourages performance✔ Why reducing commission always costs more through turnover and lost deals✔ The real financial impact of replacing a salesperson and why sales has the highest churn rate You’ll learn how to design a comp plan you never resent paying and how to use incentives to shape the behaviors that move your business forward. If you want a compensation plan that matches your margins and growth strategy, book a Black Sheep Sales Audit at calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup  #SalesIsNotADirtyWord #SalesCompensation #SalesLeadership #CommissionPlan #SalesStrategy #SalesTeamSuccess #BlackSheepSales #SalesManagement #SalesHiring #SalesCoaching #SalesCompensationPlan #BusinessGrowth #FounderTips #SalesRetention #AuthenticSelling

Ever feel like the whole idea of "selling" makes your skin crawl? You're not alone, but what if everything you've been told about sales is wrong? Sales is NOT a Dirty Word is built on the idea that genuine connection, not manipulation, is the real engine of business growth. Host Aleasha Bahr, creator of the Matchmaker Sales method™, dismantles the high-pressure stereotypes one conversation at a time. Instead of scripts and tricks, she opens up her playbook, sharing insights and strategies typically reserved for her private coaching clients-where achieving an 80% conversion rate on sales calls isn't a fantasy, but a regular outcome. Each episode of this podcast features candid talks with experts who offer alternative, refreshingly human perspectives on the process. You'll hear real stories about building trust, understanding client needs deeply, and creating agreements that feel good for everyone involved. This isn't about learning to pretend; it's about discovering a framework where your authenticity becomes your greatest asset in closing deals. Tune in to transform your approach from something you dread into a natural, even enjoyable, part of your professional life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Sales is NOT a Dirty Word
Podcast Episodes
The Old-School Sales Tactics That No Longer Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Masterminds have become increasingly popular and with that, the quality of them has significantly declined. Whether you’re looking to start your own mastermind or find one that’s the right fit, there are some incredibly…
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Duration: 13:16
Big whale clients are the dream for many people. Although they come with their own set of cons - there are plenty of pros. So, how do you land them - especially when you’re not a whale yourself? It’s easy to get intimida…
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Duration: 27:37
Ever feel paralyzed by the fear of hearing "no"? As a mother, wife, business owner or anything in between - women often hold themselves back from getting what they want for fear of rejection. The missed opportunity is en…
Why People Get Burned in Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:13
In this episode, we dive into sales strategies from the buyer’s POV because this is often when the biggest “ahas!” are unlocked. Have you ever felt like you bought something and then what was delivered was very different…
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Duration: 24:37
How do you know when to conform and when to follow your intuition in a very different direction? Join me as I chat with Jeff Sieh, the creative genius behind Manly Pinterest Tips and the host of Social Media News Live. H…