# The 30-Day Verdict: Is Your New VP of Sales Going to Work Out?

The pipeline hasn't moved yet, and it shouldn't have. But there's already enough to go on, if you know where to look.

## Most CEOs watch the wrong signals

- False signals: pipeline hasn't moved yet, the team seems to like them, they're confident in exec meetings.
- Real signals: they can name who's carrying the number, they've changed a process not just watched it, they ask harder pipeline questions than you do.

## Four honest questions to ask at day 30

- Has this person told you something you didn't want to hear yet? If every update has been good news, they're either managing you or haven't looked closely enough.
- Can they explain specifically why each rep is above or below plan, not just that they are?
- Have they made one real decision, a process change, a deal call, a people call, versus thirty days of "still assessing"?
- Are reps starting to mention them unprompted in your 1:1s, for better or worse?
- If you had to bet your own money on this hire today, would you bet it went well? Not hope. Bet.

## Frequently asked questions

### Isn't 30 days too early to judge a VP of Sales?

Too early to judge the number, not too early to judge the behavior. What they do with their first 30 days predicts what the number looks like at day 90.

### What do we do if the verdict is negative?

Don't wait for day 90 hoping it turns around on its own. Have the direct conversation now, with specifics, while there's still time to course-correct.

### Does a slow pipeline ramp mean the hire is bad?

No. Pipeline lag in month one is normal ramp time, not a signal. That is exactly why the real tests here are about behavior and decisions, not the number.