# What a Great VP Sales Does In Their First Week Shaping the sales team quickly with the right leadership steps. - **Source:** [SaaStr](https://www.saastr.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-19 - **Topic:** [Sales & BD](https://brifing.si/c/sales) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/63e5de1d-1f54-43fb-9506-5bfe2a84d096 ## The Critical Importance of the First Week A successful VP of Sales knows that the first 30 days are crucial for the right hiring decisions. During this period, they take steps to quickly shape the team and boost performance. There's no luxury for slow scaling; leadership must show its impact swiftly. ## Quick Hiring from the Network A great VP of Sales brings in 2-4 talented sales executives in the first week. These individuals are trusted professionals from the leader's previous work experiences. Networking is a fundamental part of the leadership role. ## Identifying Existing Talent In the first week, the leader conducts one-on-one meetings with the top-performing team members. These meetings analyze successful strategies and motivational factors. The best performers become the leader's priority. ## Removing Underperformers A successful leader identifies underperformers in the first week and acts quickly. Clear feedback is given, and if no improvement is seen within 30 days, changes are made. ## Engaging in Critical Deals The leader spends the first two weeks reviewing and closing critical deals. This process quickly identifies issues in the sales process and generates solutions. The leader measures the team's real performance this way. ## The Mediocre VP's First Month An unsuccessful VP of Sales fails to bring anyone from their network in the first month and focuses on working on systems. During this time, top performers tend to leave the company. ## Team Morale and Performance The leader's first-week steps directly impact the team's overall morale and performance. Quick and decisive actions build trust and trigger success. ## The Impact of Leadership on Sales The right leadership enables the sales team to scale quickly. The correct steps in the first week determine the company's long-term success. Leadership requires not just strategy but also swift action. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.saastr.com/what-a-great-vp-sales-does-in-their-first-week-watch-for-it/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._