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You already know the pattern: a sluggish start to the year, pressure mounting mid-year, and a frantic, last-minute scramble to hit end-of-year numbers – the dreaded “hockey stick finish.” If nothing changes, nothing changes – and 2026 will be no different.
It’s exhausting. It’s unsustainable. And it’s entirely predictable.
2026 won’t magically fix itself. Without a clear sales leadership strategy and the right people in place, you’ll get the same results – only this time, the stakes will be higher.
Customers are savvier. Competitors are faster. Expectations are rising.
The question every Sales Leader must ask right now is simple: is my team ready for 2026?
Do a talent stocktake — before you spend another dollar
Before you invest in another round of training, coaching, or technology, take a step back and evaluate who you’re investing in.
Not everyone in your team is wired for the same sales role. Some are hunters; others are relationship builders. Some thrive under pressure, while others stall.
A talent stocktake ensures you’re backing the right people in the right roles – the ones who can actually deliver on your 2026 goals.
This isn’t about hiring new people. It’s about understanding the talent you already have and realigning them to perform at their best.
Start with clarity: assess your team with POP7.0™ or EPOP+™
A structured, data-driven sales team assessment gives you clarity, precision, and confidence in every people decision you make.
A well-executed sales talent assessment, such as POP7.0™ or EPOP+™, provides deep insight into the strengths, motivators, and future potential of your team. These tools go beyond surface-level reviews, helping you predict, place, and develop your people strategically.
POP7.0™ — Predictor of Potential
Powered by a predictive talent assessment model, POP7.0™ reveals:
- Who has the natural talent to sell, lead, and deliver consistent results.
- How your people respond to pressure and change.
- What motivates them and what holds them back.
- Where they’ll need coaching and development to excel.
EPOP+™ — Enterprise Predictor of Potential
EPOP+™ expands the view across your entire organisation, helping you:
- Evaluate multiple sales roles with one powerful assessment.
- Identify hidden talent in other departments like marketing or operations.
- See instantly who fits where and who needs a new challenge.
- Align your people to your strategy, not the other way around.
These tools are fast, cost-effective, and scientifically validated – and importantly, require no expensive certifications or long training periods. They are structured to be easily applied by every hiring manager, in every market, and available in multiple languages.
Realign your team & reignite performance
Transformation doesn’t always mean new hires. Often, it’s about putting the right person in the right seat – strategic sales team realignment that reignites motivation and momentum. That’s where performance ignites naturally. The results speak for themselves:
- Higher motivation: People thrive when their work aligns with their strengths.
- Greater retention: Confident, successful team members stay longer.
- Stronger forecasts: Predictability replaces pressure.
- Lower costs: Save on recruitment and onboarding by maximising existing talent.
- Better morale: When people fit their roles, everything clicks.
This approach drives measurable sales performance optimisation, ensuring your team performs consistently and confidently across every quarter.
Act now — Q1 is too late
Many leaders wait until Q1 to “fix” their teams. But by then, it’s too late – momentum is lost, and targets are already slipping.
Every week you delay means missed opportunities and a repeat of the same old cycle.
Start now by conducting your sales team assessment and making the smart adjustments needed to realign your people. As a result, you’ll enter 2026 with a team that’s fully aligned, motivated, and ready to deliver results from day one.
The end of the hockey stick era
The mad rush to close at year-end doesn’t have to define your business anymore.
Imagine instead:
- Consistent, steady achievement throughout the year.
- Predictable results, without the panic.
- A motivated, data-driven sales culture built on strength, not luck.
Your customers deserve consistency, your people deserve clarity, and you deserve results you can count on.
Why Validity Group
For more than a decade, Validity Group has helped organisations transform how they hire, develop, and manage their people.
Our POP7.0™ and EPOP+™ assessments are:
- Scientifically validated and proven across industries.
- Simple to use, with no certifications or workshops needed.
- Supported with everything you need to get started quickly.
- Affordable, actionable, and designed for immediate impact.
2026 success starts now
Don’t carry 2025’s problems into 2026. By taking action now, you can conduct your Talent Stocktake, understand your people, and realign your structure for lasting success.
With POP7.0™ and EPOP+™, you’ll have the data to make smarter, more data-driven hiring decisions – building your 2026 sales dream team and finally stopping the hockey stick finish for good.
Start strong. Stay strong. Succeed.
