In the recent MDM-Baird Distribution Survey, we asked readers how satisfied they are that their current sales compensation plans support their business objectives. More than 60 percent responded that they are very or pretty satisfied (ranking of 6-10 on a scale of 10) that their plans aligned with their business objectives. (Full results are presented in graphics throughout this article.)

About a third responded with a rank of 5 or below, implying that they are somewhat or very unsatisfied with the performance of their current sales compensation plans.

“They are working into a headwind, because their sales compensation plan is not supportive of what they are trying to do at a company level,” said Mike Emerson, co-author of the new book from the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, Effective Sales Incentive Design for Distributors: What’s the Right Plan?

Editor Lindsay Konzak spoke with Emerson about the book, what distributors need to do before embarking on a redesign of their sale compensation plans, what the most common challenges are when doing so and how distributors can take steps in the early stages to ensure a smoother transition to a new compensation plan...