How to Recruit a Powerhouse Sales Team

October 2025

Author

Joey Brodsky
October 15, 2025

Hello and welcome to The Modern GTM Executive by Lunar Executive Search - read by 2,000+ leading Sales, Marketing, and Executive Leaders within Growth-Stage Technology businesses. We’re here to help people redefine their perspective on modern revenue acquisition models, understand what talent & skills are necessary to do so, and how to find the to 10% of GTM Leaders to execute.

How to Recruit a Powerhouse Sales Team

I was reading a short piece from Alex Hormozi this week about influence — specifically how marketers and founders build trust with an audience.

He broke it down into a framework called SPCL (Status, Power, Credibility, Likeness).

The idea hit me immediately because the same concept applies almost perfectly to recruiting elite sales talent.

So I took his framework and translated it into a GTM hiring context — what SPCL looks like when your goal isn’t selling a product, but selling a mission to high-performing sellers.

The SPCL of Sales Hiring

Influence = the likelihood someone great says “yes” to joining you.

After a decade recruiting GTM leaders, I’ve learned this formula holds true at every stage — from SDRs to CROs.

S = Status

You control things the candidate values.
→ Example: you’re well-funded, have real traction, or already attract top-tier logos.
High-status companies attract high-status people.

P = Power

You’ve helped great people win before.
→ Example: past hires crushed quota, got promoted, or built thriving teams under your leadership.
Top performers follow leaders with a proven pattern of creating other top performers.

C = Credibility

You have evidence.
→ Example: you can show pipeline math, win rates, or customer proof — not just hype.
Credibility is built by clarity and data, not adjectives.

L = Likeness

You look, sound, and operate like them.
→ Example: your hiring managers talk in metrics, not HR clichés.
High performers join orgs that feel familiar to how they already sell and win.

Applying It

Next time you go to market for sales talent…

  • Show what your best reps are achieving (Status)

  • Tell stories of people you’ve developed (Power)

  • Bring data, not fluff (Credibility)

  • Mirror your top candidates’ language and rhythm (Likeness)

If you get SPCL right, you won’t have to “convince” anyone to join — they’ll be the ones convincing you why they belong.

Seen our latest report yet?

Alongside this month’s newsletter, I released my newest research report — The 50 Highest-Performing Venture-Backed SaaS Sales Teams in the World.

It’s a deep, data-backed look at what separates the best sales organizations from the rest — built from public quota attainment data, team structures, and enablement practices across 50 top VC-backed companies.

Here are a few of the biggest takeaways:

  • 80% average quota attainment across the Top 50 — with the top quartile well above 90%.

  • Leaner teams win: median AE org size is just 9 sellers.

  • RevOps + Enablement = measurable lift: companies with both see ~8–12% higher attainment.

  • Happy sellers perform better: those with higher Glassdoor ratings outperform by ~30%.

  • Technical complexity isn’t a barrier — when talent matches the market, complex products outperform simpler ones.

You can read the full breakdown and download the report here:
👉 [The 50 Highest-Performing SaaS Sales Teams in the World]

Till the next one, 

Joey Brodsky 
Founder & Managing Director 
Lunar Executive Search 

Latest Job Opportunities

We've got a number of active opportunities across our portfolio of software clients at Lunar Executive Search currently.

A few select openings: 

  • VP of Sales – VC Backed – Enterprise SaaS

  • Enterprise Account Executive - VC Backed - Enterprise SaaS

  • Enterprise Account Executive - VC Backed - Cyber

  • Product Marketing Manager - PE Backed – DaaS (East Coast) 

  • Webinar & Events Manager - PE Backed – DaaS

  • Account Executive - PE Backed - HealthTech

I'm also always look to great candidates for future roles:

  • Chief Revenue Officer - Venture/PE-Backed - SaaS/Cyber/AI

  • Chief Marketing Officer - Venture/PE-Backed - SaaS/Cyber/AI

  • VP of Product Marketing - Venture/PE-Backed - SaaS/Cyber/AI

  • VP of Partnerships - Venture/PE-Backed - SaaS/Cyber/AI

Highlights from The GTM Kickback! Podcast

We've had a number of excellent interviews recently on The GTM Kickback!, with many more already booked and recorded on the way. 

Want to be a guest? Ping me on LinkedIn! 😎

We're looking for: High-performance GTM Operators, VC/PE Investors in SaaS, and Leading GTM Consultants for early stage technology businesses

New to "The GTM Kickback!"? Subscribe to the podcast!

This newsletter is powered by Lunar Executive Search - Finding Premier GTM Talent for Growth Stage Tech Businesses. 

We help disruptive technology companies grow. For venture-funded start-ups and PE-backed enterprise software firms, we have a track record in finding the Top 10% of Sales and Marketing Leadership Talent, and doing so swiftly. 

Reach out to me here: [email protected] 

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Till next time, 

Joey