The Sales Management. Simplified. Podcast with Mike Weinberg

This is an episode like no other. It's launch day for Mike's new book and you can hear the excitement in his voice! Proclaiming with a smile that this book took 34 years to write, he remarks how odd it sounded hearing these words come out of his mouth in a recent interview: "This is my very best book." Unprepared for the interviewer's follow-up asking why he felt this way, Mike gave this unrehearsed, honest answer: "With no disrespect to Sales Management. Simplified. (because that's the book that positioned me to do all of this work helping sales executives and front-line sales managers), the reality is I've basically worked nonstop for eight years and have had the opportunity to speak with, coach, and consult countless sales leaders on five continents. I learned a ton and with this new book I was able to distill my writing down to the bare essentials and include only what is absolutely necessary for sales management success. The First-Time Manager: Sales is my best book because all of this experience provided absolute proof of what works and what doesn't when it comes to leading sales teams, creating healthy, high-performance cultures, and driving sales results." While the publisher asked Mike to write The First-Time Manager: Sales for newer and first-time leaders as part of a series, the truth is that according to executives who have read it, this book is the perfect resource whether… you lead a sales team... you lead managers who lead sales teams... you're a senior executive over sales executives... you support sales leaders... you are an individual contributor salesperson considering or aspiring to a management role... Tune in for more of the backstory of why Mike wrote the book, why it's his shortest and favorite book yet, and what you can expect reading/listening to it. Grab your printed, Kindle, or Audible copy HERE. For a sneak peek at what your sales leader colleague's had to say after reading an advance copy, and for the contents, introduction and a sample chapter, click HERE.

Episode 58 kicks off an exciting series around the launch of Mike's newest book! While the publisher asked Mike to write The First-Time Manager: Sales specifically for newer (and aspiring) managers, every. single. executive. who read an advance copy commented that it's a must-read for experienced leaders too… Fresh perspectives and fresh stories from the field, along with simplified frameworks and uber-practical tips for everything from coaching, to addressing underperformance, connecting on a heart-level with your people, and even interviewing best practices. This new series features respected sales leaders whose best practices and wisdom were featured in the book. Mike will share more of the backstory along with an overview and why he agreed to write this particular book in the next episode, but in today's show, he hosts sales leader extraordinaire Drew Ellis who highlights the need for the mental, physical, calendar, and (even) financial discipline required to win big as a sales leader. The wide-ranging conversation offers invaluable insights for both individuals transitioning into management roles and seasoned managers seeking to refresh and upgrade their effectiveness as a leader. Drew and Mike tackle critical topics including: The importance of focus and prioritization The benefit of a calendar that looks like a coloring book The power of the word "no" The reality check when stress (all by itself) puts you in the hospital The need to check your ego when moving into management The danger (and lack of scalability and sustainability) when managers play sales team hero Listen closely as Drew, in no uncertain terms, strongly reminds managers that there are no awards or bonus points for being a good corporate citizen and checking all the boxes if your sales team misses its number. And please allow his story of ending up in ER (solely from stress) and what a wise doctor told him to help you not only reconsider your priorities but also to refocus your energy on the precious few management activities that truly move the needle. Resources: Get a sneak peek at the reaction to Mike's new book, the contents, introduction, and a sample chapter HERE. The Sales Management. Simplified. Video Coaching Series The October 3rd Supercharge Your Sales Leadership full-day intensive at The Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta. Drew Ellis on LinkedIn Please don't forget to rate the show, leave a review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

As promised, in Episode 57 Mike wraps up the series on the Common Sales Leadership Sins Damaging Culture and Diminishing Results with a giant exclamation mark! Tune-in for the #1 reason salespeople and sales teams are not bringing in more new business and Mike's strong words of warning for sales leaders who "allow" sellers to lose sight of their primary job (and some executives who actually "encourage" it). __________________________________ Reminder: The next Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Event takes place October 3rd at The Porsche Experience Center adjacent to the Atlanta Airport. All previous eleven events have sold out. We are down to our last 6 tickets. Get more info and register at mikeweinberg.com/atlanta2023 to join Mike and 50 driven sales leaders for this powerful experience!

As we near the conclusion of this series covering common sales leadership sins, Mike tackles two biggies in Episode 56: Anti-Sales Cultures and Searching for the Secret Sauce. Years ago, Mike asked the CEO of the company with the healthiest sales culture he'd ever observed for his secret. This CEO replied, "Everything flows from culture" and went on to declare that their sales culture was, in fact, the company's secret sauce. In this episode Mike reminds listeners that culture, particularly sales culture, can be an unstoppable force (either for good or for bad!). He describes what it was like working in two incredibly healthy, positive, pro-sales cultures, and he also shares horror stories from two of the worst anti-sales cultures he's come across – one where he worked and one where he consulted. Buckle up as Mike reads the no-holds-barred letter he sent to an executive team calling out their disdain for the sales organization and the inappropriate ways they blamed salespeople when things went wrong and categorically denied them credit when things were good. Mike also tackles how too many sales leaders live with constant FOMO, fearful that they're missing out on some new secret sauce, shortcut, or hack for driving more sales and offers a not-so-subtle reminder that he's never seen a sales leader or sales team struggle or fail because they didn't have the latest and greatest cool, new tool. Resources and Links Mentioned in Episode 56: Mike's viral LinkedIn post about the release of his newest book Fall Sales Leadership Coaching Cohort info The New Sales. Simplified. Video Coaching Series (course) October 3rd Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Event (only 8 seats remaining)

Continuing this series tackling common sales leadership sins, Mike challenges us to pull back the covers and take a hard look at ALL the things we are asking our salespeople to do. He also makes the strong case that it's really hard to win big in sales management when you have the wrong people in the wrong roles. Beware: Mike does not hold back putting HR people and executives on the stand asking difficult questions about their flowery, feel-good job descriptions and what feels like an insatiable desire to put kind, gentle, collaborative team-players in sales roles… Even sales roles that require developing significant new business…Roles where just about every highly successful top producing seller exhibits these two characteristics: They Are Intensely Competitive They Are Not Conflict Averse (they don't shy away from a fight) Take a listen as Mike debunks the myth of the highly relational, collaborative sales superstar, makes the case that SALES MANAGERS' LIVES AND JOBS WILL BE MUCH EASIER WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON THEIR TEAMS, and challenges us to consider whether we are overloading our salespeople with so many tasks and responsibilities that we are actually hindering their ability to sell and bring in the new business we need! Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Full-Day Intensive (mikeweinberg.com/events) Six-Month Sales Leadership Coaching Cohort (mikeweinberg.com/leadercohort) Episode 12: Ask Candidates These 7 Intriguing Questions to Upgrade Your Interviews

In Episode 54 Mike continues the series on Common Sales Leadership Sins, and this time he touches the "third rail" — compensation! If you have complacent salespeople, Mike argues that the very first place to look is at the compensation plan... And he claims to be the very first person to discover and publicly declare that the words COMPensation and COMPlacency start with the same four letters! As the sales leader, you may be the very best at selecting and developing talent, arming, equipping, and enabling your team, coaching on sales skills and deals, and even at holding people accountable, BUT if your sales comp plan is incentivizing the wrong behaviors and is not driving the desired results, then you have a massive problem. Mike unpacks his three big pet peeves when it comes to comp plans: 1. Plans that are too flat (not enough difference between what top and bottom-performers "earn") 2. "Commission Annuities" (commission in name only, commission that really isn't variable, or paying people in perpetuity to service/renew accounts for deals that were sold years ago) 3. Not rewarding New Sales (paying the same rate/percentage in variable comp for renewing/servicing existing business as for the heavy lifting to develop true new business - major cross-sell/up-sell victories or acquiring net new customers) Resources mentioned in this episode: Mike's Article: 4 Very Common Causes for Lack of New Opportunity Creation Supercharge Your Sales Leadership, October Event in Atlanta. Only 2 VIP and 21 full-day intensive spots remain available

In Episode 53 Mike resumes the series on Common Sales Leadership Sins by tackling two biggies: 1. Desk (and CRM/screen) Jockey Sales Management 2. Not coaching and mentoring salespeople Prepare to be challenged about your priorities as Mike asks you to open your calendars for a time (and gut) check on whether there is enough evidence to convict you of being a people-development-focused sales leader. Too many frontline sales leaders are cheating themselves of what should be one of the most satisfying and results-driving parts of their job — helping their people get better at doing their own jobs! Buckle up for a dose of blunt sales management truth that you cannot effectively lead a team staring at analytics, dashboards, or CRM screens. Salespeople win by connecting with other humans. What makes us think we can lead and develop them with our heads buried in data or via email? From the Heart: After concluding the episode Mike took a few minutes to share personally about two losses he just experienced with the passing of his step grandmother and a meaningful spiritual influence in his life, Tim Keller. Resources, Posts, Events mentioned in this episode: JUST ANNOUNCED: The next Supercharge Your Sales Leadership event: October 3rd, Atlanta. More info at mikeweinberg.com/events Mike's article from the 2020 World Series: This MLB Manager Blew It Relying on Analytics Rather Than His Eyes Episode 13: Game Changing Lessons from My World-Class Golf Coach

In Episode 52 Mike takes a break from the current series on sales leadership sins to host fellow St. Louisan and sales rockstar, Carson Heady. Carson is a managing director in Microsoft's US Health Solutions business and was a highly decorated, multi-year award winning salesperson and Microsoft's Social Selling Lead prior to taking on his current leadership assignment. Carson self-describes as perpetual optimist, resourceful problem eliminator and an outcome driver! He's also a podcast host and author of two Amazon bestsellers, Birth of Salesman and Salesman on Fire. Mike invited him on the show after an enlightening lunch conversation where Carson shared what it's been like leading his team through recent turbulent times in the world of tech. Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation that pivots from leading through uncertainty and "controlling what you can control" to mastering social selling. And prepare for your mouth to drop when Carson shares how many different contacts he engaged enroute to closing the biggest enterprise deal of his career. Carson Heady on Linkedin ________________________________________ Last Call: Take advantage of this once-per-year special on Mike's most focused course to help sharpen your most critical sales weapon – YOUR SALES STORY. 40% OFF through May 3rd at mikeweinberg.com/your-sales-story/

This fun episode combines management takeaways from Mike's first visit to Augusta National and the continuation of the current series covering sales leadership sins that damage culture and diminish results. Mike happily declares that the Masters lived up to all the hype and he shares a few observations processed through a sales and sales management lens… Overdeliver. Go the extra mile and give customers/prospects/patrons more than they expect Professionals prepare and practice – like professionals Don't count out the old guy as a worthy competitor Winners don't whine about circumstances or the "luck of the draw" EQ and likability matter While tackling Common Sales Leadership Sin #4 (Lack of Accountability), sales managers are reminded in a not-so-subtle fashion that their single most important job is ensuring that their people do their jobs! Mike unpacks a handful of reasons that managers struggle to hold sellers accountable and goes further declaring that ignoring underperformance is akin to sales management malpractice. Resources to help upgrade accountability mentioned in this episode: Download the free guide, "The Fastest Way to Increase Accountability, Reduce Complacency, and Create a High-Performance Culture" from mikeweinberg.com and link to a 15-minute video from that free PDF Read Chapter 20 in Sales Management. Simplified. (buy on Amazon here) Listen to Episode 9 ______________________________________ This episode is sponsored by Mike's least expensive, shortest, and most focused online course—YOUR SALES STORY. Sharpening your sales story is the fastest way increase a salesperson's or sales team's confidence and effectiveness and this week only (through May 3rd) the course is 40% of the regular price. Learn more at mikeweinberg.com/your-sales-story/

In Episode 50, Mike vents his frustration about senior executives who have lost sight of the sales manager's primary job as he continues this series tackling The Unlucky 13 Sales Leadership Sins That Damage Culture and Diminish Results. Sin #3: IT'S REALLY HARD TO LEAD THE SALES TEAM WHEN YOU'RE BURIED IN CRAP! Too many sales leaders are losing too much of their valuable time getting dragged into meetings, digging out from under an obscene amount of email, and being diverted and distracted from their primary job — and the consequences for sales are devastating. Listen in as Mike addresses this common challenge and offers practical tips to help sales leaders unbury themselves (and redeploy that time on the precious few highest-payoff activities that truly move the needle on culture and results).

Mike begins Episode 49 sharing the pain from a recent lost deal that he really wanted along with the lessons learned from the experience. He takes this opportunity to remind listeners of the importance of doing a post-mortem analysis and that winners take ownership of the outcome (exhibiting internal locus of control) instead of playing the victim and blaming others and circumstances when they lose. This episode also kicks off a new series reviewing The Unlucky 13 Sales Leadership Sins That Damage Culture and Diminish Results and Mike unpacks the first two of these common challenges: Poor Goals and Results Focus Unclear Strategy and Direction Managers Buried in Crap Lack of Accountability Desk/CRM Jockey Sales Management and "Leading" via Email Not Coaching and Mentoring Salespeople Sales Leader Playing Sales Team Hero Unhelpful Compensation Plans Wrong People in the Wrong Roles Painful, Unproductive Sales Team Meetings Allowing Salespeople to Live in Reactive Mode and Forget Their Primary Job An Anti-Sales Culture Searching for Shortcuts or the Secret Sauce= As Mike suggests, put your defense shield down, check your ego, and take a look in the mirror to see which of these very common sales leadership sins may be getting in the way of you having the culture and results you desire for your sales team. ______________________________ Reminder: The next Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Event takes place May 3rd at The Porsche Experience Center adjacent to the Atlanta Airport. All previous ten events have sold out. Get more info and register at mikeweinberg.com/atlanta2023 to join Mike and 50 driven sales leaders for this powerful experience!

Mike recorded Episode 48 from a hotel during a crazy travel streak between sales kickoff meetings and the most recent Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Event. In this long overdue episode, Mike pokes fun at the "bandwagon jumpers" in the sales improvement space who are once again (looking for "likes" and "clicks") predicting the death of sales, this time due to ChatGBT. He references this LinkedIn post where he expresses his skepticism and reminds sellers and sales leaders that these very same people were proclaiming that AI would kill our profession five years ago! Inspired by his preparation for a workshop he was leading for a favorite client's kickoff meeting, Mike also shares his take on why so many sales calls and presentations fall flat and offers up his favorite trick to help salespeople radically power-up their presentations. Learn how the magic in "Slide 4" can transform the dynamic in the room, and how your seller, solution, and company are all perceived. ________________________________________________ Reminder: The next Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Event takes place May 3rd at The Porsche Experience Center adjacent to the Atlanta Airport. All previous ten events have sold out. Get more info and register at mikeweinberg.com/atlanta2023 to join Mike and 50 driven sales leaders for this powerful experience!

Mike is concerned that one month into the new year too many sales teams have not nailed down their strategic, finite target account lists. Too many supposed sales hunters are operating on autopilot while an abundance of account managers are simply doing the "milk run" in territory caretaker and maintenance mode! In Episode 47 Mike shares why Selecting Targets is the very first piece of his New Sales Driver Framework and he challenges sellers and sales leaders to declare which target accounts (growable existing customers and ideal profile prospects) they are committed to proactively pursuing to develop new business. Listen as Mike unpacks the four characteristics of a great target list: Strategic Finite Focused Written (yes, written or printed!) To WIN MORE NEW SALES, sales leaders must get salespeople out of reactive mode waiting for leads and opportunities to chase and get them PROACTIVELY pursuing named target customers and prospects! Posts mentioned in this episode: Where Is Your Strategic, Finite Target Account List? Mike's post honoring his step-grandfather, Ed Davidheiser Unpacking the 5 Foundational Keys to Winning More New Sales NEW EVENT DATE ANNOUNCED: With the February 28th session now sold out, we are excited to announce the next SUPERCHARGE YOUR SALES LEADERSHIP dates: The next one-day intensive will be Wednesday, May 3rd with May 4th as the VIP Day that includes VIP Q&A, private lunch with Mike and the Porsche Driving Experience on the track! More info and register at mikeweinberg.com/atlanta2023

Episode 46 features one of Mike's all-time favorite senior sales executives. Dennis Sorenson is a seasoned global sales leader with a reputation for building high-performance teams. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Revenue and Sales at Alegeus and Mike claims that no client has stretched or challenged him more than Dennis. Listen as Dennis drops gem after gem offering… His sales management secret for effectively "managing up" and how to keep your executive boss from distracting and derailing you That consistency is one of the most underrated characteristics of great leaders His 4 P's when it comes to coaching sellers for big sales calls and presentations (Plan, Prepare, Practice, Play) 3 F's for leading the team through tough times (Filter negativity, Focus on what you can control, and stick to the Fundamentals) Dennis and Mike also address the move from individual contributor into sales management and point out… The positives and pitfalls when a salesperson gets promoted to lead the team they were a part of How (counterintuitively) new managers must slow down to speed up their ramp up! The transition from winning on your own to winning through your people Mike's favorite response came when he asked how Dennis found/made time for so many 1:1 conversations with individuals at every level of the sales organization: "The number one thing on my list as a sales leader is talent. If I don't make time to find, attract, and bring in great talent, and take the talent that I have and develop that talent, then I'm not doing my job." Links: February 28th, Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Event: mikeweinberg.com/atlanta2023 Sales Leadership Coaching Cohort: mikeweinberg.com/leadercohort Previous Episode featuring Dennis Sorenson: https://mikeweinberg.com/podcast/episode8

In Episode 45 Mike puts the wraps on 2022, shares highlights, stats, reflections, and frustrations from a fantastic year, while challenging sales leaders to… Celebrate significant victories Identify the time and energy "draculas" sucking the life out of them and stealing their passion and productivity Articulate two BIG business goals for 2023 and tie significant rewards to achieving those goals Become more selfishly productive by better time-blocking high-payoff sales management activities Provide better support to drive even more production from their A-Players Quickly coach-up (or coach-out) underperformers Mike offers leaders two powerful opportunities to maximize sales management effectiveness for 2023 — one is lower cost, lower commitment (mikeweinberg.com/atlanta2023) and the other is longer-term and includes ongoing support (mikeweinberg.com/leadercohort) Thank you for making the Sales Management. Simplified. Podcast a success in 2022. Here's to GREAT SALES LEADERSHIP and your team winning MORE NEW SALES in the new year!

Mike tackles two topics in Episode 44 inspired by sessions he led this past week. 1. Your Sellers' "Why" and Motivation to Sell Matter — a lot Mike shares his dad's powerful advice that has served as the foundation for his successful sales career. He also addresses the significant mental and emotional baggage that hinders hesitant sellers from proactively pursuing prospects, pushing past resistance, and persistently following-up. When we understand "why" we sell and view ourselves as professional problem solvers instead of as pests, everything changes! Hear the strong message Mike delivered to help get a sales teams' heads and heart in the right place so their motivation to sell is pure and honorable! 2. Reflect, Reset, Refocus to End & Start the Year Right During a session with the sales leadership cohort, Mike and the members discussed the importance of "seasons" in life and the unique opportunity that year-end/new year presents for leaders with their teams. Let's not miss the chance celebrate major accomplishments, personal growth, and for some, even just surviving a crazy year. It's also the perfect time to ask thoughtful questions about what worked well this past year that your people should repeat, and alternatively, what strategies and approaches didn't work so we don't live out the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result! Take advantage of this season to help your team (and yourself) reset and refocus to begin the new year with energy, excitement, and a plan to win. Get more info on the sales leadership coaching cohort here: mikeweinberg.com/leadercohort ___________________________________ TWO EARLY 2023 DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALES LEADERS Supercharge Your Sales Leadership events are back and the first one is scheduled for February 28 at the Porsche Experience Center adjacent to Atlanta Airport. Join 50 driven sales leader colleagues and Mike for this powerful 1-day intensive or 2-day VIP experience. INFO & REGISTER at mikeweinberg.com/atlanta2023 The first Sales Leadership Coaching Cohort of 2023 will start in late January. This comprehensive 6-month program is limited to 12 sales leaders. If you are ready to maximize your effectiveness as a sales leader and your team's results, and would benefit from coaching, community, care, and proven, powerful content, get more info and schedule an exploratory conversation at mikeweinberg.com/leadercohort

Sales team meetings don't have to be drudgery for the sales leader or salespeople, and they shouldn't be painful and unproductive either! In Episode 43, Mike… Reminds leaders of the purpose and impact of great team meetings Rants about the most common sales meeting sins Challenges sales managers that if you cannot answer this question with an emphatic "yes" then something needs to change quickly: Do your salespeople leave sales team meetings with more energy and better equipped to sell than when the meeting began? Unpacks several suggested agenda topics that will radically increase the impact of your team meetings Reveals the secret to turn "role play" from something awkward and cringeworthy into the important practice session it should be Take a listen and learn to "give the work away," create more interaction and more value for your salespeople so they leave team meetings more energized and better equipped to sell than ever. _________________________________________________________ JUST ANNOUNCED – TWO EARLY 2023 DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALES LEADERS Supercharge Your Sales Leadership events are back and the first one is scheduled for February 28 at the Porsche Experience Center adjacent to Atlanta Airport. Join 50 driven sales leader colleagues and Mike for this powerful 1-day intensive or 2-day VIP experience. INFO & REGISTER at mikeweinberg.com/atlanta2023 The first Sales Leadership Coaching Cohort of 2023 will start in late January. This comprehensive 6-month program is limited to 12 sales leaders. If you are ready to maximize your effectiveness as a sales leader and your team's results, and would benefit from coaching, community, care, and proven, powerful content, get more info and schedule an exploratory conversation at mikeweinberg.com/cohortinfo

The feedback and appreciation for Mike's recent special web session: "Boom Times or Bust - The 5 Keys to Winning More New Sales" has been so positive, it prompted him to share the full recording with podcast listeners. In this audio recording, Mike… Explains what he is seeing that prompted him to offer this session Cautions sellers and sales leaders to beware of fads and bandwagon jumpers in the sales improvement space Shares his confusion about a giant company that asked him to propose a virtual selling training program Unpacks five foundational keys for a successful new business development focused sales attack (regardless of economic conditions) Announces the once-per-year limited offer for the New Sales. Simplified. Video Coaching Series If you prefer to watch the video recording (which incorporates the slides Mike used for the special web session), visit the episode page: mikeweinberg.com/episode42 And if you would like to set yourself or your sales team up to maximize sales in 2023, take advantage of the limited-time offer on the New Sales. Simplified. Video Coaching Series (including special packages for sales leaders who purchase access for their teams).

While waiting for a connecting flight at Chicago O'Hare last week, Mike dialed in for an impromptu Q&A session with a sales team going through the New Sales. Simplified. Video Coaching Series. That Q&A evolved into an impactful coaching conversation around overcoming a prospect's resistance to meeting in-person. In this episode, Mike recaps three powerful tips for securing the meeting after the contact resists the salesperson's initial request to meet. He also spends a few minutes thanking the sales community for supporting New Sales. Simplified. and celebrating its 10 years as a bestseller. Most importantly, Mike invites listeners to a special free web session on November 10th. Join him for… BOOM OR BUST, THE 5 KEYS TO WINNING MORE NEW SALES Register at mikeweinberg.com/5keys Amidst all the confusion and concern around the changing business climate… Mike wants to remind sellers and sales leaders of the five simple keys for a successful new business development focused sales attack. Regardless of whether we're panicking from a pandemic, struggling with supply chain shortages, or now facing headwinds as we potentially head into a recession, the fundamentals for WINNING MORE NEW SALES remain the same. Links: Register for the free web session New Sales. Simplified. Selling in a Crisis

While observing the launch of Jeb Blount's brand new bestseller, Mike sensed something different. Just seeing the fun Jeb was having promoting Selling in a Crisis, and enjoying the excited reaction from so many sellers and sales influencers, Mike texted Jeb with a crazy question: "Jeb, I'm seeing the reaction to the book from sellers and influencers. The timing is absolutely perfect as my client sales teams are preparing to sell into strong headwinds next year. The community needs this book. Do you think it's possible that Selling in a Crisis could be even bigger than Fanatical Prospecting?" That text led to a phone call which led to this wide ranging conversation. In Episode 40, Mike has Jeb share his take on the "State of Sales," what we learned selling through the pandemic, dealing with supply chain challenges and passing along price increases, and now how we must prepare to sell in a very different business climate than we've experienced in the past fifteen years. Books Mentioned in this Episode: Selling in a Crisis Selling the Price Increase New Sales. Simplified.

Mike provoked the sales leaders gathered at the Sales Execution Simplified event in London with this statement that generated a healthy dialogue in the room: Struggling salespeople (who are neither hitting their sales numbers nor maintaining a healthy pipeline) should have a feeling of discomfort as they leave their 1:1 accountability meeting! In this short episode recorded in Belfast, Mike shares highlights from his trip to the UK during the historic week following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, and regarding the all important 1:1 regular manager-salesperson accountability meeting, he reminds sales leaders that… - this meeting is most effective when kept short and focused on thing - accountability - should be completely fact/data-based and not based on feelings - the impact of these critical sessions gets diluted when managers pivot from accountability to coaching - we actually seek to create discomfort for underperforming salespeople - if sellers are falling short of their sales goals and their pipelines are weak (not enough total coverage, not enough new opportunities being created, not enough existing opportunities being advanced) then we do not want them walking away thinking everything is fine - while we should be coaching and encouraging our struggling salespeople, we should NOT be doing that in our regular, brief accountability meeting

Episode 38 is a must listen for every sales leader - veteran, new, or aspiring. Mike continues the powerful conversation with super impressive new sales leader Drew Ellis as they cover Drew's transition from top-producing individual contributor into leadership. Hear how Drew… Built frameworks for leading his team before he even had the job Hired for culture, grit, and fit Was secure enough to bring people onto his team better than himself Implemented disciplines around proactive new business development and sales process Stressed the importance of "first dates" and continually filling the top of funnel Adapted Mike's "Accountability Framework" (results, pipeline, activity) for his new team Stays sharp and motivated If you missed the first half of Mike's conversation with Drew, listen at mikeweinberg.com/episode37 Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen) if you were inspired by this dialogue and received value from this episode. Drew Ellis on Linkedin

In this powerful episode Mike hosts impressive sales leader Drew Ellis, a mid-market vice president for SAP. Drew is the very first guest whom Mike did not know personally to be invited on the show. Their new relationship started with a LinkedIn message thanking Mike for Sales Management. Simplified. The online dialogue led to a Zoom meeting where Drew shared the trajectory of his sales, and now sales management, career. Mike was so blown away by Drew's sales acumen and passion for sales leadership and excellence that he asked Drew to come on the podcast. In Part One of this conversation hear how Drew became a sales rock star during the Great Recession of 2008-2009 which opened new doors and opportunities. Listen to Drew share how his career progressed and his secret to becoming a true trusted advisor (and "thick as thieves") with your most important customers! This episode is not just for leaders and is a great dialogue to share with your sales team members as well. Drew Ellis on Linkedin ___________________________________________ SUPERCHARGE YOUR SALES LEADERSHIP - ONLY 4 SPOTS REMAINING! The upcoming October 11th event at the Porsche Experience Center was sold out but one group had to shift to the November session which opened up four spots. If you are looking to radically increase your sales management effectiveness in a one-day intensive with Mike and 50 hungry, energized sales leaders, get more info here on the premium venue (Porsche Experience Center Atlanta), packed agenda, and powerful outcomes from attending.

Special guest, former Major League Baseball first round draft pick, Jacob Turner, and Mike talk about the discipline, determination, and desire required to succeed at the highest in level of sports and sales. Hear Jacob's journey from high school standout, to "bonus baby" (signing a $5,000,000+ contract at 18 years old) through the ups, downs, and disappointments of his MLB career to his transformation into a successful, confident sales professional and strategic wealth advisor. Enjoy Jacob's evolution from an admittedly "anti-sales" person to someone who has embraced the role and profession of selling to become a trusted advisor, value-creator and consultant. Speaking directly, Jacob shares how much he initially hated the word sales, how bad he was when he started, and the process he followed to drastically improve (building on the New Sales. Simplified. framework). Hear how Jacob has applied Max Scherzer's pitching advice that "confidence is a choice" to selling, and how he has experienced first-hand that owning your sales process breeds confidence and drives success! Links: Jacob Turner on LinkedIn JL Strategic Wealth New Sales. Simplified (book) and (video course)

"Papa Mike" welcomes listeners back from the podcast's unplanned summer break with big personal news, a brief business update, and tips for tackling one of today's biggest sales leadership challenges. In Episode 35, Mike continues his review of The Four R's of Smart Talent Management… 1. Right People in the Right Roles (hunters and zookeepers - Episode 34) 2. Retain and Maximize the Performance of Top-Producers 3. Remediate or Replace Underperformers (coach-up or coach-out) 4. Recruit ...Diving into the second 'R' - with practical, powerful, and counterintuitive suggestions for how to not only keep your best people in this tough labor market, but how to help them produce at even higher levels. _____________________________________________ Upcoming Live, One-Day Intensive Sales Leadership Events with Mike: London, September 14: Sales Execution Simplified Atlanta, October 11 and November 2: Supercharge Your Sales Leadership

In this episode Mike tackles the first of the Four R's of Smart Sales Talent Management: Right People in the Right Roles and he introduces the concept of zookeeper-wired sellers. So many sales leaders live in perpetual frustration that their overly relational, account management minded salespeople will not hunt for new business. These "zookeepers" are wonderful people who live to keep the peace, enhance relationships, put out customer service fires, and service existing accounts, but most absolutely hate the conflict, risk, and rejection that accompanies hunting for new business. Prepare to be challenged as Mike asks if it is possible to coerce, coach, and compensate zookeepers to become successful hunters. He also turns conventional wisdom on its head by making the case that even the most successful "account managers" who consistently penetrate and grow revenue within existing accounts actually behave more like proactive hunters than reactive farmers/zookeepers. ______________________________________________________________________ Join Mike on either July 19th or 21st for a special session where he will offer 4 Practical Fixes for the Biggest Challenges Facing Sales Leaders Right Now. Sign up at https://mikeweinberg.com/4practicalfixes/

In the episode Mike talks about two recent experiences with great relevance for sales leaders. First, he shares his reaction to what he is calling "business sentiment whiplash." In just a period of a few weeks it feels like business momentum and sentiment has shifted from boom to bust. Mike expresses his bewilderment that we so quickly pivoted from go, go, go, hire, hire, hire, spend, spend, spend to a posture of pessimism as job offers are being rescinded, conferences being postponed, and companies talking about cutting back. There are enormous sales management implications as we work through this whiplash. The strong reaction to this post prompted Mike to unpack his thoughts further in this episode. Next, Mike reveals a recent painful experience with a large company's procurement department that would be humorous if it wasn't true. The reaction to this LinkedIn post inspired him to share more of the story in this episode. Hear Mike's reaction to receiving a 36-page guide to help his team navigate this company's procurement portal. That's right. A 36-page guide on how to get set up as a "vendor." If you're familiar with Sales Truth, you can imagine that this did not end well. Quoting Chapter 13, he offers a strong reminder on why we need to own our rules of engagement, and that it's imperative to maintain a full pipeline of opportunities so we can sell from an abundance mentality. "…we decided a few years ago that 100 percent of my effort goes into creating value for clients; I promised myself and my clients that all of our energy will be focused solely on creating and delivering the best speaking/workshop/coaching/consulting engagement possible. Due to that commitment to my clients, I refuse to put even one ounce of energy jumping through procurement hoops…" Books mentioned in Episode 33: Let's Get Real or Let's Not Play by Mahan Khalsa Baseline Selling by Dave Kurlan Finally, Mike wraps the episode with an announcement about a new offering, The Sales Leadership Coaching Cohort. You can hear the "why" and the "what" behind this coaching cohort in this short video. Upcoming Opportunities for Sales Leaders: September 14th, London, UK – Mike is co-hosting SALES EXECUTION SIMPLIFIED, a special one-day event for sales execs, leaders and managers. More info here: https://event.growthmattersintl.com/ses22/ October 11th, Atlanta, GA – Supercharge Your Sales Leadership, one-day intensive at The Porsche Experience Center. Just 6 spots (of 50) are still available. More info here: https://mikeweinberg.com/atlanta2022/

This may be Mike's all-time favorite sales management conversation as he hosts his favorite international sales management experts, Tony Cross and Alan Versteeg. If you believe in the fundamentals and appreciate the blunt truth about sales, this episode is for you! Tony and Alan's specialty is sales management execution, and triggered by Mike's questions, they hold nothing back and provide more tweetable one-liners than you'll be able to capture. Buckle up as these three make the strong case that executing the fundamentals well (particularly accountability and coaching) drives exponentially more sales results than anything else, and specifically more than simply "enabling" sellers. Take a listen as Mike and his guests address… How it feels like the lunatics are running the asylum as sales leaders have been blinded by shiny, new, fancy toys and ignoring the fundamentals Why sales managers were often more effective decades ago when they were "in-field" and laser-focused on coaching sellers That after all the hype and major investment in enablement, there has not been a proportional increase in sales effectiveness; in fact, the opposite has occurred The problem with "execution" often lies with senior executives who have lost sight of the sales leader's primary job and highest-value activities Mike and his guests also preview a special one-day event they are co-hosting in London on September 14. Sales leaders in UK, be sure to check out Sales Execution Simplified. All of Mike's previous trips to Europe have been private events hosted by his clients. This is the first time he is doing a session with public availability for sales leaders! More info here: https://event.growthmattersintl.com/ses22/

For Episode 31 Mike brings back sales superstar Dominic Testo for a command performance. Dominic was featured in the wildly popular Episode 3: How a Top Producer Prospects, Owns Sales Process, Beats Procurement & Drives Profit. Much has transpired in the past 18 months and Mike wanted sales leaders and salespeople alike to hear how Dominic has not only survived, but thrived through the pandemic, massive supply chain challenges, and passing on what feels like perpetual price increases. Hear how this top-producer took advantage of challenging times to elevate his already strong sales game to become… More patient More strategic More consultative More proactive Even more successful And more valuable to his customers As Dominic told Mike during pre-show prep, "There's a tremendous amount of opportunity in hard times. The best of the best will not let it slip by." Two Unique 1-Day Opportunities for Execs, Sales Leaders, and Sales Managers Just announced: SALES EXECUTION SIMPLIFIED – London, September 14, 2022. Mike is co-hosting this full-day session in his favorite city with sales management guru friends from South Africa, Tony Cross and Alan Versteeg. More info here: https://event.growthmattersintl.com/ses22/ SUPERCHARGE YOUR SALES LEADERSHIP – Atlanta, October 11, 2022 at Mike's happy place - The Porsche Experience Center. Only 13 (of 50) seats remaining. More info here: mikeweinberg.com/atlanta2022

These 12 minutes will very likely expose exactly why you (or your sales team's) pipeline is not sufficiently full and why you (they) are not creating more new opportunities at the top of the funnel. Mike recorded this short, unscripted, unplanned episode immediately after wrapping up a 3-hour Sales Management. Simplified. workshop for a group of sales leaders who were sharing their frustration around pipeline health, and particularly about lack of new sales opportunities being created. Take a listen and use this brief episode as an 'Opportunity Creation Checklist' as Mike quickly unpacks four causes/reasons that the top of your pipeline (and your sales results) may not be as healthy as you'd like.

In this unique episode, leaders are confronted with the weighty reality that they take up way more emotional and mental space in their people's minds and hearts than they often recognize or appreciate. There is nothing mutually exclusive about maintaining a results-focused, kickass sales culture and simultaneously creating a community that cares for, supports, encourages, and values salespeople. In fact, the very best sales cultures and sales leaders balance accountability and empathy exceedingly well! Buckle up as Mike rails against the devolution of sales management into a desk/CRM jockey job (and the dangers of faux leadership via email) and forcefully reminds leaders that they are managing human beings with emotions, not drones. Prepare to be challenged about your own self-awareness regarding the head and heart space you occupy in your team members and learn four simple, practical tips to help you become better stewards of this awesome responsibility.

In episode 28 Mike hosts Anthony Iannarino, the man he often refers to as the smartest person in the sales improvement business and Mike's #1 go-to sales guru. Anthony is on a mission to elevate the sales profession and is laser focused on helping sellers become truly consultative. His brand-new book, Elite Sales Strategies, show salespeople how to put themselves in a "One-Up" position where they approach prospects and clients from a position of authority and strength. In this powerful interview, expect to be challenged about everything from your mindset, to how you're upgrading your (or your team's) business acumen, to how you (or your team) prepare for and conduct sales calls. And buckle up because Anthony makes the argument that the traditional method of conducting discovery sales calls actually contributes to salespeople getting commoditized. Within the first few minutes of this conversation, you'll understand Mike's affection and respect for Anthony and also be hungry to elevate your sales game and become a "One-Up" Sales Pro! Links: Elite Sales Strategies on Amazon Anthony Iannarino on LinkedIn Mike's Episode 18: Ineffective Sales Calls, Premature Presentations/Demos, and Selling Like Everyone Else Gets You Commoditized

Sales is simple. And so is the process of developing new business. Regardless how complex your business or marketplace, the fundamentals for executing a successful sales attack are not! With golf season around the corner, Mike, in his quest to improve his game, went old school and has been reading the classic book published in 1957, Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf. He was blown away by two realties from this priceless book. First, how absolutely clear, basic, and simple these fundamentals are. And second, the fact that the "modern" lessons from 65 years ago are still very much applicable and true today, despite the "changes" in the golf world and advances in technology! Sound familiar, sales leaders? Studying Ben Hogan's Five Lessons inspired this episode and prompted Mike to list and briefly unpack his five fundamental focus areas that he helps sales teams master: 1. A Strategic, Finite, Workable Target List 2. Compelling Messaging (a customer issue and outcome-focused "Sales Story") 3. Proactive Pursuit and Prospecting (ability to secure a meeting) 4. Effective Consultative/Discovery/Early Stage Sales Calls 5. The Calendar, Personal Productivity, Pipeline Accountability If you're looking to up your (or your team's) new business development sales game, this episode is for you. The five fundamental focus areas are a great checklist and the table stakes for executing a successful sales attack, creating more new opportunities, filling the pipeline, and WINNING MORE NEW SALES. 8 (of the 50) spots are left for the upcoming Supercharge Your Sales Leadership 1-Day Intensive in Atlanta on May 3rd. Ready to radically increase sales management effectiveness, create a healthy, high-performance sales culture, and tackle today's biggest sales leadership challenges? Join Mike and 50 hungry, driven sales leaders at The Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta!

If you or your team are charged with initiating sales conversations, creating new sales opportunities, and bringing in new business, then this cross-continent conversation is for you. This episode is like no other! Mike was actually the guest on the Deal Podcast hosted by Jiri Siklar, a top-producing senior account executive for AWS based in Europe. Mike was so blown away with his Jiri's sales brilliance and his philosophy on prospecting that he turned the interview around, started asking questions of Jiri, and received his permission to use excerpts of this powerful conversation in this episode. Enjoy this power-packed dialogue as Jiri and Mike… Discuss the #SalesTruth that everyone is sick of the LinkedIn "connect and pitch" approach and the constant cold outreach and spammy messages Confront the nonsense from the #SocialSelling charlatans that everything in sales has changed, nothing that used to work is still effective, and the lie that the phone is dead or only deployed by dinosaurs Reveal the reality that the telephone is sexier (and in many cases, more effective) than ever, and offers an amazing opportunity for sales hunters to stand out simply because so few sellers use it Make the case that the most successful salespeople use ALL effective, ethical, and appropriate methods to prospect for new opportunities, and that newer tools and approaches are wonderful supplements to, not replacements for, traditional methods like the phone Provide practical tips for picking up the phone and using voicemail effectively More About Mike's new friend: Jiri Siklar was born in the Czech Republic, and currently lives near Vienna, Austria. He's made quota 52 consecutive months and was the #1 salesperson is his region of Europe four straight years. His Deal Podcast (most episodes in German) has 10,000 listeners. Jiri will be joining Mike as a guest on The Sales Management. Simplified. Podcast in the near future. Mike referred listeners to Episode 25: A Foolproof Framework to Guarantee Consistent Deal Flow and a Full, Healthy Pipeline Dates and Details are now available for the May and October Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Events! If you're ready to radically increase sales management effectiveness, these elite experience events are for you.

We ALL crave a full, healthy (fat), balanced, moving pipeline of sales opportunities! In this solo episode (for both sales leaders and individual contributors), Mike reviews why and how the top of the sales funnel so often gets ignored and offers his foolproof framework to ensure a healthy pipeline and consistent deal flow. Mike challenges sellers to stop defaulting to service mode and explains the dangerous consequences that result from sales hunters always working their hottest deals first. DOWNLOAD THIS HELPFUL GRAPHIC and take a listen to learn why it is absolutely critical that sellers divide their time and attention across accounts and opportunities at all phases of sales cycle. ** UPDATE: The location and dates have been secured for the 2022 Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Elite Events! If you're ready for a 1-day intensive at a premium venue with other hungry, driven sales leaders looking to radically increase sales management effectiveness, check out the details and videos HERE.

Mike unequivocally declared that this episode (Part 2 of his interview with Nick Hejna) is The. Single. Best. conversation he's ever had with a sales leader around sales process. Nick and Mike paint the clearest possible picture of why having, following, and owning a sales process is not only important for the seller, but is actually in THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PROSPECT/CLIENT! You'll also be challenged to consider that the best sales leaders don't play "hero" of their teams but focus on making heroes of their people, and that not every top producer fits the bill for a management role. And Nick concludes this powerful conversation by sharing his love for the sales profession and the opportunity it offers top performers to achieve financial (and life) freedom. If you are enjoying and getting value from Mike's podcast, please rate the show and leave a brief review on Apple Podcasts. Books Mentioned in this Episode: Let's Get Real or Let's Not Play by Mahan Khalsa (the 1st Edition from 1999, beige paperback is Mike's choice) Baseline Selling by Dave Kurlan The Lost Art of Closing by Anthony Iannarino

You will be challenged by this fast-paced conversation between Mike and his special guest, Nick Hejna, who serves as Executive Vice President and National Sales Leader for AssuredPartners, one of the largest and fastest growing insurance brokers in the U.S. Mike has tremendous respect for Nick as someone who not only gets sales leadership at the highest level, but who also preaches and demonstrates the importance of sales process on a daily basis. In Part 1 of this interview, Nick and Mike discuss… Why focus is critical for a successful new business development focused sales attack That specialists often sell exponentially more than generalists The reality that it takes more activity to build a book of business than most new producers grasp and why managers must hold people accountable for opportunity creation and activity against target accounts How the "pushing the snowball up the hill" pays huge dividends once you reach the peak and have momentum and gravity on your side Creating hunger and reducing complacency with smart compensation plans that reward developing net new business more than babysitting and renewing existing clients Nick also shares the three non-negotiables he sees in every top-producer: They Own Their Calendar They Deploy a Compelling Sales Story They're Laser Focused on the Pipeline (and target accounts) Books mentioned in this episode: New Sales. Simplified. by Mike Weinberg Inked by Jeb Blount

In this Year-End/New Year's episode Mike… …reflects back on his highlights and challenges of 2021, …reveals the "deflating" effect that Covid and current events have had on him personally, …shares what he's working on and his own commitment to become more productive, and …challenges sales leaders with several questions to help get their minds and hearts in the right place heading into 2022. How will you take back control of your calendar, maximize time spent on the precious few high-payoff sales leadership activities, and accomplish more sales management and drive more results in less time? In spite of whatever circumstances you find yourself in, what must you do to protect your mindset and motivation to remain positive and proactive as you lead your team? How effectively is your sales team executing on the big fundamentals? Have you gotten caught up in trendy sales fads, or does your FOMO have you searching for new tools, toys and quick fixes instead of focusing your people on the basics that always drive results… Strategic Target Lists (of growable existing customers and ideal profile prospects) A Sharp Sales Story (that leads with the issues your solution addresses and the outcomes you create for customers) Proactive Pursuit and Prospecting (to CREATE new opportunities at the top of the funnel) Effective Consultative Discovery Sales Calls Calendar and Pipeline Management and Accountability Thank you for listening and the incredible reaction to this podcast in 2021! If you are receiving value, sign up here to receive email notification of new episodes or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. And please take a minute to post a review for this show on Apple Podcasts. Resources mentioned in this episode: Michael Hyatt books and courses referenced by Mike: Free to Focus book, online course, Win at Work & Succeed at Life book Mike's Your Sales Story online course Fly. The. Airplane. article

If we are being honest, most of us like it when things are easy…when the wind is at our back, when we're on a hot streak, and being carried along by momentum. But unfortunately, that's not reality – at least for the long-term. We all hit rough patches and end up having to sell or lead a team through tough times. Occasionally, these hard times are predictable, and we can see them coming over the horizon. And at other times, we are totally blindsided by a competitor, a disruptive change in the marketplace, a personal or family hardship, or even a pandemic. Whatever the cause and whatever the case, the harsh reality is, as this episode's special guest reminds us, tough times are inevitable. The more important questions are: How do you prepare for tough times? How will you respond when they arrive? How will maximize your success in spite of them? Paul Reilly, like Mike, is a sales pro through and through. He's also speaker, sales trainer, and author who literally wrote the book on "Selling Through Tough Times." In this powerful episode Paul and Mike discuss… Why tough times are good and often catalyze necessary, positive change The importance of our immediate, initial response to adversity and how resilience drives success Why tough times (counterintuitively) are often the opportune time to prospect for new business The powerful effect a manager's expectations have on the team's performance – particularly during hard times Links: 30-Day #ToughTimer Challenge: https://www.toughtimer.com/tough-timer-challenge/ Selling Through Time Times: Buy on Amazon More on the book and free chapters to download: https://www.toughtimer.com/book/

Mike pulls no punches wrapping up this mini-series covering the Ugly 8 Common Reasons Sellers Get Relegated to Vendor Status and Commoditized. Buckle up as Mike takes on salespeople who are either insecure about price or too quick to make it about price (Reason #7). The blunt #SalesTruth is that THE JOB of a professional salesperson is to justify the difference between our premium pricing and the lower price of a competitor. That. Is. Our. Job. Mike confronts sellers who whine that if their price was lower they would sell more with the reality that if they had the best price then we probably wouldn't need them! Companies who are the low-price leader don't deploy highly compensated salespeople, do they? Mike also reminds sellers that the SALES STORY is your most critical weapon and when your story (messaging) is boring, confusing, or self/company/product-focused (Reason #8) and doesn't articulate the issues you/your solution address and the outcomes you achieve for customers, it is almost impossible to be perceived as a value-creator, advisor, or consultant. But when your sales story is great, everything changes and everything about sales becomes easier. Due to the overwhelming response to this series, Mike is hosting a free Q&A session to take your toughest questions around these common Ugly 8 Reasons sellers get downgraded in the customer's eyes and treated like just a vendor or commodity seller. Register for that Q&A session at mikeweinberg.com/QandA This episode was brought to you by the New Sales. Simplified. Video Coaching Series. If you're looking to achieve breakout success in 2022 and create more opportunities and close more sales than ever before, check out the year-end special on Mike's best work to help salespeople Win More New Sales.

In Episode 19, we move into the second half of this mini-series tackling the very common (and ugly) reasons that salespeople and sales teams are not as effective as they could be – and, specifically, why they are not viewed like the pros, advisors, experts, consultants, and value-creators they so badly want to be. Buckle up for straight talk and blunt truth as Mike unpacks reasons 5 and 6 of the Ugly 8 reasons… WHY SELLERS GET VIEWED AS AMATEURS, RELEGATED TO VENDOR STATUS & COMMODITIZED: Reason #5 is as counterintuitive as it gets. We don't own our sales process and end up getting viewed as nothing more than order-takers and yes-men/women because we want to be liked. We want to be seen as responsive and easy to work with. We want to demonstrate that we listen well, can follow direction, and that we respect the customer. That is all wonderful except for one big problem: in many cases defaulting to the customer's requested (or dictated) process does not turn out so well for us…doesn't increase our win-rates, doesn't help set us apart from competition, and honestly, doesn't even ensure we will get the customer what they really need. Sales Friends, if you've come to realize that scoring "obedience" points is not helping you win deals and bring in new business, this episode is for you. Listen as Mike shares his two driving missions as a professional salesperson and encourages you to adopt them as your own. Learn how to own your process and push back when the prospect or their procurement people suggest/dictate a process that neither allows you to bring them the best solution (most value) nor gives you the best chance of winning their business. Reason #6 we get viewed as vendors and commoditized is because we aim too low in the customer organization. As crazy as it sounds, we end up getting commoditized because we sellers become comfortable dealing with lower-level people who treat us as nothing more than a vendor/supplier. Mike shares the dirty little secret of sellers who regularly call on senior management: You know what/who you normally find in the executive suite? Nicer people. Smarter people. People who are looking for value and help solving big business issues! It's often the complete opposite of dealing with lower-level folks who are more concerned with politics, protecting their jobs and existing supplier relationships, negotiating to save a nickel, or trying to avoid more work being put on their desk. You can download the PDF guide that accompanies this series at https://mikeweinberg.com/ugly8 If you are getting value from these episodes, please leave a rating and review. Mike mentioned a special on the New Sales. Simplified. Video Coaching Series to help you have breakthrough success in 2022. Check it out here: https://mikeweinberg.com/morenewsales/

In this installment of the Ugly 8 Reasons WHY SELLERS GET RELEGATED TO "VENDOR" STATUS & COMMODITIZED series, Mike challenges you to… Take a hard look at how you are executing what might be the most critical aspect of selling – The Sales Call and whether you are Presenting or Demo-ing PREMATURELY Evaluate the potential damage caused by conducting ineffective sales calls and committing sales malpractice by presenting before doing proper discovery work Consider that maybe the reason you don't stand out from your competition and get lumped in with everyone else and commoditized is because you look, dress, sound, and act like every other salesperson We in sales often confuse presenting with selling. "Presenting" is not a synonym for selling. Most of us typically present too much and too soon – often way too soon. Just because a prospect asks us for a demo or to come in and present a capabilities overview, that doesn't mean it's the right time to do it or even the right thing to do. "Spray and pray" is not an effective sales methodology and when we present or demo prematurely, it's almost impossible to be seen as a trusted advisor or respected consultant. After breaking down the common causes of ineffective sales calls, Mike offers his favorite, simple, powerful way to verbally set up the meeting, share your agenda, get the customer's input and buy-in that not only puts you firmly in control but also removes the awkward adversarial dynamic where it feels like we are pitching and the prospect is resisting. The episode concludes with an entertaining and memorable sales lesson from Jerry, the kooky kitchen remodel contractor who won Mike's business by standing out from the competition. Instead of playing with graph paper and thumbing through cabinet brochures, listen to how Jerry differentiated his approach and deployed excellent discovery work (including cutting a hole in the drywall without permission) to win over Mike and his wife. Sales Friends, the bottom line on Episode 18 is this: LAME + SAME = VENDOR/COMMODITY SELLER Take a listen for practical tips on how to be bold, break the mold, and come across like professional problem-solvers, consultants and value-creators! Be sure to download the free guide that accompanies this series from mikeweinberg.com/ugly8 Mike mentioned a special on the New Sales. Simplified. Video Coaching Series. to help you have breakthrough success in 2022. Check it out here: https://mikeweinberg.com/morenewsales/

This series will help you identify which of the common Ugly 8 Sales Sins might be derailing your/your sales team's sales effort and preventing potential clients from viewing you/your team members as the consultant, value creator, trusted advisor you so badly want to be. Be sure to download the free guide that accompanies this series from mikeweinberg.com/ugly8 In this hard-hitting episode, Mike holds up a mirror for you and explores the first two UGLY 8 Reasons WHY SELLERS GET RELEGATED TO "VENDOR" STATUS & COMMODITIZED. 1. They Arrive Late to the Party (last to a sales opportunity) Discover the perils from living in reactive mode that often result in sellers being late to the sales party/last to an opportunity where it becomes infinitely harder to to bring value or be perceived as a consultant. It's no fun "chasing" the opportunity when your prospect has already formed their buying criteria – or worse, they're following the lead of your more proactive competitor who wasn't stuck in reactive mode, but instead was proactively working the prospect finding ways to create an opportunity. Being forced to play the already in-progress game is not only not fun, it often dooms you to vendor status while your competitor's salesperson smugly sits in the consultant/advisor chair. When you're last to the opportunity it's very hard to stand out and get attention unless your price is much lower. LATE often = COMMODITIZED. 2. They Lead with Product (or their service/solution) So many salespeople lead with their offering and put and their solution front and center – making it the focus of the sales conversation. While this practice is common it's often deadly. Leading with our product/service/offering/solution instead of the customer's issues and desired outcomes makes a loud, clear statement to customers that we care more about what we sell than addressing their issues/needs/desires. It is a surefire way to get commoditized because it's almost as if we are telling the prospect that neither our company nor the salesperson brings any value to the equation and they should simply take our features and pricing and put them on a spreadsheet to compare to everyone else's. Sales Friends, in this series Mike is requesting that you open your ears, eyes, and mind, and put your ego aside. Take a listen, download the Ugly 8 Guide, and determine which of these sales sins is potentially hurting your effectiveness, margins, win-rates, and results.

This brief series kickoff episode is classic Weinberg with simple, blunt observations about what works and what doesn't when it comes to developing new business. In introducing this series, Mike comes out swinging to set the stage for tackling one of the biggest challenges facing salespeople and sales teams today - getting downgraded in the customer's eyes and perceived as just a "vendor" instead of the value-creator, consultant, professional problem-solver, and trusted advisor we so badly want them to be. Mike was inspired to do this short series based on the feedback and reaction from sales leaders who wrestled with this topic at recent Supercharge Your Sales Leadership events where he shared these… 8 Common Reasons that Salespeople Get Viewed as Just "Vendors" and Commodity Sellers: 1. They Arrive Late to the Party (last a sales opportunity) 2. They Lead with Product (or their service/solution) 3. They Conduct Lame Sales Calls and Premature Presentations 4. They Look, Sound & Smell Like Every Other Salesperson (same, same, same) 5. They Play Order-Taker, Do Whatever Customers Request, and Don't Own Their Process 6. They Aim Too Low in the Customer Organization 7. They're Insecure About Price or Too Quick to Make It About Price 8. They Can't Tell the Story (ineffective, self/product/company-focused messaging) We are creating a free, downloadable handout and slides to use with your sales team that will be available with subsequent episodes in this series. Mike's hope is that you can use these episodes and the accompanying material as "mirror" to help your team members identify which of these common issue may be damaging their own sales efforts and how customers perceive them. Enjoy this kickoff episode and encourage your sellers who would benefit from a wake-up call on this topic to listen as well. Here's to great sales leadership and helping our salespeople upgrade from "vendor/supplier/commodity seller" status to value creator!

Mike has tremendous admiration and respect for this episode's guest and is convinced that Kurt Cushing loves his job more than any other big company sales leader he knows! Enjoy this energizing conversation and Mike's excitement hosting this sales director extraordinaire as they tackle a range of sales leadership topics including: How creating and maintaining a healthy sales culture starts with recruiting and selection Why we should never settle when hiring for a sales role The massive pivot from being selfish as an individual sales contributor to becoming selfless as the sales team leader How ego can be our enemy as managers The value and impact of skip-level conversations and field work, and the importance of the sales leaders getting direct exposure to sellers on the front lines Why it is imperative that sales management "point" the team and speak into target account selection How to stay fresh and enhance your quality of life by turning off email after business hours At the conclusion of interview, Mike offers listeners his takeaways and asks leaders to reflect on these challenge questions: How proactively are you recruiting and how effectively are you interviewing/screening candidates? What are you proactively doing to prioritize fieldwork and planning your calendar to work with your people? How involved are you with helping your team target growable accounts or ideal profile prospects? What are you doing to keep yourself in balance and emotionally healthy? More on Mike's guest: Kurt Cushing is a transformational leader who prides himself as a "people first" coach. He has a proven track record of driving results while demonstrating the ability to recruit, train, and develop top sales reps, and managers. Learn more about Kurt on LinkedIn here: Please leave a rating or review for the Sales Management. Simplified. Podcast. and if you'd like to be notified via email when new episodes are released, sign up at mikeweinberg.com/podcast. And be sure to grab Mike's powerful new free resource: "The Fastest Way to Increase Accountability, Reduce Complacency, and Create a High-Performance Sales Culture" right from his new homepage at mikeweinberg.com

"Sales Enablement" has become one of most popular (overused and misunderstood) terms in the sales world today. Mike jokes in Chapter 2 of Sales Truth that as trendy as it is to wax eloquently about enabling sales teams, it is hard to find three people who can agree exactly what that even means. In this revealing episode Mike hosts Mike Kunkle, a respected sales transformation architect and an internationally-recognized expert on sales training, sales effectiveness, and sales enablement, and author of the helpful new book, The Building Blocks of Sales Enablement. Mike and Mike tackle topics ranging from the sales leader's critical responsibilities of "pointing" and "arming" the team to the reality that all sales training and development efforts fall flat when frontline sales managers are not an integral part of the process. Take a listen and be encouraged that despite all the noise and nonsense you read online about sales tools, tech stacks, and toys, the most effective sales effectiveness initiatives are built on the solid foundation of "old school" timeless principles. Links Mike Kunkle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekunkle Mike Kunkle's new book, The Building Blocks of Sales Enablement: https://amzn.to/3kKUX74 ATD Sell Conference: https://sell.td.org/ Your Sales Story Online Course: https://mikeweinberg.com/your-sales-story/ Sales Management Simplified: https://mikeweinberg.com/sales-management-simplified-book/

This episode unpacks four very specific, intentional things Mike's world-class golf coach did WITH him (and for him) that anyone in a leadership role, particularly in sales management, should be doing with their people: Prepare Model Coach Debrief and Envision The on-course session/lesson and powerful post-round debrief and dinner conversation radically increased Mike's confidence, approach, and ability to execute. The initial blog post and email where Mike shared this experience generated so many requests for more details that he was inspired to share the full story in this episode. This coaching experience transformed Mike's golf game. Sales leaders, the example set by Mike's coach translates perfectly to sales and sales management. Imagine the increase in sales effectiveness (and results) if sales managers would do for their salespeople what Mike's coach did for him. Never underestimate the impact of working WITH your people! _________________________________________________________ Upcoming free online group teaching and Q&A sessions for sales leaders who subscribe for email notifications of new episodes. The first session, only for Sales Management. Simplified. Podcast email subscribers, is August 13th at 1:00pm Eastern, Noon Central US Time. Sign up here: mikeweinberg.com/podcast-signup

This episode will help sales leaders radically increase effectiveness when interviewing potential sales hires and offers powerful perspective to help candidates prepare for a proper interview. Mike was inspired to tackle this topic because in several recent Sales Management. Simplified. workshops sales leaders expressed frustration about ineffective interviews and being duped by candidates who interviewed well but did not deliver once hired. Hear about... Common interview mistakes many sales managers make The importance of viewing the interview like an actual sales call Examples of recent awesome and awful interviews How to get past surface answers and window-dressing to expose the true experience and skills of the candidate Mike's current seven favorite interview questions How to observe the candidate's real-life sales ability as the interview nears conclusion Whether you're the interviewer or interviewee, take a listen to take your interviewing game to an entirely new level! * Managers and sales execs: come spend a full-day with Mike to Supercharge Your Sales Leadership and maximize results for the second-half of 2021! Three options. Major cities. Premium venues. Packed agenda. Powerful interaction. Proven content. Group packages available. mikeweinberg.com/events

In the episode Mike confronts sales leaders with this very straightforward question: Are you the hero of your sales team or are you the hero-maker? While the question is simple, its answer has enormous implications. This topic is one of the most prevalent sales leadership issues today – one that not only damages culture, diminishes results, and derails careers, but it's also a reason so many sales leaders are maxed out and exhausted. Prepare to be challenged as Mike doesn't pull punches walking listeners through this four-part outline: WHY: the common reasons sales leaders tend to play the hero HOW/WHERE/WHEN hero-mode manifests itself WHAT: the awful consequences that result when leaders default to playing hero instead of making heroes HELP: simple fixes to help us refocus on leading and coaching instead of "doing" During the episode Mike offers listeners this short, free Sales Leader: Hero or Hero-Maker? Self-Assessment. Get your copy here.

In Episode 10 Mike hosts a super successful sales leader and executive, his friend Joe Tarulli. Be encouraged and challenged as Joe shares the keys to his success along with the key inflection points in his career as he progressed from individual contributor to sales manager to sales development leader to senior executive. Learn about the power of… Taking an annual sabbatical from social media Sales managers understanding that they win "through" their people Focusing on making heroes of members of your sales team, not playing sales team hero Sales managers driving amazing results from focusing on the highest-payoff sales management activities A sales leader's simple and highly effective approach to quickly turning around a struggling business unit Details have been finalized for all 3 venues for upcoming Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Events in the following cities: Dallas Chicago Atlanta Except for that awful last sentence "check out all the venues" everything is awesome. For more info on these powerful events at premium venues, visit https://mikeweinberg.com/events