303: Why Sales Is Leadership and Leadership Is Sales

303: Why Sales Is Leadership and Leadership Is Sales

303: Why Sales Is Leadership and Leadership Is Sales

In your leadership role, do you see yourself as a salesperson? Mark Hunter makes the case that leadership and sales are the same. You’ll agree that they are when you hear Mark’s definition of those words. It’s just one of many writer-downers in this episode!

Mark Hunter is known as “The Sales Hunter,” and he’s recognized as an expert in sales. He is a member of the Sales Hall of Fame. He’s the author of High-Profit Prospecting, High-Profit Selling and most recently, A Mind for Sales, which was the focus of this conversation.

Mark spent more than 15 years in the sales and marketing divisions of three Fortune 200 companies. During his career, he led many projects, including the creation of a new 200-member sales force.

Mark’s passion for sales has allowed him to consult and speak on 5 continents and 28 countries. He is on a mission to have each person he meets see sales the way he does. Clients range from Samsung, BP, and Kawasaki to small start-ups. No matter their size, they all value Mark’s engaging style and specific strategies that deliver results.

You’ll discover:

  • Why Mark says you cannot lead anyone until you first lead yourself
  • What made his manager at McDonald’s one of the most memorable leaders Mark ever worked for
  • The positive words Mark associates with EGO
  • How Mark defines charisma—and what it looks like in action
  • The 3 greatest assets a leader has, if used well

Watch the episode:

Connect with Mark

    

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050: Sales Is Not a Dirty Word

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302: Becoming a Generous Leader

302: Becoming a Generous Leader

302: Becoming a Generous Leader

When you think of the key qualities of an effective leader, what words come to mind? Did you include the word GENEROUS? If not, you will add that word to your list after you listen to this conversation with guest Joe Davis. 

Joe is the author of a fantastic new book, The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain. This important book is a must-read for every leader because it touches on so many areas that the best leaders learn and practice. Joe exemplifies the type of leader Meredith is always eager to have as a guest: he’s focused his entire career on growing strong as a leader and helping others realize their potential. 

Joe is a Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group or BCG. In The Generous Leader, Joe shares a performance review he received that was a game-changer for him: He was told he was not the best at problem-solving solo; but with others, he could solve any challenge. His manager identified his key strength—a person who could connect with others. 

Joe has leveraged that strength in his 35+ years at BCG in roles such as co-founding the Washington, DC, office and leading BCG North America. He is currently Chair of BCG’s Center for Inclusion and Equity and the Board Chair at Whitman College.

You’ll discover:

  • What leaders can do to help others feel seen
  • Why Joe recommends leaders adopt the “practice of perspective taking”
  • How Joe pushes people to be more than they believed possible and addresses times when they diminish themselves
  • How to be an Action Ally and not a Performative Ally
  • Ways to show vulnerability so others more easily connect with you

Watch the episode:

Connect with Joe

    

Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Peer Coaching Made Simple

How to Do the 6 Things That Matter Most When Helping Someone Improve a Skill

301: Are You Living a Life That Matters?

301: Are You Living a Life That Matters?

301: Are You Living a Life That Matters?

 

Twelve years ago, when my father died, the funeral director made a statement to my mother, my sister, and me that I’ve never forgotten.

In this solo episode, I share what he said and how it applied to my father. I also describe seven ways Dad lived that have had a lasting impact on all of us who knew him.

I’m the co-founder and president of Grow Strong Leaders. We’ve created online resources that help leaders strengthen their character and communication skills to build strong relationships and inspire others to perform at the highest level.

You’ll discover:

  • Why my father never made one enemy throughout his entire life
  • How a strong work ethic drove everything he did
  • What Dad did to build trust instantly
  • The 3 words of sage advice Dad passed on to everyone in the family
  • Questions you can ask yourself as you reflect on your life and how you want to be remembered

Watch the episode:

Connect with Meredith

        

Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Peer Coaching Made Simple

How to Do the 6 Things That Matter Most When Helping Someone Improve a Skill

250: What It Takes to Improve High-Impact Communication Skills

250: What It Takes to Improve High-Impact Communication Skills

250: What It Takes to Improve High-Impact Communication Skills

To celebrate Episode #250, Meredith invited her business partner of 32 years, Dr. Denny Coates, to be her guest and discuss insights they’ve acquired around skill development and behavior change.

Denny and Meredith were introduced to each other in 1990 and met for breakfast to get acquainted. Three hours later, they were still talking. They are still fascinated with each other’s thinking as they’ve evolved as individuals and as a company over the past 3 decades

Denny is CEO of Grow Strong Leaders and is the primary author of the company’s products and books. He’s a graduate of West Point and the Army Ranger School and earned his Ph.D. from Duke University. He served on the faculties of the United States Military Academy, the Armed Forces Staff College, the College of William and Mary, and the Center for Creative Leadership.

You’ll discover:

  • How knowledge and skills are different
  • What it takes to establish a skill so you use it automatically
  • Why it’s important to focus on improving just one skill at a time
  • How to provide coaching to every person in an organization
  • What the peer coaching process looks like

Watch the episode:

Connect with Denny

 
  

Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Peer Coaching Made Simple

How to Do the 6 Things That Matter Most When Helping Someone Improve a Skill

145: Why Leaders Need Self-Awareness, Feedback, & High EQ

145: Why Leaders Need Self-Awareness, Feedback, & High EQ

145: Why Leaders Need Self-Awareness, Feedback, & High EQ

What if you could increase your emotional intelligence and expand your self-awareness? That’s the journey my guest Jon Hunter traveled in advancing from salesperson to Chief Revenue Officer. You’ll be drawn in by Jon’s truth-telling around topics like self-awareness, feedback, and creating safety and trust. Get ready to take notes because Jon drops a lot of nuggets you’ll want to remember and apply.

Jon has held positions like Chief Revenue Officer and Senior VP of Sales in various enterprise software companies over the past 25 years. Now he’s passionate about developing the next generation of leaders, and he started The Hunter X Podcast to share insights gained from his experiences. Jon’s podcast is packed with nuggets you can use every day, in just 8-12 minutes per episode. I highly recommend you subscribe and read all his posts on LinkedIn.

You’ll discover:

  • Why leaders must create safety and trust early on when working with a new team
  • The #1 stumbling block for leaders who want to advance to the next level
  • How Jon developed his emotional intelligence to become a highly effective leader
  • The most important trait John looks and listens for when interviewing job candidates
  • The value of getting feedback throughout your career

Watch the episode:

 

Connect with Jon

      

Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Peer Coaching Made Simple

How to Do the 6 Things That Matter Most When Helping Someone Improve a Skill

Jon’s Website

Hunter X Life

Jon’s Podcast

Hunter X