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:

Mark’s Resources

Website

The Sales Hunter

Books

A Mind for Sales: Daily Habits and Practical Strategies for Sales Success

High-Profit Prospecting

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

    

Joe’s Resources

Website

Joe Davis

Book

The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain

 

Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

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Peer Coaching Made Simple

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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

        

Meredith’s Resources

Website

Grow Strong Leaders 

Books

Connect with Your Team: Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Peer Coaching Made Simple

Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

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Peer Coaching Made Simple

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

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292: From Winning Athlete to Thriving Entrepreneur

292: From Winning Athlete to Thriving Entrepreneur

292: From Winning Athlete to Thriving Entrepreneur

If you’ve ever gone through a major transition from one career path to another that’s totally unfamiliar, you may have felt disoriented and unsure of your identity. That often happens to college and professional athletes when they leave the sport that’s been a central part of their identity.

This episode’s guest, Jay Dixon, specializes in helping these athletes discover how they can transfer the skills they already have to the business world. You’re going to hear ideas that you can apply to your own role as a leader.

Jay is an expert at the intersection of sports and business. He was a student-athlete at the University of Nevada, where he played football. Since then, he’s cofounded three companies and consulted or participated in more than 50 transactions. After these experiences, Jay started an elite accelerator for athletes called SuccessCoach.com. It blends the mindset strategies of elite CEOs and an actionable playbook to transition their athletic talents into thriving business ventures.

He’s the author of a new book, After the Game: Bridging the Gap from Winning Athlete to Thriving Entrepreneur. It’s an excellent book for anyone in business.

You’ll discover:

  • Jay’s personal journey from athlete to entrepreneur
  • The unique strengths athletes have that serve them well in the business world
  • Why a growth mindset is the first piece in the 10 mindset elements that Jay teaches
  • Tips for optimizing your time and energy
  • The distinction between expectations vs agreements

Watch the episode:

Connect with Jay

  

Jay’s Resources

Website

Success Coach

Book

After the Game: Bridging the Gap from Winning Athlete to Thriving Entrepreneur

Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Order from Amazon

Peer Coaching Made Simple

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301: Are You Living a Life That Matters?

289: Why Strong Character Matters

289: Why Strong Character Matters

I’ve been hosting my podcast for more than five years, since June 2019, and have never done a solo episode. That changes with this episode! Many of my listeners have requested that I share some of my thoughts about leadership, so I’ve decided to devote one episode each month to speaking directly with you.

For this episode, I focused on the topic of character—what it is and two specific areas that show why it’s essential for leadership. My business partner Denny Coates and I have been immersed in this aspect of leadership development for decades, and even more so in the past two years as Denny has worked on his latest book, Grow Strong Character, and the two of us have created content for our new self-paced leadership development program, GSL SkillBuilder.

I’m the co-founder and president of Grow Strong Leaders, a company that publishes software tools and books to help people build strong relationships at work and at home.

You’ll discover:

  • What strong character consists of
  • The role of character in leadership
  • Why character development strengthens emotional intelligence
  • The importance of helping people live into an organization’s core values
  • Resources that can help you strengthen your own character

Watch the episode:

 

Connect with Meredith

        

Meredith’s Resources

Website

GrowStrongLeaders.com

Books

Connect with Your Team: Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Peer Coaching Made Simple

Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Order from Amazon

Peer Coaching Made Simple

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

Order from Amazon