328: Building Real Relationships on LinkedIn

328: Building Real Relationships on LinkedIn

328: Building Real Relationships on LinkedIn

Curious how LinkedIn can actually help you build real business relationships—not just rack up connections? In this episode, LinkedIn expert Bill McCormick shares his journey from traditional sales to becoming a trusted advisor on the platform. Bill reveals why authenticity, curiosity, and genuine engagement are the keys to standing out and building trust, whether you’re networking, recruiting, or growing your business.

We dive into practical tips for optimizing your profile, engaging with others in a meaningful way, and using LinkedIn’s premium features (like Sales Navigator) to your advantage. Bill also shares his thoughts on AI and automation, and why the human touch still matters most. If you want to make LinkedIn work for you—without feeling salesy or inauthentic—this episode is packed with actionable advice you can use right away.

Bill is the Founder of Digi-Sales, a Digital Selling training company, and Digi-Sales Academy, an online video training platform where he shares his passion for helping professionals leverage the power of LinkedIn. Bill first started using digital sales techniques after he and his wife, Sue, started their own promotional product business.
By using social platforms, especially LinkedIn, they were able to build a very successful business. Bill then began to help other business owners, entrepreneurs and sales professionals learn how to use LinkedIn to increase sales.

Bill has conducted training for companies worldwide and specializes in helping to ‘make LinkedIn Human’ – explaining the platform in easy-to-understand ways, and recently launched the All Selling Is Social Podcast.

You’ll discover:

  • How to create a value-driven LinkedIn profile
  • The right way to connect and engage
  • Why curiosity builds trust on LinkedIn
  • Tips for using Sales Navigator effectively
  • The pitfalls of AI and automation on LinkedIn

Watch the episode:

Connect with Bill

  

Bill’s Resources

Website

Digi-Sales

Course

Social Selling Compass Course

Podcast

All Selling Is Social

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Leader-team communication and character skills

Grow Strong Character

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

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Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
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319: Cultivating a Culture That Lasts

319: Cultivating a Culture That Lasts

319: Cultivating a Culture That Lasts

Company culture isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of an organization’s success or failure. Brad Federman shares how businesses can create a culture that balances people and results. He explains where many organizations go wrong when developing their values and why culture must be designed to outlast leadership changes. Brad also reveals how companies can avoid common pitfalls, such as tolerating bad behavior and adopting trendy policies without considering business needs.

We dive into practical strategies for aligning culture with business goals, reinforcing positive behaviors, and holding leaders accountable. Brad describes the importance of continuous culture audits and experiential activities that make culture tangible. Whether you’re a business leader, HR professional, or culture champion, this episode provides actionable insights to create an environment where employees thrive and customers stay engaged.

Brad is the founder of PerformancePoint, a firm dedicated to helping organizations engage employees, strengthen customer relationships, and cultivate resilient, collaborative cultures through effective leadership. With over 25 years of corporate experience, he’s worked with global companies like Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Nordstrom, and Mayo Clinic. Brad is an international speaker and the author of Cultivating Culture: 101 Ways to Foster Engagement in 15 Minutes or Less.

You’ll discover:

  • The biggest mistakes companies make when defining their values
  • Why culture must be stable, not built around a single leader
  • How to hold employees and leaders accountable for culture
  • The role of feedback and culture workouts in shaping workplace norms
  • Strategies for overcoming resistance to cultural change

Watch the episode:

Connect with Brad

Brad’s Resources

Website

PerformancePoint

Brad Federman

Books

Cultivating Culture: 101 Ways to Foster Engagement in 15 Minutes or Less

Related Podcast Episodes

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Listen to the GSL Podcast on Apple Podcasts
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Listen to the GSL Podcast on YouTube
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on iheartradio
Leader-team communication and character skills

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Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Order from Amazon
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

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Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell
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and Meredith M. Bell

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253: Maximize the Power of LinkedIn

253: Maximize the Power of LinkedIn

253: Maximize the Power of LinkedIn

If someone took a look at your LinkedIn profile and your activity on that platform, what impression would they have? In case your answer involves any aspect of “needs improvement,” you’ll find this conversation with guest Jennifer Darling super valuable. She shares specific tips that will help you with 3 Ps: Profile, Posts, and People.

Jennifer is a master at creating visibility, making noise, and building relationships using LinkedIn. Her posts have generated 10’s of thousands of views, and she’s grown her network to over 8,000 high-quality connections.

She is one of the world’s foremost LinkedIn experts and the ONLY one who has 20+ years of advertising, sales and management experience. Jennifer has trained thousands of thought leaders to maximize their LinkedIn results—without having to invest hours and hours each week.

Jennifer is the author of Say Yes! Then Figure It Out and Increase Your Leads with LinkedIn. She’s also the creator of the Mastering LinkedIn Deep Dive Training, which Meredith has taken and highly recommends.

You’ll discover:

  • How to create an attention-grabbing banner and headline in your profile
  • Why a LinkedIn newsletter is an excellent content strategy
  • What to do when you want to become visible to your ideal connections
  • Tips for sending connection requests that get a positive response
  • The surprisingly small amount of time you can devote to being on LinkedIn – and what to do while you’re there

Watch the episode:

Connect with Jennifer

  

Jennifer’s Resources

Ultimate LinkedIn Profile Checklist

To Book Jennifer for Speaking

Jennifer’s Books

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Listen to the GSL Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the GSL Podcast on Pandora
Listen to the GSL Podcast on Spotify
Listen to the GSL Podcast on Amazon
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on iheartradio

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206: Lead from the Heart and Love Your People

206: Lead from the Heart and Love Your People

206: Lead from the Heart and Love Your People

Does “lead from the heart” imply touchy-feely or weakness? Not according to Mark C. Crowley, who used this approach successfully throughout his 25 years in the financial services industry, an industry known for being highly competitive. Mark shares the science and research that backs up the value of this approach.

Mark is the author of what’s become one of Meredith’s favorite business books ever, Lead from the Heart, and he’s the host of a podcast of the same name. You’ll find out WHY Mark was so successful by leading from the heart in this riveting conversation.

You’ll discover:

  • Experiences Mark had early in life that shaped his purpose today
  • The science that shows that the heart is more than “a blood pump”
  • What Mark learned about the power of engaging both the minds and heart of others to achieve extraordinary results
  • How “Love Your People” became Mark’s mantra
  • The 4 Practices of leading from the heart

Watch the episode:

Connect with Mark

    

Mark’s Resources

Website

Mark C. Crowley

Book

Lead From the Heart: Transformational Leadership for the 21st Century

Podcast

Lead from the Heart

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Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

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163: A Culture Where People Feel Safe and Valued

163: A Culture Where People Feel Safe and Valued

163: A Culture Where People Feel Safe and Valued

What can you do to make sure your company avoids being part of the Great Resignation? Maurice “Moe” Rondeau has specific suggestions you can adopt, based on what he and his team have done to build community and high performance.

Moe is Vice President of Learning & Development at WinnCompanies, a real estate property development and management company in the Boston area. He has a diverse 25+ year background in global learning and organizational development.

Moe’s multi-industry experience provides him with a solid understanding of the challenges that business leaders face in engaging and retaining talent.

You’ll discover:

  • What leaders can do to engage and retain their top talent
  • What WinnCompanies does to keep everyone informed and involved
  • A few thought leaders Moe admires most…and why
  • 5 key lessons Moe learned when starting up the L&D division from scratch
  • How Moe structured programs for high potentials and first level managers to achieve a positive impact

Watch the episode:

 

Connect with Moe

  

Moe’s Website

WinnCompanies

 

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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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