The Exceptional Sales Leader Podcast Darren Mitchell

What is interesting as I observe leaders, especially in sales, is that many of them are driven by certainty, have a need to follow a proven formula and possess a relentless focus on achieving the numbers.







Many of them unfortunately do not acknowledge that this approach is, in many cases, actually preventing them from becoming exceptional. They are following what they consider to be a tried and true pathway, and yet, they are not achieving the results they desire or the fulfilment and satisfaction they crave. 







What they need to do is quit. And perhaps you need to quit as well. Are you prepared to quit? In this episode, I consider some things you may need to quit.

Following on from yesterday's episode, I have just enjoyed a great conversation with Ryan Warriner on his Podcast, The Professionally Speaking Podcast, about communication, effectively influencing and the importance of being authentic. Being someone who you are not is tiring and exhausting, and often puts pressure on to remember how to behave in certain situations. In today's episode, I share some thoughts on how to be authentic and what can happen when we are.

As a sales leader, it is critical that we build and maintain a multi dimensional team if we are to have the possibility of achieving sustainable success. Unfortunately far too many sales leaders build one dimensional teams - teams filled with people who are almost carbon copies of each other, which over time, only stifles potential, growth and ultimately, results. A challenge for many leaders is to become more of a chameleon, a person who is able to adapt their style to suit the environment they find themselves in, and to be able to exert influence within that environment. In today's episode, I discuss this and share thoughts on how to become more self aware, and more aware of others, based on different characteristics. Are you a chameleon?

Last week I recorded a podcast on emotional intelligence & how important it is as a sales leader to develop that EQ muscle. Today I want to go a little deeper and address a topic that I see & hear a-lot of sales leaders partake in, and it is not healthy. I'm really big on listening skills, so the title of this episode may be a little counter intuitive - I want to encourage you to stop listening and start talking - please listen to this episode to find out why.

As sales leaders, we must understand that we are being watched like a hawk. Our team are eagerly watching everything we do, as well as watching what we don’t do. They are also listening to what we are saying as well as listening to what we are not saying. It is therefore critical that we are clear on our intentions.







With this in mind, how often are you intentional with the impression you are wanting to create, in every interaction? Even with people we know really well, we are constantly creating an impression, as well as when we meet people for the first time. As these impressions are formed very quickly, it stands to reason that we look at what we can control so as to create the best impression possible.







So how can we do this? By consciously thinking about and applying 7 key behaviours which will stack the odds in our favour of creating a powerful first impression. That is what I cover in today's episode.

Emotional Intelligence is becoming more and more critical to the ability of leaders to be exceptional. Companies are no longer simply looking at a person's performance track record, or how smart they may be, as an indicator of their employability. They are now looking deeper into the cognitive abilities of the leader, can they think on their feet, can they regulate their emotions, and can they remain calm in difficult situations. If we are to lead in 2023 and beyond, and if we have the desire to become exceptional, we must learn to lead with emotional intelligence.