Mental Selling: The Sales Performance Podcast Mental Selling

In sales, there exists a set of special habits that can turn an ordinary seller into a sales unicorn, someone who stands out and excels beyond expectations. These habits aren't magic spells or superpowers; they're simple practices anyone can adopt and master with dedication and effort.


In this conversation, William Vanderbloemen, author, CEO and Founder of Vanderbloemen Search Group, discusses the importance of mastering these 12 unicorn habits for sales excellence. He shares personal anecdotes and examples to illustrate how each habit plays a crucial role in sales success. From being fast in responding to inquiries to cultivating authenticity and solving problems, William highlights the practicality and effectiveness of these habits in building trust and driving sales. Furthermore, William encourages salespeople to start with the habits that resonate most with them or come easiest, building momentum as they progress. Tune in to learn and take the first step towards becoming a sales unicorn today.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why becoming irreplaceable in sales hinges not on self-promotion but in the art of attentive listening and genuine interest in others.
- The power of aligning sales efforts with a higher purpose to resonate with customers and drive growth and profitability toward the brand.
- How authenticity, purpose-driven selling, self-awareness, and integrity can revolutionize your approach to sales and will set you apart in a crowded marketplace.
- The importance of thorough hiring processes helps companies minimize the risk of hiring mistakes and ensure to building of high-performing teams that drive sales success.
- The power of deflecting conversations that creates space for customers to express themselves fully and make them feel heard.


Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] Introduction
[04:20] The Habit of Being Fast
[11:21] How to be Authentic in Sales
[18:24] Be Driven by a North Star
[25:25] Avoiding Hiring Mistakes
[31:42] Why Self-Awareness is Rare
[34:27] On Punctuality and Integrity

William Vanderbloemen is an entrepreneur, pastor, speaker, author, CEO, and Founder of Vanderbloemen Search Group, an executive search firm serving churches, ministries, and faith-based organizations. Before founding Vanderbloemen Search Group, William studied executive search under a mentor with over 25 years of executive search at the highest level. His learning taught him the best corporate practices, including the search strategies used by the internationally known firm Russell Reynolds. These experiences have come together with his pastoral work to form a unique gift for helping churches and ministries build great teams by finding their key staff.

Resources:

Follow William on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamvanderbloemen/
On X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanderbloemenSG
William's website: http://Vanderbloemen.com
William’s Books: Be the Unicorn, 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest; Culture Wins

Sales leaders may find it challenging to grasp the true essence of effective coaching, often mistaking the practice as pointing out flaws and errors. However, coaching is much more than that. It's about illuminating paths to growth, nurturing meaningful connections, and empowering individuals to unleash their full potential.


Mike Esterday and Derek Roberts, authors of the book Listen to Sell: How Your Mindset, Skillset and Human Connections Unlock Sales Performace, join host Will Milano for part 4 of Mental Selling’s special series.


In this conversation, Mike and Derek shed light on the existing challenges and misconceptions surrounding coaching and how it enables sales leaders to inspire greatness in their teams. They emphasize the importance of shifting the mindset of sales leaders to one that views coaching as a means of unlocking individual potential and driving collective success. Mike and Derek believe that through effective coaching, sales leaders can create an environment where team members feel valued, supported, and empowered to achieve greatness.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
The role of coaching and how it provides a vantage point for salespeople to see aspects of their performance they may miss on their own.
Why effective coaching entails active listening, asking probing questions, and refraining from providing all the answers.
Why coaching should be provided to all team members as part of their growth and development rather than focusing on those who are struggling.

Resources:
LISTEN TO SELL: How Your Mindset, Skillset, and Human Connections Unlock Sales Performance: https://www.integritysolutions.com/listen-to-sell/
Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeesterday/
Derek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekroberts1/

Without a steady stream of potential customers, keeping your sales going strong is hard. Pipeline growth and outbound lead generation are essential for success in sales. It's not always easy, but with the right mindset, strategy, and persistence, you can build a strong pipeline of potential customers and keep your sales flowing smoothly.

In this conversation, Jeff Winters, Founder of Sapper Consulting and Chief Revenue Officer at Abstrakt Marketing Group, joins to discuss how the mindset surrounding pipeline growth and outbound lead generation is crucial for success in sales. He emphasizes the importance of understanding that achieving success in these areas requires both an art and a science. Jeff touches on the role of sales leadership in supporting sales representatives during slumps, the concept of sales enablement, and its significance in empowering sales teams to perform at their best.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
The importance of mastering both the art and science of pipeline growth and outbound lead generation in sales.
The concept of building resilience and maintaining the right attitude for long-term success in sales.
The idea of setting micro-goals and embracing failure as essential components of the sales process.

Jeff Winters is a seasoned entrepreneur with a passion for driving business growth. His experience navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship leading sales & marketing teams has equipped him with invaluable lessons in sales, leadership, and operations. Jeff is also the co-host of "The Grow Show" podcast, where he shares genuine stories and practical insights from experienced leaders in the business world.

Resources:
Follow Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyscottwinters/
Jeff's website: https://www.abstraktmg.com/
The Grow Show Podcast: https://thegrowshowpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Mastering the art of sales requires a combination of listening, understanding, and building confidence. Sales professionals can forge lasting relationships and drive positive outcomes by prioritizing the customer's needs, demonstrating authenticity, and continually refining their approach.

Mike Esterday and Derek Roberts, authors of the book Listen to Sell: How Your Mindset, Skillset and Human Connections Unlock Sales Performace, join host Will Milano for this part 3 of Mental Selling’s special series.

In this conversation, Mike and Derek discuss the importance of active listening, understanding, and building rapport in the sales process. They emphasize that professional selling is not about dominating the conversation with a scripted pitch but rather about genuinely understanding the customer's needs and concerns. Mike and Derek advocate for a sales approach grounded in attentive listening, keen observation of body language, and the ability to discern the unspoken cues that reveal the customer's true motivations. In essence, the exchange between Mike and Derek serves as a reminder that successful salesmanship hinges on the ability to listen, understand, and empathize with customers. By prioritizing these foundational principles over aggressive tactics, sales professionals can forge meaningful connections and address customer needs more effectively.

Resources:

LISTEN TO SELL: How Your Mindset, Skillset, and Human Connections Unlock Sales Performance https://www.integritysolutions.com/listen-to-sell/
Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeesterday/
Derek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekroberts1/

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The need for salespeople to prioritize listening attentively to customers, observing their body language, and discerning unspoken cues to understand their true motivations.

The importance of balancing confidence and humility allows sales professionals to establish credibility and trust with their customers.
The significance of approaching every sales interaction with a sincere intention to add value to customers.

Jump into the conversation:

[01:12] Listening People into Buying
[03:49] Selling Requires Discipline
[06:23] Navigating Complex Sales
[12:41] Adding Value vs. Values-Based Selling in Sales
[15:32] The Power of Confidence
[16:30] The Art of Pre-Call Planning

Having clarity of purpose plays a crucial role in sales. Tapping into your purpose not only provides salespeople direction and motivation but also helps build stronger relationships with customers and colleagues.

In this conversation, Lisa Earle McLeod (also our Ep 031 guest) returns to the show to discuss the transformative power of purpose-driven selling, the importance of reflection in sales, and how sales leaders can foster a culture of customer impact and employee significance. She emphasizes that sales isn't just about serving customers but about improving their lives and the lives of their customers. Lisa highlights the role of sales leaders in reframing the sales conversation to align with purpose. By asking the right questions and translating sales numbers and KPIs into customer impact, sales leaders can help their teams understand the significance of their work and drive better performance. Lisa believes that revenue and shareholder value naturally follow when companies prioritize customer satisfaction and well-being.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The transformative power of purpose-driven selling
- Why sales isn't just about serving customers but about improving their lives
- Questions for sales teams to reflect on to unpack both wins and losses.
- The power of sharing how a team’s work made a difference in the lives of their customers helps employees feel a sense of significance and motivation.
- The value of translating numbers into customer impact helps employees understand the value of their work.
- Why salespeople want to be part of something bigger than themselves and for their work to matter

Additional Resources:

Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaearlemcleod/
Lisa on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisaearlemcleod
Learn more about Lisa: https://www.mcleodandmore.com/
Lisa’s Books: Selling with Noble Purpose; Leading with Noble Purpose

Lisa Earle Mcleod is a best-selling author, strategy consultant, keynote speaker, executive coach, and founder of McLeod & More, Inc. Recognized as the creator of the Noble Purpose business philosophy, Lisa helps leaders and organizations amplify purpose and meaning while driving financial performance. She is a popular keynote speaker and a prolific writer who has authored five books in five genres (leadership, sales, personal growth, conflict resolution, and humor), including the best seller Selling with Noble Purpose.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:01:18] Understanding Purpose and Its Importance in Sales
[00:07:16] Playing the Long Game
[00:12:21] Why Specificity (Depth of Knowledge) is Sexy
[00:16:46] Metrics Beyond Revenue & Win Rates
[00:22:43] How to Properly Ask for Referrals
[00:25:11] Three Questions to Unpack Wins and Losses
[00:34:58] Difference of Serving and Improving the Customers

In sales, it's often said that success hinges more on who you are than what you know. Customers can easily tell if you're just trying to sell something or if you genuinely care about them, their problems, and how to help them.

Mike Esterday and Derek Roberts, co-authors of the new book Listen to Sell: How Your Mindset, Skillset and Human Connections Unlock Sales Performace, join Will for this part 2 of Mental Selling’s special series.

In this conversation, Mike & Derek discuss the importance of authenticity and integrity in sales and how these qualities can lead to long-term success. They explore the concept of emotional intelligence, which involves understanding and managing emotions to build better customer relationships. Mike and Derek also stress the importance of embracing the value of sales and understanding that success in sales is more about who you are than what you know. Mike and Derek emphasize a clear purpose and passion for helping others, as these qualities can drive motivation and enhance sales performance.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- The crucial role of emotional intelligence, genuine empathy for customers' needs, and how both help build relationships with customers.
- Strategies to overcome self-limiting beliefs that hinder sales performance.
- Why salespeople should recognize the value they bring to customers' lives and embrace the role of problem solver

Resources:

LISTEN TO SELL: How Your Mindset, Skillset, and Human Connections Unlock Sales Performance (ListentoSellBook.com)
Follow Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeesterday/
Follow Derek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekroberts1/

Jump into the conversation:

[01:06] Integrity and Authenticity in Sales
[03:13] The Balance of Logic and Emotion
[04:04] A Clear Understanding of Your Sales Purpose
[08:19] Taking Ownership for Sales Success
[10:23] Sales Congruence