The Manager's Mic With Paul Leon

Leonsolutions, LLC.
  • 5.0 (10)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The podcast for new people managers who want to avoid the habits that kill rapport with team members. Hosted by Paul Leon, a sales training leader and MBA graduate who has worked with over 500 teams. If you want to power up your people management skills to have more rapport with team members. The Manager's Mic with Paul Leon is the answer. For more FREE resources, visit our website https://www.themanagersmic.com/

  1. Everything I Have Learned From Closing 5,000+ Sales | Tips For Sales Managers

    2D AGO

    Everything I Have Learned From Closing 5,000+ Sales | Tips For Sales Managers

    Can sales skills improve in just 13 days? In this episode of The Manager’s Mic, I break down practical sales training principles that help sales professionals improve communication, sharpen their value proposition, understand buyer psychology, build a stronger sales pipeline, handle rejection, and follow up with purpose. Follow me online for more sales management tips https://www.themanagersmic.com/ In this video, you will learn: How to improve sales skills through consistent actionWhy a strong value proposition matters in every sales conversationHow buyer psychology affects sales outcomesWhy tone and communication style shape trustHow to build and protect a healthy sales pipelineHow to handle rejection without losing momentumWhy persistence and follow-up drive more closed dealsHow relationship-based selling creates long-term success Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sales Mastery 04:12 Understanding the Sales Process 09:36 Effective Communication Techniques 14:25 The Role of Follow-Up in Sales #Sales #Management #Tips #ManagersMic

    20 min
  2. Future-Proof Your Personal Brand Before AI Replaces You With Melanie Borden

    APR 15

    Future-Proof Your Personal Brand Before AI Replaces You With Melanie Borden

    AI is changing how leaders are discovered, evaluated, and hired — and your personal brand may already be falling behind. In this episode of The Manager's Mic Podcast, personal branding expert Melanie Borden (founder of Borden Group) breaks down exactly how to build a personal brand strategy that AI can not erase. From searchable leadership to digital visibility tactics that get you found, this is the AI personal branding conversation every manager needs to hear. What You'll Learn: • How AI is reshaping how buyers and hiring managers evaluate leaders • What "searchable leadership" means and how to make it work for you • Practical personal brand strategy to future-proof your career in the AI era • The most common AI personal branding mistakes leaders make • How to build real digital visibility as a manager or executive About Melanie Borden: Melanie Borden is the founder of Borden Group, a personal branding agency helping executives and entrepreneurs build powerful, searchable digital identities. Follow Melanie Borden Website - https://humantobrand.com/ Book- https://amzn.to/3OhUL0Y  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieborden/  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebordengroup/  --- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Melanie Borden and Her Expertise  01:24 The Impact of AI on Buyer Evaluation  04:46 Embracing AI: Skills for the Future  08:25 Defining Searchable Leadership  11:02 Strategies for Enhancing Searchability  16:56 Common Mistakes in AI Personal Branding  22:01 Melanie's Personal Journey and Lessons Learned  32:29 Future-Proofing Visibility in Leadership --- Legal Disclaimer This content is for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of watching or listening to this content.

    36 min
  3. Why Most Sales Compensation Plans Fail | Tips for Sales Managers

    APR 9

    Why Most Sales Compensation Plans Fail | Tips for Sales Managers

    Most sales managers inherit broken compensation plans and wonder why their best reps keep leaving. In this episode, compensation expert Scott Trumpolt breaks down exactly why most sales compensation plans fail and what you can do to fix it. Scott shares his experience in designing pay structures that actually motivate your team, reduce sales turnover, and create clear career pathways for your salespeople if you're a new sales manager trying to understand why your top performers keep walking out the door. This one is for you. What you'll learn: Why most compensation plans backfire (and the psychology behind it).How to build a career roadmap that keeps your best reps engaged.The real difference between base + commission vs. commission-only roles.How market-based pay reduces sales turnover and boosts retention.Why transparency and simplicity are the foundation of sales performance management. Follow Scott Trumpoltt Book: https://amzn.to/4vf9XfN Website: https://hrcompensationconsulting.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-trumpolt-m-a-g-r-p-257a6b317/  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Scott Trompolt  02:00 Plug to The Defragmented Consultant  04:58 Sales Compensation Structures and Their Importance  12:20 Understanding Sales Turnover Rates  17:10 Creating a Career Roadmap for Sales Professionals  24:16 Career Architecture and Growth Paths  28:54 The Importance of Compensation Clarity  34:48 Challenges in Commission-Only Sales Roles  41:31 Key Takeaways on Transparency and Simplicity #SalesManagement #SalesTurnover #SalesPerformance #Tips #ManagersMic

    42 min
  4. The People First Playbook | Tips for New Managers

    APR 2

    The People First Playbook | Tips for New Managers

    What can basketball teach you about leadership? Nick Reich breaks down his People First Playbook — a proven framework for building trust, purpose, and high-performing teams." Follow Nick Reich People First Playbook https://www.peoplefirstplaybook.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-reich05/  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Leadership Philosophy 02:46 The Journey to Coaching and Leadership 04:47 Lessons from Basketball in Leadership 08:18 Boundaries in Leadership and Team Dynamics 10:19 The Impact of Managers on Mental Health 12:36 Awareness and Responsibility in Leadership 15:11 The Six Components of the People First Playbook 20:33 Defining Purpose in Leadership 22:33 The Importance of Purpose in Leadership 24:20 Intentionality in Defining Purpose 26:08 Navigating Managerial Transitions 27:49 The Role of Communication in Leadership 29:42 Recognizing Humanity in Leadership 32:43 Building Connections and Trust 33:56 Activities to Boost Team Morale "🎙️ Subscribe to The Manager's Mic for weekly leadership insights for new managers." Free Gift https://www.themanagersmic.com/newsletter/

    36 min
  5. How to Lead Without the Hero Complex | Tips for New Managers

    MAR 25

    How to Lead Without the Hero Complex | Tips for New Managers

    Most new managers unknowingly fall into the hero complex, feeling like they have to have all the answers, fix every problem, and impress the team to earn respect. Marc Haine, author of Lights, Camera, Action, breaks down why that instinct is quietly destroying your credibility and what to do instead. Follow Marc Haine Marc’s Book Lights, Camera, Action - https://amzn.to/4rUE7lH Marc’s Website - https://marchaine.com/   Follow the podcast that helps new people managers avoid the habits that kill rapport https://www.themanagersmic.com/   Takeaways Extraordinary experiences are designed, not accidental.Every interaction has touch points that can be improved.Training is essential for effective leadership.The hero complex can hinder effective management.Intentionality in leadership leads to better outcomes.Recognizing and rewarding good behavior is crucial.Communication is key to managing expectations.A crisis can lead to reverting to old behaviors.Writing a book is a process of discovery and reflection.Serving others is more important than impressing them.  Sound Bites "If I train people, they might leave." "Impressing or serving, pick one." "We need to be coaches, not managers." Chapters 00:00 Meet Marc Haine: Theater Thinking for Better Leadership 05:00 What New Managers Get Wrong About Expectations 12:18 How Company Culture Shapes Team Behavior 19:30 The Leadership Lesson That Became a Book 25:12 Perfectionism vs. Micromanagement: A Leadership Dilemma 31:32 Intentional Leadership: Serving vs. Impressing 41:17 How to Build Real Trust as a People Manager If this episode challenged how you think about leadership, subscribe to new episodes that drop weekly for first-time managers navigating real team dynamics. Legal Disclaimer This content is for educational purposes; your results may vary. No guarantee of results is claimed. The publisher of this content is not responsible for any actions taken or not taken as a result of watching or listening to this piece of content.

    45 min
  6. He Has 3% Goodwill | Tips for New Managers

    MAR 18

    He Has 3% Goodwill | Tips for New Managers

    What happens when your leadership strengths become your biggest blind spot? I sat down with Curtis Sprouse of Eureka Connect to walk through  My full behavioral assessment   and the results were uncomfortable,  eye-opening, and honestly... accurate. My discipline score? 96th percentile. My goodwill score? 3 out of 100. That gap explains a lot. If you're a driven, results-focused manager  who sometimes struggles to connect with your team, this episode  might feel like a mirror. In this episode, we talk about: ✅ Why your biggest strength can be your biggest leadership liability ✅ The "Curse of Knowledge" — and why your team tunes you out ✅ How high discipline turns into transactional behavior (and how to fix it) ✅ What it really takes to build influence as a leader ✅ Moving from judgment to curiosity in every conversation ✅ Why you should collect relationships, not accomplishments This one gets personal. I share my fear of leaving my family with  nothing, my struggle with an unhealthy need for approval, and what  I'm choosing to do something about it. If you manage people — or want to — don't skip this one. 🔗 Learn more about Eureka Connect: https://eurekaconnect.com/  The Manager's Mic helps new people managers avoid the habits that kill rapport with their teams.  New episodes drop weekly. 📩 Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome Back & Why This Episode Gets Personal 01:09 - Breaking Down Paul's Behavioral Profile 04:23 - Live Walkthrough of the Eureka Connect Assessment 11:24 - The 3% Goodwill Score (And What It Really Means) 13:06 - Does Your Drive Hurt the People Around You? 15:24 - The Fear Behind the Hustle 16:15 - High Discipline + High Reflectivity = Analysis Paralysis? 22:47 - Independence in Thinking & Operation 25:50 - Real-World Story: The Martial Arts Moment 27:51 - Moving From Judgment to Curiosity 31:56 - How to Build Influence as a Leader #Leadership #PeopleManagement #NewManager #BehavioralAssessment #ManagersMic

    44 min
  7. Military Lessons That Level Up Leadership | Tips for New Managers

    MAR 11

    Military Lessons That Level Up Leadership | Tips for New Managers

    In this episode, Paul Leon interviews Keith Willis, an expert in transforming sales teams into high performers through effective management techniques. The conversation explores lessons business leaders can learn from military experience, particularly the concept of servant leadership. Keith shares insights on the importance of communication, accountability, and the common mistakes new managers make. He emphasizes the role of discipline and consistency in management, the importance of one-on-one meetings, and the power of leveraging individual strengths to drive team success. The discussion also touches on the transition to entrepreneurship and the impact of AI on management practices, concluding with key takeaways for effective leadership. Follow Keith Willis Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube Takeaways Servant leadership is about serving your team to achieve results.High-stakes environments teach valuable leadership lessons.Clear communication is essential to avoid ambiguity in management.New managers often assume they must have all the answers.Discipline and consistency are key traits of effective managers.One-on-one meetings significantly enhance team performance.Leveraging individual strengths leads to better outcomes.Entrepreneurship requires self-development and accountability.AI can be a powerful tool for enhancing management effectiveness.Continuous learning is crucial for successful leadership. Sound Bites "You need to ask for help." "AI is an amplification tool." "You have to be learning constantly." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to High-Performance Leadership 02:42 Lessons from Military Experience 05:30 Defining Servant Leadership 08:26 High-Stakes Environments and Leadership 11:20 Communication and Ambiguity in Management 14:08 Common Mistakes New Managers Make 17:03 The Role of Discipline in Management 19:45 The Importance of One-on-One Meetings 30:48 Understanding CliftonStrengths and Its Impact 35:56 Career Development and Transitioning from Military to Corporate 41:47 Leadership Challenges in the Pharma Industry 44:30 The Role of AI in Management 47:11 Lessons from Entrepreneurship 51:54 Continuous Learning and Effective Management

    51 min
  8. Leadership Lessons from Cave Diving: Stop Micromanaging | Tips for New Managers

    MAR 4

    Leadership Lessons from Cave Diving: Stop Micromanaging | Tips for New Managers

    In this episode, Travis Cormier shares powerful leadership lessons from cave diving on building a team culture that fosters independence. Travis Cormier, CEO of The 10X Travel Company, which helps consumers leverage their spending to get better travel experiences. 10X Travel has been around since 2014 and has built a community of 400,000+ people. Travis shares leadership lessons from cave diving, frameworks, and his personal experience. We talk about how to view problems in a way that helps build a team culture that results in independence. When managers achieve this result, they get back the most precious resource: time! If you are a new manager who values your time, Travis Cormier's insights will deliver results.  Follow Travis Cormier & The 10xTravel Team Website Social Media Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | TikTok Takeaways ​Management skills differ from individual contributor skills.​Failure is a learning opportunity, not a setback.​Building a supportive team environment is essential.​Time management requires creating reserves for emergencies.​Documentation is crucial for knowledge transfer.​Training should align with future challenges.​Micromanagement can be a tool for development.​Trust your team to handle their responsibilities.​Cave diving principles can apply to management.​Continuous learning is vital for leadership growth.  Sound  Bites "Be trained for the dive that you’re doing." "Micromanagement can be a development skill." "You have to get out of the way." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Travis Cormier and 10X Travel 03:00 Travis's Journey to Leadership 05:31 The Importance of Management Skills 07:58 Lessons from Cave Diving 10:33 Framework for Effective Management 12:57 Reframing Failure in Leadership 15:39 Building a Supportive Team Environment 18:05 The Rule of Thirds in Time Management 20:53 Creating Redundancy in Team Skills 23:15 The Importance of Documentation 25:50 Training for Future Challenges 28:27 Final Thoughts and Future Goals

    44 min
See All (121)

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The podcast for new people managers who want to avoid the habits that kill rapport with team members. Hosted by Paul Leon, a sales training leader and MBA graduate who has worked with over 500 teams. If you want to power up your people management skills to have more rapport with team members. The Manager's Mic with Paul Leon is the answer. For more FREE resources, visit our website https://www.themanagersmic.com/

Information