What is Your Legacy as a Sales Manager and or Leader?

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Melissa D. Whitaker

“Leadership flows out of what we do and who we are.” – Dan Flow, CEO & Chairman (Flow Companies, Inc.)

My question to you today is “Do you care?” Do you truly care about:

Your People?
Your Customers?
Your Community?

As a Sales Manager and or Leader of your company, I want you to take a moment to ask yourself what kind of legacy are you leaving? Are you showing up each and every day to just get by? To just do a job? I hope not. As leaders, we impact every person we engage with (good or bad).

Do you want to be known as a person who truly cares about your people, your customers, and your community? What are you intentionally doing to build up others and keep your promises. One thing we have in life is OUR WORD. Are you keeping your word? Are you pulling the greatness out of your people? Are you asking what you can do to help customers daily in the field? Are you willing to give back?

Your People

Let’s start with discussing your people. You have been put in your position to help your people create results. This starts at the human element. Your people are just that – PEOPLE. They are not a number, they are human beings with all the complexities life brings at us. Have you taken the time to notice what your people are doing right? Have you given an ata boy or ata girl about that? We are constantly told to point out what people AREN’T doing, however we are not reminded to look for and reinforce what people ARE doing well. So take a moment today to intentionally look for what your people are doing RIGHT and thank them for doing a great job! Ultimately your people want to know if you care about them and their lives. When you show that you care, your people will care more about creating results for you! “The essence of effective coaching is treating people the way they can be, not the way they are.”

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Do You Have G.R.I.T. in Sales?

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Melissa D. Whitaker

As a sales professional do you have what it takes? Do you have G.R.I.T.? As I continue to travel the Globe, I realize we should be asking this question more often.

GUTS: This means – personal courage and determination; toughness of character. We have to be brave and courageous to attack each day with the right mindset and ability to be BOLD. As I worked with another sales team last week filled with Major Account and Named Account reps, I am reminded once again that no matter what level we are at (new or tenured), we have to make this conscious choice every day. We will continue to battle frustrations from within our own organization and frustrations with reaching the right decision makers and influencers. We have to be creative and constantly evolve in changing times. Just because it is uncomfortable, or “you have always done it another way,” doesn’t mean you don’t have it in you to stretch and see the magic outside of your comfort zone. We ask our prospects and clients to make a change with us every day. So why are we so unwilling to change and evolve ourselves? So we have to ask, do we have the GUTS to strive on? Do we have the determination to Be Bold in our approach?

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Do You Wonder Why You Aren’t Further Along?

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Melissa D. Whitaker

If 2015 is going to be your year, then your commitment level to achieve greatness has to be taken to a higher level. The reality is we are all human and many times we don’t want to take that extra step or push through when we’re tired. We are our own worst enemy. However, we all have greatness in us, we just have to have the discipline and commitment to realize our potential. Turn your pain into greatness. I know you can do it! Do you?

Watch this video on commitment to inspire you what you are capable of:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dtnI1CyL9k

“You have to want to succeed as bad as you want to breath.”

How do you handle feeling powerless?

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Melissa D. Whitaker

Everyone needs to watch the YouTube video link below: “Look at yourself after watching this”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc4HGQHgeFE

Sometimes we each feel powerless. Kind of like the guy with no arms and legs in the video link above. He is awkward to look at and most people look at him and think that he would not amount to much. But he took what little was given to him and made it big. Those are decisions that we have to make inside ourselves. Only ourselves.

We take the constraints that the company we work for (or life) puts on us and we act like we have no arms and legs. However, this guy chose to see it as opportunity to see how much he could do without arms and legs. So instead flip it around and say, “How much can I do despite all these decisions the company is making that seem to cut me off?”

So often we want to be angry at some of the decisions and actions of our company and people around us for what is going on. But maybe we need to think outside the box – who says that you could not think of better ways of doing something? Take what you don’t like and say, “How can I make this better?”

I hope this adds some inspiration and perspective for you today — “Be an inspiration to Others”

Leaders Who Excel

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Melissa D. Whitaker

“Leaders serve as the enablers of talent, culture and results.” Glenn Llopis – Forbes Magazine

I am always fascinated by reading what very successful “leaders” have in common. Glenn Llopis wrote a really good article in Forbes Magazine on February 18, 2013 about the 15 things successful Leaders automatically do every day (link to article found below). I read through his article and agree on his in-depth points. Leaders have a large task at hand that is always revolving and challenging us in many different ways. If you are someone like me who is constantly thirsty for growth and knowledge – take a moment to read his article. If you are someone who wants to know how to become a better leader, this article is a great place to start.

The Most Successful Leaders Do 15 Things Automatically, Every Day