Posts Tagged ‘Relationships’
It’s Harder to Sell Within Our Own Companies
Tibor Shanto posed an interesting situation in a LinkedIn discussion: Got an interesting question or scenario for people who work with sales managers, presented by an experienced sales manager and her new company. She was invited to join the company because of her track record in the industry. They wanted her to establish a similar…
Read MoreCombine Online with Personal Interaction for the Most Effective Networking
Networking has been an important skill for job seekers for years, but today’s business professionals are using networking for more than just getting a job. From scientist in need of funding and contractors looking for a new project, to artists and musicians developing a fan base, networking is an important strategy for the success of…
Read MoreNo (Wo)Man is an Island
John Donne penned a famous poem, No Man Is An Island, as part of his Devotions on Emergent Occasions. Even in 1624, apparently there were problems with silos, self-centeredness, and the behaviors/mentalities that result. We tend to focus on ourselves, our jobs/goals/responsibilities. Whether we are a customer or whether we are in roles that serve customers,…
Read MoreThe 4 People You Meet on the Road to Business Success
No man is an island. It takes a village. Two heads are better than one. The proverbs, adages, and clichés go on and on, but I think you get the idea: in any endeavor, it’s impossible to make the most of it if you stubbornly insist on flying solo. In business there are four people…
Read MoreBankers: Love ‘em or Hate ‘em, They May Affect Your Future
Let’s get right down to it. Your banking relationship can be like a great marriage or a bad trip to the DMV. In most cases it is strictly your choice. But the results of that choice will reverberate for what could be years. For a start… How did you open your first bank account? Did…
Read More“Active Listening” is Not a Technique
Catching up on my reading, I ran across an article on Active Listening. It was focused on sales people and the author made the statement, “Active listening makes them feel like they are being heard…” I’m sure that’s not what the author intended to communicate, but it got me thinking about many other things I hear and…
Read MoreThe Best Use of Your Time
Now that we are a month into 2018, are you still looking for ways you can kick-start your business successes, sales and marketing wins? One of the best ways is by really being intentional about where you spend your time. I truly believe in Jim Rohn’s “you are the average of the five people you spend…
Read MoreCan Your Lawyer Destroy a Good Business Deal?
Over the years in business and as a member of over forty boards, I have received good advice from corporate attorneys and on occasion bad advice as well. There is a line that should be drawn in a relationship between corporate attorney and CEO or board. Attorneys are paid to protect the corporation, not to…
Read MoreServant Salespersonship
Some of the more cynical (or perhaps worn down) of you will misread the title, thinking, “Dave, we’re already slaves to our jobs, managers, companies. What are you doing?” I’m really thinking about applying the principles and concepts of “Servant Leadership” to sales and our relationships with customers. Servant leadership concepts can be traced back…
Read MoreThe Faces of Our Customers
Recently, I’ve been trying something new when I meet with clients. I ask, “When was the last time you visited your customers–in a non sales situation? When did you actually see what they do, how they use your solutions? What have you done to get to know them better? Unfortunately, the responses aren’t surprising. Many…
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