Episode 117

full
Published on:

17th Apr 2024

Putting the Spotlight on Others As A Skill - Leslie Venetz, Founder, Sales Led GTM Agency

Summary:

In this episode, we talk with Leslie Venetz, a sales consultant and founder of the Sales-Led GTM agency. Leslie teaches salespeople about outbound strategies and has had a successful career as a top individual contributor and sales leader.

Leslie shares her personal story about making tough decisions in sales and the long-term benefits of prioritizing the customer's needs. She also reflects on the skills she observed in others, such as adaptability and giving credit to others.

Finally, Leslie explains her motivation for starting her own sales consulting business and emphasizes the importance of outbound sales in B2B revenue generation. She also shares her unique approach to sales training events, which includes mindfulness, movement, and unconventional topics.

You'll learn techniques on how to put the spotlight on other people, how to resist the urge to help while still being helpful, and how to connect in a "non sleazy" way on Linkedin.

Takeaways

  • Selling by being human means developing a deep understanding of the problem you're solving and focusing on helping the customer make the best decision for themselves.
  • Active listening is a crucial skill in sales, and it involves resisting the urge to be helpful and keeping the spotlight on the prospect.
  • Making tough decisions in sales, such as walking away from deals that may not be the right fit, can lead to long-term benefits and build trust with customers.
  • Observing skills in others, such as adaptability and giving credit to others, can inspire and inform your own approach to sales.
  • Starting a sales consulting business offers the freedom to work on your own terms and with the type of people and companies you align with.
  • Outbound sales, including cold calling and cold emailing, is a cornerstone of B2B revenue generation and should not be dismissed or renamed. Sales is a craft and profession that requires care and expertise.
  • Unique experiences and perspectives can set sales professionals apart.
  • Mindset and skill sets are both crucial for sales success.
  • Using reader-centric language in outreach can improve response rates.
  • Earning the right to sell is essential in every stage of the sales cycle.
  • Authenticity and transparency are key on LinkedIn.
  • Revenue Revelry events focus on mindfulness, movement, and sales content.

Key Moments:

03:40 Selling by Being Human

06:17 Understanding the Problem

09:37 Making Tough Decisions

12:26 Observing Skills in Others

23:24 The Importance of Outbound Sales

24:13 Sales as a Craft and Unique Experience

26:05 Unique Approach to Sales Training

27:36 Mindset and Skill Sets in Sales

29:29 Reader-Centric Language in Outreach

31:04 Earning the Right to Sell

32:00 Misuse of Cold Calls

33:15 Optimizing Voicemail Strategy

34:12 Using Texting in Sales

37:15 Being Social vs. Being a Social Seller on LinkedIn

38:37 Making the Ask in Sales

41:28 Authenticity and Transparency on LinkedIn

43:21 Revenue Revelry Events

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About the Podcast

Sell By Being Human
On the Sell By Being Human podcast, award-winning sales professional Alex Smith provides the proven way to harness your innate human skills like empathy, curiosity, and kindness to learn how to sell and navigate the sales journey.
This is where human connection and sales meet. You may be someone whose success depends on influence, negotiation, and your ability to create change, but you may reject aggressive sales tactics. Maybe you feel stuck in corporate "autopilot," knowing your best asset is your genuine personality, but you struggle to use it to get what you want. Then this channel is for you.

It will teach you how to close the gap between wanting to be ethical and feeling pressured to sell aggressively. You’ll also learn actionable strategies for translating emotional intelligence into high-trust results. Join Alex and top guests, including NY Times bestsellers, keynote speakers, and global founders, as they prove that being truly human is the ultimate sales advantage.

About your host

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Alex Smith

Alex Smith is a seasoned sales professional and podcast host who champions a human-first approach to selling. With nearly two decades of experience, he explores how empathy, curiosity, and genuine connection drive influence in everyday life. Through his podcast, he highlights stories from people across all professions, showing that anyone can persuade and create impact simply by being human.