Is B Corp certification greenwashing?

We’ve now been a B Corp for four years so this is a subject close to our hearts and one we’re open to debating. What is greenwashing? According to Wikipedia: Greenwashing is a form of advertising or marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an…

What’s the difference between a Lead and a Suspect?

Sometimes enthusiasm gets the better of business leaders and they suspect everyone could become a customer. That’s why it’s important to be able to differentiate between a Lead and a Suspect. Imagine you sell yoga classes in Manchester. Potentially any business in Manchester could buy from you, they all have staff don’t they? And if…

How do you choose between coaching and leadership development?

Your scenario Imagine you’ve just been promoted up to a senior leadership position in a different part of your organisation. You’ve come across some of your new leadership team at company events. One of them even bought you a drink! But now it’s different because you’re the boss. You’ve heard about them during talent reviews…

5 tips on how to deal with ghosting in sales

There’s something strange in the neighbourhood. Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! What’s causing the epidemic of ghosting in sales? There was a time when No just meant No. But now No is often replaced with interminable silence. Business owners are increasingly reporting this to us as one of their biggest frustrations in selling. You’re a…

How to get the best out of a mentoring Discovery call

Discovery calls are often used by mentors or consultants to better understand your current situation. They also act as a “getting to know you” experience in which you can both work out whether you get on together or not. The mentor will want to understand whether they can really help you or not. Though some…

Five ways to motivate a sales team in 2024

Every business wants a motivated sales team but what makes this even more important in 2024? Three things stand out as being unusual in the coming year: You might argue good sales people shouldn’t need motivating, so let’s start there. Remove the piss-off factors Really this shouldn’t need writing, but the reality in many sales…

Ten top tips for building a brilliant team in 2024

Building a brilliant team of high-performers has long been top of company directors’ Christmas wish lists: If we can get another few percentage points out of our people then next year will be one to celebrate! People challenges in the last couple of years have only added to this wish. Firstly there’s the skills shortage,…

Five top tips for growing sales in 2024

“It’s got to be better than last year, hasn’t it?” That’s what we said at the end of 2020. And 2021. And again a year ago! One day the business environment will really bounce back. But as we look ahead to 2024 it feels like one of those occasions when you hope for the best…

What is sustainable selling?

You might think this is about selling sustainability. Maybe you imagine sustainability consultants who help organisations build their green plans. Or you think of companies selling composting boxes or green bins. But sustainable selling isn’t about what you sell. It’s about how you do it. It’s ensuring that your sales capability is sustainable over time.…

How do I find the time for a Sales Mentor?

When it comes to working with a Sales Mentor, you might have many unanswered questions such as will they make me more efficient? What service do they actually offer? And what will I need to do when working with one? That’s why in this post we’re diving into all things Sales Mentors to explore how…

Should you be using AI in sales?

When it comes to deciding whether AI in sales can positively impact a business, there are many factors that must be considered. We’ve said many times that sales is all about people: It’s about the talent you recruit into your team and about the way you train and lead them. It’s also about the quirky…

Is a Sales Mentor strategic or tactical?

How do people react when you explain what you do? It’s always interesting to see whether the response is enthusiastic or politely passive. But more than this, do people actually get it? You know in detail what you do – and in the context of your industry it makes complete sense. But most conversations are…