Sales is a team sport.

People have re-evaluated work and the role they want it to play in their lives, culture and values really matter.

Recruitment needs to begin with sharing thought leadership on LinkedIn not suddenly popping up with a hire request.

Leaders’ responsibility to create an environment where meaningful conversations occur. Psychological safety vital.

It’s what you do when someone makes a mistake that matters.

There is only 1 version of Dan Swift.

With much therapy over the last ten years, Dan has a superpower of seeing others being vulnerable and able to build a connection.

Those leaders who don’t take the mental health of their teams seriously will become irrelevant.

When you have a new terrority bring it down to top 10 accounts and ask colleagues who knows any of these people?

Sales is a team sport.

The greatest business challenge of our time is How to build diverse teams that deliver successful growth and innovation?

One of the most accomplished leaders at achieving this is Keith Douglas. I am thrilled to have Keith back on the Enterprise Sales show. We are connected by our mutual friend Anant Patel. Thank you Anant.

Keith is a motivating leader who empowers his people, he ‘get out of their way’ so they can produce their best work. He has consistently created high performing and enjoyable ‘people centred’ cultures. We share similar values including the importance of how you win and not just winning.

Keith is an over-achieving commercial EVP, with 20 years+ Payment industry experience. He was until recently responsible for driving forward key growth area of e-commerce (Mastercard Payment Gateway Services) he had a team of over 400 talented people across the globe.

Keith welcome and congratulations on your new role as EVP for Open Banking International.

“Grateful to Anant Patel for our introduction, it has been a very fruitful and valuable partnership.”

As a change maker, You believe “Together is always better” how do you approach enabling your team to believe in their ‘unseen’ capability and embrace challenging situations?

The first part is to give them more belief in themselves than they currently have. Combine your values with theirs to give your team a difference and nothing cannot achieve together.

Embedded in four of principles is Together is always better:

Strive to help each other.

Encourage and embrace diversity of thought.

Candid conversations and collaboration.

Celebrate success and failure together.

Trust in the team vital – build safety to have candid conversations that are fair and caring.

My father has had the biggest impact on me, he encouraged me to see the opportunity in everything first and then embrace the challenge.

Faith

“If you think you are beaten, you are

If you think you dare not, you don't,

If you like to win, but you think you can't

It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost

For out of the world we find,

Success begins with a fellow's will

It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are

You've got to think high to rise,

You've got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man,

But soon or late the man who wins

Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!”

― Walter D. Wintle

The greatest business challenge of our time is How to build diverse teams that deliver successful growth and innovation?

One of the most accomplished leaders at achieving this is Keith Douglas. I am thrilled to have Keith back on the Enterprise Sales show. We are connected by our mutual friend Anant Patel. Thank you Anant.

Keith is a motivating leader who empowers his people, he ‘get out of their way’ so they can produce their best work. He has consistently created high performing and enjoyable ‘people centred’ cultures. We share similar values including the importance of how you win and not just winning.

Keith is an over-achieving commercial EVP, with 20 years+ Payment industry experience. He was until recently responsible for driving forward key growth area of e-commerce (Mastercard Payment Gateway Services) he had a team of over 400 talented people across the globe.

Keith welcome and congratulations on your new role as EVP for Open Banking International.

“Grateful to Anant Patel for our introduction, it has been a very fruitful and valuable partnership.”

Can we go deeper on your approach to building a team culture centred around aligned values?

Culture is a feeling not a thing.

Firstly, have to define why we are here and what is to be achieved.

Three elements:

Sense of belonging

Empower team members

Feedback 2 way as the leader you have to give, encourage, and provide feedback.

A clear vision with a dynamic team culture, let them work it out for themselves, don’t micromanage. Leads to a set of values and agreed behaviours.

No effective team culture just happens, needs to be purposeful. It takes time, help and full commitment from all team members.

“Had Adrian Evans come in and help shape the culture of my team.”

Been tough for new staters who joined in lockdown, Keith admires their ability to adapt and fit in. Zoom only 2d he is at best impact when physically in room with team.

“Find ways to connect beyond the task.”

You recently shared how “sponsorship equals advocacy”, as a catalyst to further career success, can you explain why this is so vital?

Ties back to network, having mentors and advisors.

2-way street, I update them on my progress offer to help on projects outside of day job.

If all can win, we raise the tide for all.

They can act as a recruiter and help support my next career move.

I now sponsor some people who have sponsored me, not a linear process.

You have to give to get, invest in relationships consistently.

The greatest business challenge of our time is How to build diverse teams that deliver successful growth and innovation?

One of the most accomplished leaders at achieving this is Keith Douglas. I am thrilled to have Keith back on the Enterprise Sales show. We are connected by our mutual friend Anant Patel. Thank you Anant.

Keith is a motivating leader who empowers his people, he ‘get out of their way’ so they can produce their best work. He has consistently created high performing and enjoyable ‘people centred’ cultures. We share similar values including the importance of how you win and not just winning.

Keith is an over-achieving commercial EVP, with 20 years+ Payment industry experience. He was until recently responsible for driving forward key growth area of e-commerce (Mastercard Payment Gateway Services) he had a team of over 400 talented people across the globe.

Keith welcome and congratulations on your new role as EVP for Open Banking International.

“Grateful to Anant Patel for our introduction, it has been a very fruitful and valuable partnership.”

1) Last time we spoke you mentioned “The Art of being you” and the awareness of the impact you have on others. How did you build this skill - particularly with creating allies in your peer group?

Your job whilst on this planet is to be the best version of you. That brings your edge – values and point of difference.

Balance across your IQ EQ DQ = Your What, Your How, Your Why.

Arsenal legend: David Rocastle "Remember who you are, what you are, and who you represent!"

2) When you spoke with Rob and I previously you shared the power of your network – how it enabled you to achieve your career success, what advice do you have for our audience to implement such career accelerating behaviour?

It’s become part of my everyday being.

“My network has certainly helped me be a better version of myself”.

How can other help you and how can you help others, that is the thing about a network it’s a 2-way equation, not one sided you have to give and invest to get.

“I certainly would not have got to where I have got to without the help of many people. That is the importance of a network”

Importance of diversity of thought and action, it brings perspective – which brings better decisions and relationships. Enables better individual and collective impact.

Surround yourself with smart people and then - Listen to them. Otherwise, why bother.

I think of my network more broadly than the team I work with, the customers and the partners. I think of the people have worked with people continue to work with and introduction like yourself from Anant.

I have had 5 major career inflexion points, some examples of those key individuals that have helped me:

Steve “Focus on what you want to be and not limited by you are, see what you can be.” Think about possibility not limitation.

Marion “Don’t complain - contribute.”

Cathy “You have got to stand for something, in life and the workplace.” Be known as the group with exacting, demanding, inspiring set of individuals and impatience, a tall order.

Raj “Remember who helped you out whilst others made excuses. “

People you least expect – unless you are curious and want to build a relationship then you won’t see them in a new light.

Power of network - people you can go back to and ask for help consistently.

Keith defined what is winning? Being bolder, do different.

#336 Interview with Wealth Advisor Martin Capel-Smith by Adrian Evans

One of the greatest challenges we have observed for enterprise sales professionals is – How to create an effective message and story to connect the customer pain with your solution.

One of the most accomplished people we have seen, first-hand, is Mike Adams.

Mike an over-achieving enterprise sales director, with 20 years plus industry experience. He taught himself storytelling on the job and shares this insight with ambitions sales professionals across the globe to craft effective business stories.

Thank you, Mike, for taking time out:

1. Can you tell us about your career and how you have successfully moved from Enterprise sales to storytelling to enable other salespeople?

2. We know how important is it to gain executive level buy-in to influence the size and scope of an enterprise deal? How do you create a compelling story for these stakeholders?

3. In your book Seven Stories ever salesperson must tell – you say “recognise you are the guide not the hero” can you tell us more?

4. For our audience struggling between their own story and creating a business story – what are the first steps?

5. What do you wish you knew early on in your career, that you know today?

Our purpose is to enable SaaS Sales Professionals to achieve their potential through the power of life-enhancing connections, shared experiences, and collaborative learnings.

If you want to take your career to the next level, as well as improve your skills in Enterprise Sales, please contact me at [email protected]

One of the greatest challenges we have observed is – How to lead people and consistently deliver in the high-pressure environment of technology enterprise sales.

One of the most accomplished leaders we have seen, first-hand, is Paul Evans.

Paul an over-achieving enterprise sales director, with 20 years plus software industry experience. He is typically brought into an organisation to accelerate revenue growth - this is always achieved by creating high performance and a positive people culture.

He has a rare ability to create compelling narratives that connect solutions to decision makers - enabling them to align with key business objectives. He is a stellar relationship builder and thoroughly decent human being.

A declaration Paul is a client and we have worked together multiple times.

Thank you, Paul, for taking time out:

1. How important is creating psychological safety within your team to delivering high performance?

• Paul stated that he believes creating psychological safety is profoundly important, to deliver high perforamnce.

• He believes that at its heart Enterprise sales is solving complex problems, we need to be in the place where the highest brain functioning is occurring.

• Being creative, innovative, thoughtful, and empathetic to customer needs and relationship is vital.

• As humans we are animals and from a biochemical perspective, the more dominant dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin rather than cortisol – (the stress hormone), the greater the likelihood of problem solving and high performance.

• Safety is vital to performance and whilst not easy to achieve in the context of enterprise sales with targets to hit.

• Paul sees it as his responsibility to set the tone each day for his team.

2. How do you shift your team’s mindset, so they view large deals as a possibility, then a reality?

• This occurs at the intersection between vision of possibilities and successful strategy and execution.

• Vision and clarity of what is the contestable market share for this account for this market?

• What would this deal/account look like at its largest?

• Then the hard yards – Paul proactively coaching his team through these stages...

Our purpose is to enable SaaS Sales Professionals to achieve their potential through the power of life-enhancing connections, shared experiences, and collaborative learnings.

If you want to take your career to the next level, as well as improve your skills in Enterprise Sales, please contact me at [email protected]

"Think like a jungle cat , instinctively, by feel, trusting your skills, backing yourself."

This week I had the honour of interviewing Don MacPherson for the Enterprise Sales show podcast channel. Don is an internationally recognized mind coach who has unlocked potential within elite sports professionals from the fields of Formula One racing, Rugby union and even a Wimbledon tennis champion.

Don is a warm and practical guide, who also helps members of the public with their anxiety and performance challenges.

He shared his view on the noise presented by accidental mind coaches.

How he presents a British Lion for optimal performance. How we in enterprise sales can achieve more and with a confident calmness using mental rehearsal.

If you are struggling with anxiety or want to take your performance to a new level, I thoroughly recommend Don MacPherson’s recently released book, How to Master Your Monkey Mind - Overcome anxiety, increase confidence, and regain control of your life.

"Think like a jungle cat , instinctively, by feel, trusting your skills, backing yourself."

Enterprise Sales Club is now LIVE at https://www.enterprisesalesclub.com.

Our purpose is to enable SaaS Sales Professionals to achieve their potential through the power of life-enhancing connections, shared experiences, and collaborative learnings.

If you want to take your career to the next level, as well as improve your skills in Enterprise Sales, please contact me at [email protected]

As a result of creating In The Zone - How Champions Think and Win Big, Clyde Brolin has peeled back the curtain and revealed why champions achieve ground-breaking results.

During his seven-year writing quest (yes, that’s right, seven years!), he interviewed hundreds of the world’s top sports stars including current Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, and one of Britain’s greatest ever Olympians, Sir Chris Hoy.

More insights from Clyde:

Clyde’s conclusion is that these winners Conceive, Believe, Achieve. They dream big, they visualise, they build their skill relentlessly, believing in themselves to go on and achieve remarkable feats.

I was discussing this recently with a mentor of mine, who expressed his mild irritation how visualisation is dismissed by so many. In our hyper-rational, data-driven world it is called mental preparation but is often dismissed as a bit “whacky” and “woo-woo”. Sceptics go further still and promote the disempowering belief that it only works for a select few.

It struck me that in the highly-prized legal profession, all is looked at through the lens of the past, with questions such as “What is the legal precedent?” Whilst this prism is essential in many contexts, it is not always the most helpful when trying to deal with the presently uncertain world, definitely not the optimal place to start when creating a compelling future – trying to create beyond what we think is possible for us – and certainly not helpful when trying to reach our potential.

As many of you know, when I get frustrated or hear others I care for getting frustrated, I get very curious and seek the truth. So, I decided to stop and reflect on whether this is ‘just for the few’ or whether we can all visualise and make our careers and lives more successful.

I did not have to look too far. One of my clients recently became deeply frustrated by the lack of opportunity in his current role. I too was frustrated because he deserves better, he genuinely cares about his customers and the service and technology experience being delivered. He has the ability to create an uncommon level of trust, so I knew he would connect well with those who could reinvent his career.

As he is always up for a challenge, I suggested to him that we could create a new job opportunity within three months. Whilst slightly reticent at the beginning, he threw himself into the process quickly. I knew he was ‘both feet in’ when he created a vision board of what his new role would look like within 90 days from now.

He started the process of connecting with senior decision-makers, identifying how he could solve their most pressing business problems. He had open, curious conversations, which led to deeper dialogue and gained further referrals. After 23 calls and follow-up actions, I am thrilled to say he has created a new role for himself! ‘The difference that made the difference’ was his attitude – having a vision and trusting the process.

In a recent interview for the Enterprise Sales Show, Rob Howes and I asked overachieving Sales Director Paul Evans, “How do you achieve 8-figure deals?”

Paul shared how a $27 million deal started out in the account executive’s mind as a $50,000 opportunity; it would have stayed there if they had not thought differently and asked:

“What could this deal mean at its largest?”...

If you have found this podcast valuable, please like, re-share and pass onto a work colleague or someone within your network whom it could help at this stage of their career.

To discover exclusive content for our community, go to https://www.enterprisesalesclub.com.

One of the greatest challenges we have observed from the current sales environment is – How to manage and motivate a diverse and remote global sales workforce.

Jeff Riseley is currently the Founder of the Sales Health Alliance and Mental Health Advocate. With over a decade of sales experience – Jeff understands the importance of Mental Health in achieving peak sales performance.

Jeff combines his sales and Mental Health expertise to improve sales performance through a mix of sales mentorship and mental health best practices. His strategies have helped sales teams improve their sales process, while helping them become more motivated, resilient and better equipped to tackle stressful events within sales.

Who is on a mission to end Mental Health stigma in the workplace.

Welcome Jeff thank you, for taking time out:

• From our previous call you have an incredible backstory; would you mind sharing that with us please?

An over performer, all looked good on the outside not the case on the inside. Cancer survivor. Sales people are corporates athletics, we need to give them, the pads, gloves…

• Can you share some of the statistics on mental health within the sales industry?

General population, sales and now post Covid. 58% of salespeople struggle with Mental Health.

Unfortunately there is still a stigma around addressing this in the workplace.

• What specific steps can sales professionals take to improve their mental health, whilst still performing?

Challenge their leaders to create a psychologically safe environment.

• What advice do you have for the sales leadership community to support their teams and individuals at this time of increased uncertainty?

Listen rather than be a problem solver. Data from the World Health Organization shows that for every $1 put into scaled up treatment for common mental disorders (anxiety, depression, burnout, etc), results in a $4 return on improved health and productivity.

• What do you wish you knew early on in your career, that you know today?

Take off the mask and create human connection and be authentic self.

Always positive intent.

FOMO and companies will lose top sales talent if not allowing them recovery time.

• How would you recommend one follows up if interested in discussing your services further?

Email: [email protected]

Wanted to share a recent post from Jeff that illustrates the value of building resilience as sales individuals:

Sales enablement teams should emulate Formula 1 car companies in their hunt for higher sales performance and efficiency.

They are missing these 2 key buckets:

When you envision a Formula 1 race and you think about a Ferrari racing around the track...

What do you see?

You see a multi-million dollar car with the best car technology in the world. In sales this is your tech stack - comprised of all the best sales technologies on the market.

You also see a driver who is being fed insight from their team on the sideline. This is your salesperson who is receiving Training and Coaching from their manager.

But sales enablement usually stops there.

They are missing:

1) Resilience - Practical strategies the driver and salesperson can use to respond to stressful situations (near death experiences or missing target). Tools that protect their Mental Health and keep performance high.

This also includes pit stops during the race or quarter that keep the driver, car and salesperson from breaking down.

2) Recovery - Time between races when drivers and salespeople can recover from the stress of competition.

Often times, salespeople are never allowed to get off the track.

Without these 2 buckets a sales team will never reach peak levels of performance.