This special guest is a seasoned sales leader and mentor with over 40 years in the technology sector. Blair Tolbard is a now-retired sales executive with experience leading teams at companies such as IBM and Oracle. Blair joins Host Matt Benelli to share his insights on effective leadership and sales tactics. Blair emphasizes the power of listening, being accessible as a leader, and how leaders can use humor as a relief valve. 

Takeaways:

• It’s imperative to follow through on what you pledge to do. Your deeds speak much louder than your words. This is a key part of establishing trust and building credibility with your team and even prospects.
• Sales team leaders should strive to be truly accessible and available to their team members. This means being present, approachable, and actively encouraging communication.
• Instead of leaving it up to team members to decide when to engage with their manager, leaders should establish clear guidelines and expectations. This helps avoid confusion and ensures that everyone knows how to reach out for support or guidance.
• Rather than being passive and waiting for team members to come to them, sales team leaders should proactively engage with their team. This shows a genuine interest in their needs and creates an environment where open communication is encouraged.
• Active listening is a crucial skill for sales team leaders. By actively listening to their team members, leaders can gain insights, understand their needs, and build stronger relationships. This leads to better outcomes and a more productive team.
• Taking the time to get to know team members on a personal level can greatly improve communication and collaboration. Sales team leaders should invest in building relationships to create an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.

Quote of the Show:

• “I'm fortunate I have this innate relief valve, and I do believe humor is a relief valve, and it's a relief valve not just for me, but it's a relief valve for those around me.” - Blair Tolbard

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-tolbard-5a1a9398/ 

Shoutouts:

• John Nugent
• John Bunting

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Yb1wPzUxyrfR0Dx35ym1A 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coach2scale-how-modern-leaders-build-a-coaching-culture/id1699901434 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fd188af6-7c17-4b2e-a0b2-196ecd6fdf77 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/coach2scale-how-modern-leaders-5419703 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Coach2Scale 

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