MindsetGo iCommunicate Podcast

As we navigate what seems like a permanent state of unrest and the charged emotions around the ongoing riots, we are seeing and hearing a lot of people label policemen and protesters as good or bad with no in between. Labeling sets up an expectation of life that is often so compelling we can no longer see things as they really are. The expectation often gives us a false sense of familiarity toward something that is really new and unprecedented. In this week’s ICommunicate podcast, Mark discusses thought processes and conversation templates to avoid labeling and creating a fixed mindset around change and growth.Segment 1: We often label individuals or even entire groups of people without taking the opportunity to second guess ourselves. Why are we so quick to categorize people and make drastic judgements on entire groups? Why do we feel compelled to choose sides in a conflict and ignore the middle ground?Segment 2:Whether we realize it or not, having labels assigned to us from a young age heavily impacts the way we develop into those particular roles. How can we shed these labels and advocate for ourselves and for others? What makes labels so detrimental to our development?Segment 3: Succumbing to the contagious nature of gossip can make us forget that people are much more than the labels we attach to them. How can we change our mindset and focus on the essence of a person rather than the expectations we have towards them? Segment 4: No matter what the truth is behind them, confronting labels of our own can be overwhelming, as it forces us to come to terms with who we are. What do our labels tell us about ourselves and how can we reflect on them? How can we grow from our failures and become the people that we want to be?

If you’re a parent you are familiar with asking your kids to do the chores or complete their homework only to have them respond I’ll do it later. This often frustrating response is due to a child’s need for instant gratification to continue what fun chosen activity they are doing. On this week’s show, Mark and fellow MindsetGo trainer Joseph Lyman discuss why leaders and managers struggle with delayed gratification and how much that struggle adversely plays a factor in motivating, developing, and supporting the teams they guide. The mere connotation of the word instant feels wonderful for impatient people while delayed feels long or arduous, not to mention encourages procrastination in the world of busyness, bottom line, and strict deadlines.Segment 1: Too often, we find ourselves expecting instant gratification largely due to the ease of access allowed to us through technology, which inadvertently makes assessing ourselves through delayed gratification more difficult. How can we properly self reflect on our abilities to determine our effectiveness as salespeople?Segment 2:In a number of cases, the needs of our team tend to come second to personal victories and instant gratification, which often eliminates opportunities for learning and development. What makes self-control and time management so difficult and how can we overcome that?Segment 3: Setting goals for ourselves and our team brings up questions around trust in our ability to sustain success over the long term. How can we set goals for our team that push for long term success? What strategies can we use to motivate and develop our team moving forward?Segment 4: Networking events provide opportunities for collaboration and mutual benefits for salespeople, but our mindset going into these events may not complement our approach towards seeking potential relationships. How can we take advantage of networking events without the mindset of instant gratification to create more opportunities for referrals and sales?

In our everyday lives, we come across triggers and pet peeves that serve as distractions while we pursue our goals. Without the proper strategies to overcome these triggers, salespeople can become overwhelmed with emotion, causing them to miss out on potential prospects and opportunities. How can we control our triggers in an emotionally intelligent way so that we can focus on our goals? In this week’s podcast, Mark explains how to deal with rejection and set expectations to generate more leads and close deals more effectively.

Now more than ever, we need to use self-reflection as THE tool to reset, re-strategize, and re-evaluate important aspects of our personal and professional lives. Assessing our motivations, goals, and doubts can drain us emotionally, but the clarity that follows leads to major improvements to our happiness and success. In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how self-reflection improves our emotional intelligence by enabling us to be more influential and inspirational leaders in and out of the workplace.

Salespeople encounter a plethora of fears in their attempts to seek out new prospects or to close deals. Without the proper strategies to overcome these fears, salespeople miss out on potential opportunities and buyers for the wrong reasons. Why do our fears inhibit us from closing the deal in the first place? How can we generate honest feedback from clients to prevent certain fears from overwhelming us? In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how organizations can use self-awareness and coaching to avoid being held back by fear when closing a deal.

Leaders often choose to lead by example to motivate their peers, but what does this mean? Is leading by example an effective method, and if so what behaviors do we want noticed and what behaviors are even being noticed? In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how leaders need to become more self-aware of the examples they are setting, how those examples are influencing the individuals they manage and why you always need to be evolving.

Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, many of us have lost momentum. With the aspects surrounding the crisis that are out of our control, it becomes essential to manage what is within our control. What habits and behaviors do we need to develop in order to deal with conflict and become successful? In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how even when things don’t seem fair, there are emotionally intelligent strategies to use that will lead to favorable outcomes.

There are a multitude of negative emotions that customers and salespeople often experience when selling a product. Without confronting and handling these emotions, sales and service teams are often blind to hidden messages in client relationships. How can we manage baggage and form better relationships with customers in the workplace? In this week’s podcast, Mark talks about how Account Management teams can use emotional intelligence to ask questions and become better listeners to avoid being strung along in deals, missing clear obstacles, and to close deals faster.

Assabet High School Superintendent Ernie Houle and Westborough High School English teacher Kathleen Stoker discussed the challenges so many school districts are facing transitioning to online learning. Kathy shared best practices, how parents can get involved, and balancing education with support. Ernie talked about the successful steps Assabet Regional High School has taken, plans for graduation, how MAVA has stepped up, and how he sees his role with parents, students, and teachers.

ICommunicate Podcast #93: A Port in the Storm (ft. Mike Port) by Mark Altman