Welcome to the latest episode of the Recruitment Leadership Podcast, hosted by Alison Humphries.

In this episode, Alison is joined by Kate O’Neill, Recruitment Coach and Behavioural Profiling Specialist, known for her straight-talking, practical approach to business development in recruitment.

Together, they explore what it really takes to make business development work, not just for the short term, but in a way that builds long-term, sustainable client relationships.

Kate shares why human connection still matters more than ever in a world of automated outreach and digital tools - and what recruitment leaders can do to help their teams overcome hesitation and build real confidence on the phone.

They also dive into the mindset challenges that often get mistaken for skills gaps, and how to shift the behaviours that hold people back from BD success.

You’ll learn:

💡 Why “cold calling” is an outdated and unhelpful term — and what to do instead

💡 How your team’s hidden beliefs might be sabotaging their BD performance

💡 Why phone calls, in-person meetings, and follow-ups still matter more than email

💡 The link between strategic preparation and confidence on the phone

💡 What great BD conversations actually sound like — and what’s getting in the way

💡 How to create a BD process that drives consistent results, not one-off wins

If you’re a recruitment leader looking to move beyond transactional BD and help your team build confidence, consistency and credibility - this is a must-listen.

Connect with Kate O'Neill on LinkedIn.

Want to discuss this topic further with Alison?