What’s the real backbone of an effective sales conversation?

It’s not the pitch, not the presentation and it’s definitely not dropping the price early.

In this episode, Nicky breaks down the one skill that can potentially increase your conversions by up to 23 percent.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing “all the right things” in sales but still not converting at the rate you want, this conversation may just shift your approach. Nicky shares why most business owners and sales teams aren’t asking enough of the right questions, and how that’s quietly costing them revenue.

Nicky chats about...

• Why strategic and targeted questions outperform presentations and pitches
 • The 30–70 rule that changes the power dynamic in a conversation
 • How to uncover the gap between current reality and future ideal
 • Why talking about price too early kills trust
 • How to avoid sounding like you’re interrogating your prospect
 • The simple “permission point” technique that increases your chances of getting a yes

Nicky introduces her practical, easy to remember CLASP framework, a step by step structure that helps you stay curious, intentional, and in control of your sales conversations without feeling pushy.

If you want stronger trust, clearer positioning, and more consistent conversions, this episode will show you how to make the close easy by doing the work in the middle.

Press play and start asking better questions.

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | [email protected]

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

In this episode, Nicky Miklós and Leah Mether explore the evolving landscape of leadership, particularly in the context of rapid change and uncertainty. They discuss the importance of human skills, emotional intelligence, and effective communication in navigating challenges, especially with the rise of AI. Leah emphasizes the need for leaders to model desired behaviours, create a speak-up culture, and set clear expectations with their teams. The discussion also highlights the significance of building trust and psychological safety within teams, as well as the necessity of consistent communication during times of uncertainty. Ultimately, the conversation serves as a guide for leaders to steer their teams through the storm of change while fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Check out Leah's work here - https://www.leahmether.com.au/

Leah's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@leahmetherspeaker

Connect on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahmetherspeaker/

Previous episodes with Leah - Bringing Humanity to Leadership with Leah Mether

Red Brick Thinking episode - Let's Red Brick It! Cutting Through the Clutter with Donna McGeorge

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | [email protected]

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

Sales has changed, and if your conversations still focus on features, pricing, and pressure tactics, you may already be falling behind. Today’s buyers are more informed, more cautious, and more overwhelmed with choice than ever before. Winning deals now is less about pushing harder and more about building trust, reducing friction, and helping buyers feel confident in their decisions.

In this episode, Nicky Miklós explores what is really driving modern sales conversations. She shares how AI, increased buyer transparency, and changing buyer psychology are reshaping sales leadership in 2026 and beyond. The discussion focuses on what top-performing sales teams are doing differently, and why many traditional approaches no longer work.

At the center of the episode is the TEC Framework: Trust, Ease, and Confidence. Nicky explains how this simple but powerful model helps sales teams close deals faster, even in uncertain markets. You will learn why trust has become one of the biggest factors in whether a deal moves forward or stalls, how to make the buying process easier for clients who are already overloaded, and why confidence matters more than persuasion.

The conversation also looks at why feature-led selling has lost its impact and how meaningful, human conversations now create stronger relationships and better long-term results. Nicky shares real-world lessons from leading sales teams through challenging periods like the GFC and COVID, offering practical insights into what works when markets are unpredictable and buyer confidence is low.

Technology plays a role too. This episode breaks down how tools like AI can support better coaching and smarter sales conversations when used intentionally. Referencing research from HubSpot showing that nearly 30 percent of deals fall apart due to a lack of trust, the discussion highlights the real cost of overlooking the emotional side of selling.

This episode is also a call to action for sales leaders. The role has shifted from enforcing scripts and chasing numbers to creating clarity, coaching with intention, and helping buyers feel safe making decisions. When trust is present, deals move faster and relationships last longer. When it is missing, even strong solutions struggle to gain traction.

If you are a sales leader, entrepreneur, or decision-maker looking to future-proof your team and close smarter, more sustainable deals, this episode offers practical ideas you can start using right away. Tune in to learn how to turn everyday sales conversations into trust-building moments that convert.

www.nickymiklos.com 

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | [email protected]

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

Great leadership is not about making every decision. It is also about teaching others how to make good ones.

In this episode, Nicky Miklós breaks down why decision-making sits at the heart of effective leadership and business growth. She shares a simple but powerful decision-making triage that helps leaders cut through noise, prioritise what actually matters, and build teams that think for themselves.

You will learn how setting clear parameters and asking the right questions can remove bottlenecks, boost productivity, and create true team autonomy. This is a practical episode for leaders who want to step out of constant decision fatigue and into confident, healthy hustle.

Key Takeaways

• Strong decision-making is a core leadership skill, not an optional extra
• Autonomous teams free leaders to focus on strategy and growth
• A decision-making triage helps separate urgent from important
• Clear boundaries give teams confidence to act
• Three guiding questions sharpen better decisions
• Feedback strengthens decision-making over time
• Empowered teams perform better and take ownership
• Coaching decision skills builds long-term independence
• One size does not fit all, frameworks should fit the team

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | [email protected]

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

In this episode of Smart Business Growth, we explore why managing your energy is far more powerful than obsessing over time management.

Despite billions of time management tools, apps and hacks available, most people still feel overwhelmed, busy and out of control. Procrastination is high, focus is low, and many of us spend our days reacting rather than working on what truly matters. So why isn’t time management working?

The answer lies in energy.

Rather than managing every minute of the day, this episode invites you to shift perspective and focus on how you show up to the time you have. Because while time stays the same, your energy does not, and that directly affects your focus, productivity, decision making and impact.

Using simple metaphors like an energy bank account and a battery, this conversation explains how energy is constantly being deposited and withdrawn throughout the day. When energy is high, tasks take less time and feel easier. When energy is depleted, even simple work becomes hard and draining.

You will be guided through the Energy Edge framework, a practical structure designed to help you audit and intentionally manage your energy. The framework covers four key areas:

• Sleep, water and movement as the foundation
• Body and mind consumption, including what you eat, drink, watch and listen to
• Boundaries and drainers, identifying what quietly depletes your energy
• Joy and gainers, the activities and connections that restore and uplift you

You will be encouraged to rate yourself in each area, notice where your energy is leaking, and identify small, realistic changes, not big overhauls, that can make a meaningful difference.

This episode is especially valuable for business owners, leaders and professionals who feel stuck in the “busy trap” and want to improve their return on effort, not just their output.

Your takeaway challenge is simple:
->>> Remove one energy drainer and add one energy gainer this week.

Small shifts done consistently create sustainable results.

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | [email protected]

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

Keywords:
Networking, business growth, relationship building, sales strategies, transformational leadership, core four, reciprocity, intentional networking, client nurturing, personal branding

Summary:
In this conversation, Janine Garner explores the transformative power of networking for business growth. She emphasises moving away from transactional networking and instead building genuine, meaningful relationships. Janine introduces the concept of the “core four” groups in your network: promoters, pit crew, teachers, and butt kickers.

She shares practical strategies for effective networking, including the TAD process (Thank, Ask, Do) and “light touch” networking to maintain connections without being overwhelming. The discussion also covers how sales is evolving, the importance of being intentional in networking, and the role of reciprocity in creating lasting connections.

Key Takeaways:

• Networking is about building genuine relationships, not just transactions.
• Identify the core four groups in your network: promoters, pit crew, teachers, and butt kickers.
• Intentional networking requires effort, focus, and strategy.
• A “no” is often just a “not now”; adjusting your approach can create opportunities.
• The TAD process (Thank, Ask, Do) can enhance your networking results.
• Light touch networking helps maintain connections without pressure.
• Showing genuine care and curiosity fosters trust and stronger relationships.
• Reciprocity is essential—give without expecting anything in return.
• Understanding your clients’ challenges allows you to offer better solutions.
• Networking is a transfer of humanity, not just information.

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | [email protected]

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

It’s 2026, and Nicky is kicking things off with a truth bomb. That whole “best year yet” mantra? It’s tired. In this episode, she calls BS on the hype, the unrealistic expectations, and the pressure that rides in on the New Year’s resolution wave.

If you’re craving something deeper than empty motivation and big energy pushes that fizzle out by February, this one’s for you.

In this episode, you’ll explore:

• Why “new year, new me” is more marketing than meaning
• The difference between sustainable change and sugar-hit hype
• How to tap into your own rhythm, whether you need to push or pause
• A practical two-part approach Nicky uses with her clients (and herself) to set up the year: Vision Planning and Commercial Clarity
• Why choosing a word for the year can be more powerful than a list of resolutions

This episode is your permission slip to stop buying into the pressure and start creating a business and life that feels aligned, achievable and sustainable.

Forget best year yet. Build your most intentional year yet.

Check out this pod ep to go deeper into connection with vision. What Smart Growth Really Means (and Why Now Is the Time to Course Correct) 

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | [email protected]

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

In this final episode of the year, Nicky unpacks the challenge so many high-performing business owners and leaders face – how the heck do we actually switch off for a holiday?

Whether you're gearing up for a well-earned break or finding yourself sprinting to the finish line, this episode is a must-listen before you hit "out of office." Nicky offers a real, no-fluff look at why true rest requires more than a few beach days or a change of scenery – it requires a conscious transition of energy.

You’ll learn:

• Why rest can feel so damn hard when you’re used to going full tilt
• How to avoid turning your holidays into “sick leave in disguise”
• The power of embracing boredom for deeper creativity and clarity
• A practical breakdown of the “Energy Edge” – a framework to shift gears intentionally
• The small, 1% shifts that help you reset without guilt or overwhelm

This episode isn’t just about the holidays. It’s about reclaiming your energy, setting boundaries that stick, and bringing more joy back into both business and life.

Because smart business growth starts with you – healthy, energised and in your zone.

Check out the 4-Part Healthy Hustle Framework poddy ep here

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | [email protected]

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

This week Nicky's joined by one of Australia's leading LinkedIn strategists, Karen Tisdell, as they delve into a question every sales leader and business owner feels: can LinkedIn really be a sales engine, not just a networking afterthought?

Spoiler: yes. But only if you’re using it with strategy, not just scrolling.

In this value-packed episode, we unpack:

• Common mistakes salespeople make on LinkedIn
• What to write (and what not to) in your profile headline
• The three content buckets that actually move the sales needle
• How “bridging statements” and “collecting yeses” can shift a no to a yes
• Karen’s practical, repeatable process for turning cold connections into warm leads

If you want to use LinkedIn as more than a digital CV (and actually turn your activity into conversations that lead to clients) this one’s a must-listen.

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn here.

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | [email protected]

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

As we prepare to close out 2025, the sales landscape looks and feels different – longer conversion cycles, rising buyer hesitancy, and trust at an all-time low. But that doesn’t mean opportunity is gone – it means we need to sell smarter.

In this episode, Nicky unpack the sales trends you can’t afford to ignore and offer five no-fluff strategies to stay visible, valuable and in demand as we enter 2026. 

Whether your pipeline needs a jumpstart or your confidence in sales conversations has taken a hit, this conversation is your reminder that great sales aren’t just about persistence – they’re about relevance, relationships, and real connection.

From building trust in an AI-weary world to picking up the phone again – this episode is your practical pep talk and tactical sales checklist, all rolled into one.

If sustainable, smart growth is your 2026 goal – let's go!

As mentioned in the episode check out these previous poddy eps:

Are Referrals a Real Sales Strategy?

AI and the Future of Sales

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | [email protected]

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley