Episode 214, The Unexpected Call!

Create Sales meetings in minutes. Lisa Thal is an Author, Speaker, and Business Coach. She has over 36 years of marketing, sales, and leadership experience. She wrote the book "Three Word Meetings."  Lisa coaches leaders on creating sales and business meetings with fun and interesting 3-word topics to create a conversation and inspire your sales team.

 

I wanted to share a story about an unexpected call I received. It was from someone I had coached at the Radio station about eight years ago. He sent me a message on Linkedin to see if I would be open to meeting for coffee or breakfast.

 

I asked how he was doing and accepted the offer to catch up. After so many years, I wondered why he reached out at this particular time. A little back story on my time coaching him. I started coaching him when another manager accepted another position with a new company. He needed to gain media sales experience, so I wanted to understand where I could help.

 

Like most of us who take over coaching new talent, you take time to understand where you can help them by asking many questions.  

Tell me more about you.  

Before joining our company, tell me about your experience with the prior company. 

What inspired you to join our company? 

What techniques do you use to develop long-term relationships with customers?

Can you describe your ideal sales environment?

How do you prioritize your sales activities for maximum productivity for the day?

 

I shared my thoughts on what it took to be successful in media sales. This advice is based on my thirty-plus years of experience. My goal as a coach is to create a faster and more effective path. So, we discussed a strategy and road map for success.

 

Despite my coaching advice, there needed to be more improvement. After a few months, he resigned to accept a dream job he had always wanted, not in media sales. I knew this new opportunity was a better fit for him.

 

Back to Breakfast meeting. We sat down, and I could tell by the body language that he had something to share with me that appeared to be weighing on him for years. I opened our conversation by saying thanks for inviting me to breakfast, and I want you to know I am open to hearing whatever you need to share with me, Good or Bad.  

 

He went on to share that he wanted to apologize to me. I replied for what? He said he needed to be in a better place when he worked with our company. No matter what coaching advice I provided, he was not open to it and blamed me for his lack of success. I had no idea he had felt this way. He had been carrying this for years and wanted me to know that I was a good manager and that he appreciated all the support I gave him when we worked together. He said that no matter what advice I gave him, he was not open to accepting it. I do appreciate his honesty.

 

Fast forward to that experience and where he is today. He is in a great place, working a dream job he had always envisioned with a great marriage and family. I was thrilled to hear that!

 

You may be saying, Lisa, why are you sharing this personal story?

 

I am sharing this story for many reasons.

Do you blame your manager or others for your lack of success? Can you reframe how you feel and take advantage of the advice provided to you to grow and learn? If you are a manager or coaching talent, understand the impact you can have on another employee. If you're in sales, understand that most managers want you to be successful. Believe me, after coaching hundreds of salespeople over the years, they want to know they matter. They want to see them contribute to something bigger than their monthly goal.

 

I started thinking back on my career. The people and managers that helped me along the way. I also thought of many situations where I would have communicated something differently when I saw someone falling short. We have to meet people where they are and guide them back onto their path.

 

Well, I am off to make a few phones to apologize to those where I missed the mark and thank those who impacted my career to let them know they mattered. If you open it, write a note or call someone who impacted your career so they know they mattered.

 

Could you do me a favor? If someone can benefit from share it.

 

 

Create engaging sales meetings in minutes! 

My easy-to-use process can quickly create impactful meetings tailored to your team's needs. 

 

Learn more at www.Threewordmeetings.com.