K2 Sales Podcast

Karen Kelly

Join Karen Kelly on the K2 sales podcast where she speaks with sales/marketing leaders, business owners and top performing sales professionals to break down what mindset, behaviours and actions are contributing to game changing results. This podcast will invite you to look at your own business, analyze what you could be doing differently with yourself, your team and your overall organization to drive game changing results. We provide tactical steps that can be applied immediately to your specific, role, team and company that will put you on the path to elite performance. “In a world full of game players, the only way to set yourself apart is to be a game changer.”- Matshona Dhliwayo

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Episodes

Replay: How Important is Practice in Sales? - Jonathan Mahan
2d ago
Replay: How Important is Practice in Sales? - Jonathan Mahan
📺 Watch on YouTubeHow many of us play sports now or played in high school or college? Perhaps your kids play?How often are you driving them or did you get driven to practice?  Quite often.We had a rule in volleyball, if you missed practice you didn’t start the next game.There was so much emphasis on practice.Why is Sales any different?A time to learn and apply new skills, put them together in a game situation.Prepare you emotionally and physically for game day.Why do we show up to calls, demo’s, meetings without practice?✅Learning what story to share and at what point makes most sense✅Anticipate the likely objection that will come up✅Prepare some questions to get to the root of the objectionIn the moment, when emotions are high we most likely won’t do this if we haven’t done deliberate practice.Tune in to our episode today where Jonathan Mahan Co-Founder of The Practice Lab, breaks apart the various components that go in to effective roleplaying.Jonathan shares  tactical tips we can put in to practice immediately and a great give away at the end.Tune in and change the game!  / jtmahan  .For more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
Compete Every Day - Jake Thompson
May 7 2024
Compete Every Day - Jake Thompson
📺 Watch on YouTubeAs sales leaders, have you plateaued with your desired performance metrics?Are you settling for good enough?Riding on the coattails of past success?If so, you are modelling what is acceptable for your team.Our role is to represent excellence. We can’t ask of them what we are not prepared to do ourselves.When we hold the mirror up to ourselves:Do we have a consistent morning routine?Are we stacking our wins to win the day?Are we prioritizing personal development? Mindset work? Reflection?Do we have a practice for rebounding on off days?All these tools are critical to our success and the success of our team.Tune in to my conversation with Jake Thompson Speaker, 2x author, Founder and podcast host of Compete Every day.Jake shares  what mental, habitual, & influential skills elite leaders leverage to succeed in their professional and personal lives. Regardless if you are a new, experienced sales leader, business owner you will be guaranteed to re-think your approach to elite status after this conversation.Remember we are competing with one person and one person only, to be 1% better than you were yesterday.#eliteperformance #salesleader #b2bsalesFor more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
The Impact Alcohol Can Have on Your Sales Performance - Andy Ramage
Apr 30 2024
The Impact Alcohol Can Have on Your Sales Performance - Andy Ramage
📺 What this episode on YouTube Over the past few years there has been a significant shift in the alcohol free landscape. Studies show Gen X’s and millennials are re-examining their relationship with alcohol and many Gen Z’s are choosing not to start drinking. So what is right for you and why?Tune on to my podcast with @andyramage, who Co-founded the One Year No Beer movement and co-created the Dryy app. Andy’s goal  is to help many of the “middle lane” moderate drinkers change their relationship with alcohol. We discuss the radical changes he has seen personally while helping hundreds of thousands if not millions of others to improve their overall health and in our case sales performance.  Andy is one of the world’s leading alcohol-free performance coaches.Andy claims removing alcohol over 10 years ago has become his superpower. We discuss why it is difficult for many to stop, slow down or simply look inward at the patterns, habits and create some distance between it.Andy's goal is to encourage you to examine your relationship with alcohol without judgement. He challenges our listeners  to create some distance with alcohol for 28 days and see the direct impact on your sales performance. He says after 28 days you will be sure to experience improved sales results.  I can attest to these after 8 months of #sobercurious, I too am experiencing all the benefits Andy shares.Tune in to learn how we can create a culture of inclusivity without alcohol being front and centre.Connect with Andy on LinkedInConnect with Andy websiteAndy’s Coaching websiteAndy Instagram #b2bsales #salesperformanceFor more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
How to stand out - Neil Weitzman
Apr 23 2024
How to stand out - Neil Weitzman
📺 Watch this episode on YouTube Cold outbound is difficult.There are many new competitors out there…New businessesAIComplacencyTime How can we make it easier on us and more enjoyable for our prospects?Also, a good return on our time and efforts.Tune in to my conversation with the great Neil Weitzman, Founder of PORCH and Fractional CRO revenue•x  where he shares tactically ways to connect with our ICP, engage in an energetic and  meaningful way and have a two way conversation. Isn’t this every sales person’s goal??Investing in ourselves and our team will yield results over time, but how many of us are doing this?What community are you part of?Are you giving first or taking?How are you making your audience feel? Are the questions you ask impactful, making them scratch their head and think?Are you at  events that inspire connection, sharing, comparing perspectives? This is the foundational to bulldog trust and forming long term partnerships.Get a pen and paper and get ready to take notes.Neil’s tips will help you make a difference in your Q2 numbers and the experience you provide for your prospects.**Innovative Outreach (00:01:11)**Discussing creative, low-risk outreach methods for improved responses.**Warm vs. Cold Leads (00:02:10)**Comparing warm and cold leads, using networks for warm leads, and community reciprocity.**Prioritizing Warm Outreach (00:07:12)**Highlighting the benefits of starting with warm outreach.**Locating Prospects (00:08:33)**Identifying where prospects congregate, like communities and events.**Event Engagement (00:10:25)**Ideas for engaging people at events, favoring face-to-face over cold emails.**Memorable Event Booths (00:15:34)**Creating standout booth experiences, like using a popcorn machine.**Utilizing Warm Leads (00:18:08)**Using warm leads and sensory tactics for better response rates.**Bronto: Personal CRM (00:19:07)**Neil introduces Bronto, a tool for managing personal and business contacts.**Warm Introductions & Referrals (00:20:13)**Stressing the use of warm introductions and referrals for networking.**Mixing Outbound & Warm Tactics (00:22:28)**Balancing cold and warm outreach, encouraging creativity and experimentation.**Leadership & Development (00:27:40)**Discussing the importance of leadership and team member development.**Team Empowerment & Learning (00:29:23)**The role of leaders in promoting team empowerment and learning.**Simplifying Warm Connections (00:32:13)**Making it easy for contacts to provide warm introductions and referrals.**Avoiding Laziness (00:35:56)**Avoiding the easy path, focusing on proactive networking and development.**Connections & Reciprocity (00:36:39)**Using networks and reciprocating to build strong business ties.**Networking & Follow-up Success (00:37:14)**An example of effective networking and follow-up.**Reciprocity in Business (00:38:48)**The For more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
REPLAY: Demo best practices, Chris Orlob
Apr 16 2024
REPLAY: Demo best practices, Chris Orlob
In this previous episode, Karen Kelly and Chris Orlob former Head of Sales Gong, current CEO of PClub.io discuss best practices in demos. Chris emphasizes the importance of mapping demos to the customer's pain points and solving their specific problems.  Chris introduces his "FAVORITE" framework for demoing a single capability successfully, which includes Frame the pain, Ask a Question, Visualize the outcome, Orient them to the screen, Reveal workflow, Implant the Value, Tell a story and Elicite a response . The Purpose of a Sales Demo 7:37The purpose of a sales demo is to catalyze a decision, not just to inform or educate. The demo should serve the customer in making the next decision in the sales cycle.Solving the Customer's Problem 8:26The subgoal of a demo is to solve the customer's problem, as this helps them make a decision. The mistake of not mapping features to tangible pain points 9:45Chris discusses the common mistake of showcasing features that don't solve a problem, and the importance of aligning what you show with the pain points shared by the customer.The importance of understanding the buyer's journey and making micro decisions 11:21Karen and Chris talk about the significance of understanding the buyer's journey and making smaller decisions along the way, rather than trying to close the deal in one call.Differentiating between problems and solutions 17:01Chris emphasizes the need to differentiate between problems and solutions, and how reps often mistake solutions like visibility and coaching for actual problems. The Importance of Asking Specific Questions 19:31Exploration of the missed opportunity in demos when vague terms like "better" are used instead of asking specific questions.The Order of Operations in Demo Presentations 20:09Insights on the importance of strategically selecting the order in which different stakeholders are engaged in a demo presentation.The importance of framing the conversation 28:14Chris discusses the importance of framing the conversation in a way that sparks curiosity and leads to a one-on-one meeting to further discuss the buyer's unique problem.The lack of sales education 29:31Chris explains that the lack of education and guidance from sales leaders is a major reason why reps don't ask the right questions or engage effectively in demos.Asking effective questions during demos 33:08Chris emphasizes the need for reps to ask strategic and thought-provoking questions during demos to drive engagement and create a contrast between the buyer's current state and the potential solution.The first phase of a demo 37:14Chris discusses the first phase of a demo, which includes a meet and greet and reviewing the perspectives of people not yet spoken to.The favorite structure framework 38:20Chris introduces the favorite structure framework for demoing a single capability, which includes steps like framing the pain, asking questions, visualizing the outcome, and revealing the workflow.The importance of a great sales experience 45:10Chris and Karen discuss how the sales experience foreshadows the customer experience, and how a poor sales experience can lead to a loss of confidence and potential customers not sticking around.The Mistake of Not Using Storytelling in Demos For more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
Slow Down to Speed Up - Karen Kelly
Apr 9 2024
Slow Down to Speed Up - Karen Kelly
In this  this solo episode, Karen shares the Importance of Slowing down to Speed up.This  truly can be applied anywhere in life and have benefits, however she focuses on our Mindset, Strategic Account mapping and preparing for  discovery in the sales environment. Starting with us first, look inward, take control of how we show up. Check-in  with ourselves first. What do we need? How can we avoid being re-active?How can we take a non traditional approach to assessing our accounts? Looking beyond the title and zooming out.Thinking  creatively, considering the person,  what would motivate them to be part of your initiative? How are they measured? Finally discovery is strategic. What outcome am I looking for? What information do I require, what questions do I need to ask?When we slow down, we see gaps that perhaps weren’t there. Gaps that bleed in to other areas/ departments. We move from  finding an isolated issue  into solving business challenges, elevating our position from vendor to partner. This does not come to those who do to slow down to assess prior to acting. Checking in with Ourselves (00:01:12)Importance of self-awareness and purpose in sales, with tips for showing up authentically.Strategic Account Planning (00:02:08)Encouragement to think outside the box, expand the traditional approach, and be intentional in account mapping.Conducting Discovery Conversations (00:09:23)Emphasis on slowing down, asking meaningful questions, and building trust to uncover challenges and motivations effectively.Slowing Down for Better Results (00:18:11)Karen discusses the benefits of slowing down, connecting emotionally, and driving results through people rather than relying solely on scorecards.Importance of Self-Check (00:18:11)Karen emphasizes the need to look inward and consider what can be done to slow down in order to speed up for better sales resultsFor more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
How to attract, Promote & Retain Great Women in Sales, Lori Richardson
Mar 26 2024
How to attract, Promote & Retain Great Women in Sales, Lori Richardson
Watch this episode on YouTubeAs women sales professionals, are we using our voice? Are we aware of our self worth and asking for what we deserve, demanding it?Do we think of a question, or something we want... play it over in our heads and hold our tongues when it comes to asking for it. This is where we can take a page out of our male allies playbook.Tune in to my conversation with @loririchardson, an advocate for more women in sales leadership, Author of She Sells: Attract, Promote and Retain Great women in Sales, Founder of Score More Sales head of Women Sales Pros for the past 10 years, Host of Conversations with Women in Sales podcast and my friend.After four decades of sales experience, Lori still considers herself a student of sales. She is an avid learner, leading with her curiosity. Tune in to learn how she transitioned from teaching to tech sales, excelled in her roles while supporting her son as a single mom. This conversation may be the motivation you need to take action, The A-ha to realize you have been playing small and the courage to lean in to the discomfort, try something new and get the outcome you deserve.For more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
Great women in sales enablement - Stephanie White
Mar 12 2024
Great women in sales enablement - Stephanie White
📺 Watch this episode on YouTube Maya Angelou said it best “ People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget the way you make them feel”As women, we have  innate strengths do excel in this area.We are empathetic, we possess  stronger and deeper  communication styles, allowing us to  forge deeper relations.  Asking great questions - we are  naturally and instinctively driven to be curious and understand more about the whole person.If we were to use these consistently in sales, imagine the evangelists we would have.What are we doing for ourselves as well as our peers to ensure we are holding space for one anther? Realizing our titles don’t define us  and understanding our prospects have many layers other than their executive titles. As soon as we start seeing them as such, we can connect in  a more humanized and meaningful way.(00:00:00)Podcast introduction with guest Steph White, a tech company's senior revenue enablement leader in Toronto.**Empathy in Sales (00:01:07)**Discussing empathy's role in sales, customer understanding, and empowering women to find their authentic voice.**Wins vs. Losses (00:02:18)**Steph White's strategy for managing wins and losses and their effect on growth and sales decisions.**Women in Sales Support (00:03:10)**Highlighting the need for inclusivity and support for women in sales to overcome self-doubt and embrace curiosity.**Tech Sales Transition (00:04:04)**Steph White's shift from marketing to tech sales, emphasizing customer empathy.**Customer Voice (00:08:45)**The importance of grasping customer experiences and how a marketing background informs sales engagement.**Women's Curiosity (00:10:06)**Addressing the conditioning that affects women's confidence and the need to empower their voice use.**Sales Women Empowerment (00:12:31)**Leadership tactics for fostering women's confidence in sales, promoting vulnerability, and authentic behavior.**Imperfect Leadership (00:15:26)**The value of accepting leadership flaws, being approachable, and showing vulnerability.**Daring in Entrepreneurship (00:19:03)**Tackling self-doubt in women entrepreneurs and the role of vulnerability in sales.**Ego and Defense (00:20:34)**Analyzing ego as a defense and the importance of embracing fear and discomfort.**Failure Lessons (00:22:48)**Stressing the lessons from failures and not letting them define self-worth.**Small Wins Celebration (00:24:09)**The practice of recognizing small achievements and keeping a record of successes.**Growth Reflection (00:27:00)**Conversing about internal wins, personal development, and celebrating internal milestones.**Self-Criticism Balance (00:29:24)**Shifting from self-criticism to learning and using strengths to counterbalance weaknesses.**Meeting Self-Reflection (00:33:10)**The importance of post-meeting reflection on performance and personal growth.**C-Suite Interactions (00:35:15)**Humanizing C-suite engagements and fostering genuine conversations.**Diverse Communication (00:37:38)**Promoting varied communication styles for confidence and adaptability.For more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
(Replay) How to re-ignite your confidence? Solo episode with Karen Kelly
Feb 20 2024
(Replay) How to re-ignite your confidence? Solo episode with Karen Kelly
Watch this episode on YouTubeMany sales reps have been onboarded remotely, never met their boss, constantly in isolation. Now, they come together with their team for the first time, chances are their confidence is not at an all time high.The things we did effortlessly pre-pandemic are causing us doubt, uncertainty and eroding our confidence as we are in a state of uncertainty.Three areas I choose to focus on when I sense a shift in my confidence are:1) Take Action- we can wait until we are in the right mindset and in theory that will drive the behaviours that make us act, but it mostly doesn’t work that way. We must take action first, think later. Over time, it becomes easier and we are unaware of the discomfort we experienced in the first place.2)  What message are you telling yourself? Be careful, did you know your RAS, Reticular Activating System will scan your environment to find evidence to support your thoughts, thereby validating it. Silver lining here is your brain can’t tell the difference if it is true or not. What thoughts, stories can you share that position you in a confident, positive light,  helping you achieve your goals. If you get to pick a story, pick one where your are on top.Finally, who are you surrounding yourself with? People that play it safe and are nice to be around? That’s great if you are happy with where your are. If you are motivated to grow, increase your confidence take it to the next level, surround yourself with people who are a few steps above you. Observe what are they doing, thinking, how are they acting. Learn, collaborate with them, before you know if  you will be ready for the next group of people to support your journey of growth and increased confidence.Stay Tuned next week where I speak with a true confidence expert, who is a game changer in her field.For more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
(REPLAY) Defining your Culture, Amy Franko
Jan 30 2024
(REPLAY) Defining your Culture, Amy Franko
When we look at companies who are showing  increased revenue year over year, experiencing minimal employee turnover  and have an overall excitement to come to work, we can dot it line back to a positive culture.Within that, how can we create the same for our sales team?  How can we create a culture aligning to our overall company culture, what role does agility play? How can we model the behaviour so that we retain existing member and attract new team members?Tune In to my conversation with Amy Franko, author of The Modern Seller, sales strategist, consultant, trainer and a keynote speaker. Amy helps organizations  transform their sales culture, ignite sales growth, and build high-impact leaders through her strategic selling programs. (https://amyfranko.com/about/)Shownotes00:52 Women in Sales Month01:07 Introducing Amy04:30 Importance of (Defined) Company Culture06:29 Intentionality and Purpose in Leadership13:08 Agility and The Modern Seller14:44 Pivoting17:17 Commitment & Success19:25 Embodying Culture As A Leader22:03 Accountability & Awareness26:14 Transparency30:52 Importance of Training39:44 "Dance In The Moment"46:08 Learning New Things51:57 "Facilitating and Frameworks"55:25 Relationship Building60:12 Get In Touch With AmyGet in Touch with AmyAmy's WebsiteLinkedIn YoutubeFor more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
Are you keeping Momentum with your Goals, Karen Kelly
Jan 23 2024
Are you keeping Momentum with your Goals, Karen Kelly
📺 Watch this episode on YouTube Are you maintaining  momentum with your 2024 goals ?Are you continuing your regular routine, activities, thoughts and patterns of 2023?or have you put in place a new system to operate from?When we try new things, put ourselves in tough situations we achieve results we have never achieved, this is next level!The ACC, Anterior cingulate cortex is part of the brain ( we have 2 of them) we continue to build when we do hard things we hate doing.This is the background of @davidGoggins success.We also build resilience and  discipline. We don’t negotiate with ourselves, we remain committed to the daily activities of achieving our goals. Slowly becoming who we need to be to achieve next level success.The irony is when we start to like the activity/ task we stop building the ACC. This for many shouldn’t be a problem. We can easily replace another activity we dislike. We may never like it but we do it anyway because we are committed to a different outcome.This solo podcast is geared around a quote from @HalElrod "success is something you attract by the person you become”Who do you need to become to achieve next level success?For more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
How to be a People First Leader, Neil Weitzman
Jan 9 2024
How to be a People First Leader, Neil Weitzman
📺 Watch this episode on YouTubeHow many new and tenured leaders say one thing and do another? Fastest way to erode trust and culture with your team.Tune in to my conversation with Founder of @PORCH and Fractional CRO @revenue•x @Neil Weitzman where we discuss the importance of finding  and leading with our authentic voice.As a leader, knowing our purpose, why we do what  do, what we stand for is critical.This is the bedrock for decision making, connecting with others and doing the right thing. There is an innate sense of conviction because we have clarity on why we are doing these things.It makes for a more purposeful, patient and inclusive leader. We are not competing with out team’s goals. We have done their role and are now content to motivate, empower and lead others to achieve their goals.Neil walks the walk, he exudes  people first leadership and inspires those around him with his energy, expertise and kindness.This is one not to be missed.Don't miss the 9 Communications Structures by Neil For more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy
Timeless tools and strategies in sales - Jill Konrath
Jan 2 2024
Timeless tools and strategies in sales - Jill Konrath
Happy New Year!To kick off 2024, I am delighted to share my conversation with none other than the sales guru, trailblazer for women in sales, author of best selling books such as Snap Selling, Agile Selling, More Sales Less Time, Get Back to work Faster, Selling to Big Companies   @Jillkonrath.Every time Jill encountered a set back, a road block a shift in the industry, she paused and figured a way out. Then she wrote a book about it to provide a proven system for sellers to navigate their way out.As we enter 2024, the constant is change.Are we entering the new year with excitement or are we feeling discouraged?Tune in to my conversation with Jill where she shares timeless fundamentals for selling.Regardless of the situation we are facing, she has faced it and overcome it.She also shares the importance of mindset, attitude and our ability to reframe the situation.As a woman in sales, it was an absolute highlight for me to have a conversation with someone I have looked up to my entire career.Jill, Thank you for everything you have done for the sales community. Your knowledge, experience and generosity has had a profound impact on so many.#b2bsales #salesmindset #salesfundamentalsFor more content like this, join hundreds of other subscribers to The K2 Sales Academy. Our subscription based on line sales training platform. $495/year unlocks the Fundamentals of Sales program with built in knowledge checks, resource folder with scripts, templates and checklists as well as regular webinars. 1:1 and group coaching packages available as well. To access our free one week Trial visit The K2 Sales Academy