Making the speaking business more client centric

 Search  Phone

Sales

Top 10 Speakers Under 15K

15 March 2018
Sweeney Agency
No comments
Categories: Communication, General, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Teamwork

Each month clients call us looking for Speakers who can deliver inspiring presentations on a variety of different topics at their events. We understand the importance of working within a certain budget range and we will move mountains to help our clients achieve that goal. Based on feedback, and reviews from our clients, here are the top 10 speakers under $15,000.

Dr. Mark DeVolder

Dr. Mark DeVolder is the change specialist who advised high profile transitions like NAFTA implementations, $50 billion mergers and the ending of the NASA Space Shuttle Program. Mark’s presentations on change, disruptive innovation and resilience are the perfect combination of inspiration, entertainment and practical take-aways.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Mark-DeVolder

 

Garry Golden

Garry Golden is a professionally trained futurist who writes, speaks, and consults about issues that will shape society and business in the 21st century. His uncanny sense of what will hit—and what won’t—can be seen in futurethink’s research and heard in his international keynotes and corporate leadership seminars.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Garry-Golden

 

Erica Orange

Erica Orange evaluates emerging social, technological, economic, political, demographic and environmental trends – and identifies the strategic implications of those trends for several of the most influential Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and public sector clients.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Erica-Orange

 

Ty Bennett

Best-Selling author of The Power of Storytelling, Ty speaks on Leadership, Influence, Entrepreneurship and Storytelling, and has shared the stage with celebrities, world renowned thought leaders and recently with President Bush and President Clinton.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Ty-Bennett

 

Curt Steinhorst

As a business owner, entrepreneur, and founder of FocusWise, Curt sees how lack of focus impacts today’s workplace and its leaders. Having spent years studying the impact of tech on human behavior, he now equips professionals across the world to work smarter and stronger in this constantly-connected age.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Curt-Steinhorst

 

Jacob Logan Shapiro

Jacob Logan Shapiro is the Director of Analysis for Geopolitical Futures (GPF). At GPF he oversees a team of analysts, the company’s forecasting process and the day-to-day analysis of important geopolitical developments.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Jacob-Logan-Shapiro

 

Scott Burrows

Scott Burrows is living proof your life can change in an instant. By the age of 19, he was playing college football at Florida State University as a Wide receiver and a top-ranked kick-boxing champion, with his last fight broadcast by ESPN.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Scott-Burrows

 

Dr. Nicole Lipkin

Dr. Nicole Lipkin is an organizational psychologist, speaker and the author of What Keeps Leaders Up At Night and Y in the Workplace. Nicole’s aim is to help organizations, leaders and their teams develop behaviors and practices that increase personal and organizational resilience and sustainability.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Nicole-Lipkin

Stuart Knight

Stuart Knight has written, produced and starred in live presentations that have been seen by over one million people and each year speaks internationally helping some of the world’s biggest companies reach new levels of success.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Stuart-Knight

 

Chip Eichelberger

Chip Eichelberger is consistently told by meeting planners that most speakers were a “rental” and that he was a partner in making their event a success. Formerly Tony Robbins international point man, Chip is a proven pro that will do the homework necessary to customize his message with your theme and business model.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Chip-Eichelberger

 

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected]

This Idea Totally Changed How We do Business and the Results Have Been Extraordinary!

18 February 2016
Blog Admin
No comments
Categories: Communication, Customer Service, Employees, Inspiration, Management, Motivation, Sales

blog_Feb_18_2016

When I first started The Sweeney Agency I received some powerful advice from Tim Sanders, formerly of Yahoo! This is what he said:

“Don’t think about sales or closing deals, just position yourself so that whenever you can help someone you help them, without any expectations. 20% of the people you help you’ll never hear from again, but that won’t matter because you will certainly hear back from the other 80%. They will remember you and how you helped them and that will create such great relationships that you will build both a great business and a great life.”

A few weeks after Tim Sanders told me that, I was talking to Colleen – a new employee at a major software company we had worked with. She told me she didn’t really now many people in the company or the new city as she had just moved across the country to take the job. After I finished the call I remembered what Tim  had said and I thought of what I could do to help Colleen.

She wasn’t looking to book a Speaker, but I did know a great book that would help her connect with others so I couriered  Colleen How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less by one of our Speakers, Nick Boothman. This was at a time when sending anything by courier meant no coffee for a week at The Sweeney Agency. Two days later she emailed me back thanking me for my kindness and said she loved the book.

Colleen was reading the book in the company’s café when the VP of Global Communications saw her and asked about the book. Collen referred the VP back to us and he called asking if we could help find him a book on Innovation – which, of course, we were happy to do. That led to further discussions with different people inside the company that we had never dealt with before, which led to the Company asking us to help them find Speakers for their 5 annual sales meetings. We did this for them for the next 7 years and several of the people we met at the company during those years went on to work for companies around the world and today, 12 years later, we are still doing business with several of them.

That all happened because we saw a chance to help Colleen, without any expectation of any return, and just like Tim Sanders said – they remembered us.

 

Derek Sweeney has been helping Clients find the right Speakers for their events for 15 Years. During that time Derek and his team have researched and reviewed over 12,000 Speakers on a variety topics and listed the top 500 on www.thesweeneyagency.com

8 Speakers Who Will Help Your Audience Become More Customer-Centric

29 January 2016
Blog Admin
No comments
Categories: Customer Service, Employees, Management, Sales

Client relationships have changed dramatically over the past decade as new technologies have allowed us to connect faster, and with more clients. However the value of many of those relationships has decreased as emails, blogs, and texts can lack a human touch, making clients feel disconnected.  Companies need to build customer-centric cultures where everyone inside the organisation – no matter where they are or what they do – keeps customer relationships in mind.  Knowing how to  engage with  clients and  make a lasting, positive impression can carry more clout that 500 retweets. Here are 8 speakers who will help your audience understand the importance of connecting and engaging clients:

Jeanne Bliss, World-wide Speaker and Executive Coach on Customer Driven Growth

Jeanne Bliss pioneered the Chief Customer Officer position, holding the role for over twenty years reporting to the Chief Executive Officer at Lands’ End, Allstate, Coldwell Banker, Mazda and Microsoft Corporations, where she moved the customer to the strategic agenda, redirecting priorities to create transformational changes to each brands’ customer experience.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Jeanne-Bliss

Harry Beckwith, Bestselling Author of Selling the Invisible

The lessons learned through Harry Beckwith’s presentations are not about how to sell a product or service, but about selling yourself. Harry has advised some of the largest organizations in the world on how to create, and more importantly sustain relationships with clients. Attendees leave understanding how to nurture client relationships in order to achieve the best customer service.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Harry-Beckwith

Lee Cockerell, Former Operations VP for Walt Disney World Resort

Lee Cockerell is as much a customer service speaker as he is a leadership, workplace culture, and employee engagement speaker. Lee’s message is simple: treat your people well and in return they will treat your guests well. Lee believes that exceptional customer service starts from within an organization and resonates outwards.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Lee-Cockerell

Curt Coffman, Executive Fellow at the Daniel School of Business

Curt Coffman has consulted and spoken for many Fortune 100 and 500 companies, and his work has spanned the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. An insightful and completely engaging speaker on leadership, management, and customers, Mr. Coffman has helped thousands of groups create great places to work.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Curt-Coffman 

Sally Hogshead , Innovative Personal Branding and Customer Service Speaker

Sally Hogshead is a Hall of Fame speaker, international author, and the world’s leading expert on fascination. Growing up with the last name Hogshead would give anyone an unconventional point of view. After graduating from Duke University and starting in advertising, Sally was named the most successful junior copywriter of all time.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Sally-Hogshead

Brett King, Speaker on financial services and customer experience

Brett King, the best selling author of the groundbreaking book BANK 2.0, is the founder of the first direct mobile bank in the US and UK (Movenbank) and a strategic advisor to the world’s leading financial services organizations. He is an International Judge for the GSMA Global Mobile Awards, the Asian Banker Retail Excellence Awards and for the MiddleEast Business Achievement Awards.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Brett-King

Scott McKain, Dynamic Speaker on Sales and Customer Service

Scott McKain’s underlying message to his audiences is this: be distinct. It’s that simple – see what your competition is doing, and do something else. By creating distinction in a saturated, homogenized, marketplace you’ll attract loyal customers and lifelong referrals. Standing out and being different is never a bad thing – especially when it comes to customer service!

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Scott-McKain

Robert Spector, Customer Service Expert and Bestselling Author of The Nordstrom Way

When it comes to customer service, Robert Spector believes in the Golden Rule: Put yourself in the shoes of your customers. Ask yourself how you would like to be treated and if you were a consumer, would you want to be a customer of your business? These are questions that every sales and customer service professional must ask themselves and depending on the answers, alter their policies, procedures, and methods accordingly.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Robert-Spector

*Speakers are listed alphabetically

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected]

The 12 Most Requested Speakers For 2016

4 January 2016
Blog Admin
No comments
Categories: Change, Communication, creativity, Economy, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Sales, Teamwork, Technology
blog_Jan_4_2016
The Speaker finishes, the crowd is on its feet with thunderous applause and right away the buzz starts. Demand for a Speaker is based on impressive past reviews and word of mouth. When word gets out there that a Speaker delivered an impressive presentation that had audiences talking, people want to know if they can have that Speaker at their event. Most Clients book their Speakers 3-4 months out but the buzz in 2015 around the 12 Great Speakers listed below had clients booking them 8-12 months before their  2016 events:

Shawn Achor

What is it about having a positive outlook and being happy that improves performance and fosters success?  In his life’s work, first at Harvard University, then at his consultancy, GoodThink, Shawn Achor has found the connection linking positivity to performance. His research shows that happiness and well-being at work is the foundation of a productive and optimized organization and makes a huge difference for a company’s bottom line. Shawn’s message becomes even more pertinent in 2016 as a greater number of workers clamor for better work-life balance and job satisfaction. Through his TED talk with over 11 million views, his highly-rated television special on PBS, and his speaking engagements in more than 50 countries, Shawn has shown audiences world-wide how to reap the benefits of a positive mindset, how to overcome challenges, and succeed in both work and in life.

Robyn Benincasa

The importance of a motivated, functional team to organizational success cannot be overstated. Robyn Benincasa is a World Champion Adventure Racer and an award-winning motivational speaker. The past 20 years have seen Robyn and her teams successfully race through the jungles of Borneo, climb the Himalayan peaks of Tibet, swim the rivers of Fiji, and fight the brush fires of Southern California. It is through these life-affirming and team-building experiences that Robyn developed her unique perspective on what it takes to succeed against all odds and go the distance at work and in life: Human Synergy and Teamwork. With this key message, Robyn has ignited meetings and motivated audiences to look at how they can transform their own groups into World Class Teams. In 2016, her quest to impart this lesson continues.

Ty Bennett

At just 21 years old, Ty Bennett co-founded a company that grew to over $20 million in annual revenue before he turned 30. Today, Ty is a speaker who excites audiences with practical ideas and effective strategies on Leadership, Communication, and Sales based on his own experiences as a successful entrepreneur. A naturally gifted presenter, he has been a sure-fire hit in 2015 for clients like RE/MAX, Johnson & Johnson, and Russell Investments. 2016 promises to be an even bigger year for Ty as he offers a young, fresh voice using interactive presentations that are as engaging as they are inspiring and motivational.

Andy Boynton

The notion that the best business ideas come solely from innately creative and brilliant minds is a mistaken belief that leads to apathy and inaction within organizations and their employees. The Dean of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, Andy Boynton is an expert on helping organizations implement his proprietary methodology for harnessing the power of teams to “significantly improve problem-solving speed, innovation and results” – A skill of great importance considering the rate of innovation and change in business – projected to only increase in 2016. Innate creativity and brilliance aside, great ideas come to those who are in the habit of looking for great ideas! In his engaging presentation, Andy will show you how.

Dr. Travis Bradberry

Emotional Intelligence (EI) has become a buzzword in business circles ever since a landmark study in 1990 found that people with high EI tend to make the best leaders and team players because of their ability to understand, empathize, and connect with others around them. Travis Bradberry is the award-winning author of the #1 bestselling book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0, and the co-founder of TalentSmart ⎯ a consultancy that serves more than 75% of Fortune 500 companies and the world’s leading provider of emotional intelligence tests and training. With increasing globalization and corporate consolidation in 2016, the importance of EI in organizational cohesion and health cannot be ignored as leaders manage people of differing backgrounds in ever growing numbers. Travis contends that successful leaders know how to handle their own emotions, understand the emotions of others, and find a balanced approach to managing both.

Geoff Colvin

Geoff Colvin has been an editor and columnist at Fortune Magazine for more than 35 years, covering a variety of current events and offering analyses on how those events affect the greater financial, political, and economic landscape. His speaking career has taken him on engagements in six continents where he delivered on topics ranging from Leadership and Management, Economic Trends and Global Competitiveness, to the intersection of Politics and Business. In 2016, Geoff’s insights into the workings of the global economic and geopolitical arena will remain an invaluable resource for businesses and organizations.

Chester Elton 

The development and promotion of a healthy organizational culture is crucial to helping people within companies work together as a team. Chester Elton has spent his career studying the intricacies of organizational culture, teamwork, and motivation. He is the co-author of the New York Times bestsellers All In, The Carrot Principle, and The Orange Revolution which have been called “must-read(s) for modern managers” by no less than Larry King of CNN. Chester has developed a road-map that managers can use to create a high-achieving culture within their own teams, increasing productivity, and making a real impact on the bottom line. In 2016, the speaker who the Globe and Mail calls the “Apostle of Appreciation,” will continue to make waves in the corporate world as he extols the merits of passionate engagement and a culture of possibility within organizations.

Dr. George Friedman

Dr. George Friedman is the foremost geopolitical authority in the world today. He is the Founder and Chairman of Geopolitical Futures, a new online publication dedicated to forecasting the course of global events. He also founded Stratfor, a global intelligence and consulting firm that helps clients identify opportunities, make strategic decisions, and manage political and security risks. Dr. Friedman is invited to speak at conferences and business meetings on five continents where his insights on events shaping international affairs and business are highly prized. As we move into 2016, the continuing migration of millions of refugees into Europe coupled with the slowing economic engines of the BRIC countries, Dr. Friedman’s overarching knowledge and expertise of geopolitical forces is poised to make an even bigger impact on the world stage.

Dr. Frank Murtha

Dr. Frank Murtha is an expert on Investor Psychology and Behavioral Finance who is known for his ability to take the weighty scientific and academic subjects of his training and communicate them in a practical, and often humorous way. Frank helps financial professionals understand the underlying emotions and behaviors that may affect their management of investments as they go through the Capital Market Cycle. Since the financial crisis of 2008, the markets have seen the second longest period of growth in history. By mid-2015 however, the Chinese stock markets have collapsed, oil prices are less than half their value over the previous year, and the Euro Zone’s tenuous economic recovery is threatened by the refugee crisis. How do investors manage expectations and not give in to fear and panic, or conversely, to speculative buying sprees? With looming economic uncertainty in 2016, Frank’s expertise is bound to be in great demand.

Josh Linkner

Current levels of innovation drive business cycles in months, not years. How do business leaders keep up with this break-neck pace of change in the market place, maintain their organizations’ relevance, and fuel growth? Josh Linkner believes the answer lies in creativity. A four-time tech entrepreneur, a two-time New York Times Bestselling Author, and a professional Jazz guitarist, Josh has built an exceptionally successful career using the power of creative disruption. As a speaker, he helps audiences harness creativity, innovation, and re-invention to develop actionable strategies that produce measurable outcomes. Using highly engaging, visually-rich presentations, Josh enlivens meetings and events –2016 will prove no different.

Marilyn Tam

Marilyn Tam’s story of never giving up on one’s dreams in spite of daunting odds and brutal circumstances is inspirational. Growing up as an abused, neglected child in Hong Kong, she left home as a teen and moved to America alone. Through sheer determination and hard work, Marilyn achieved international and humanitarian success, first becoming President of Reebok/CCM, then CEO of Aveda Corporation, and for the past 19 years, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Us Foundation. As a speaker, her presentations on leadership excellence, business management, and diversity are a hit with corporate audiences. But especially because of the continuing global events that will impact 2016, her message on women in the workplace, corporate social and environmental responsibility, and organizational well-being are timely and of the essence.

Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson has been leading teams and building companies for over 25 years, a career that places him among a select group of thought-leaders on executive leadership, business strategy, and innovation. His clients include some of the most recognizable brands and Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Nike, Ford, Coca Cola, and the Virgin Group. Much in demand in 2015, 2016 is shaping up to be an even bigger one for Mark. With more companies moving towards consolidation, new technologies and rapid innovation disrupting business models, and the pressure on leaders to deliver and perform increasing, Mark’s expertise and experience will be needed in the new year.

*Speakers are listed in alphabetical order

5 Speakers Audiences Will be Talking About in January 2016

13 November 2015
Blog Admin
No comments
Categories: creativity, Economy, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Sales, Teamwork

 blog_Nov_13_2015

January is prime-time for sales rallies, kick-offs, and launches. Meet the 5 Speakers whose incredible  energy and  enthusiasm for their subjects bring a renewed sense of purpose to every January event.  If your goals, ambitions, and dreams are big for 2016 these are the Speakers who will help make them happen.

Dan Clark | Inspirational Teamwork and Sales Speaker

Dan Clark’s energetic and inspiring keynotes could take you from January 1 to December 31 all on their own.  Dan is one of the most requested Speakers  on the circuit for clients who want to inspire their audience to raise the bar on everything from sales to life. His process is simple and actionable as he outlines the why, how, and when of either selling or living with passion. Dan’s presentations leave attendees with a deeper understanding of the next steps that ought to be taken to generate more – more engagement, more loyalty, and more revenue.

Chip Eichelberger | Author & Motivational Speaker

Filled with energy and enthusiasm, Chip Eichelberger’s presentations motivate and electrify audiences. Through small changes, Chip will guide your team on how to drive BIG results. Attendees will leave his presentation feeling equipped with the tools to deepen their existing client relationships and excited to begin new ones.

Josh Linkner | Author and Speaker on Creativity, Innovation, and Leadership

You’ve had a brilliant idea that is creative, innovative, and has the possibility to generate a lot of revenue for your company – but great ideas are not worth much if they cannot be put into action. Transforming raw, unpolished ideas into a reality can be very challenging and Josh Linkner’s innovative presentations provide the motivation, tools, and methodologies to turn those big ideas into big results… with big profits!

Marci Rossell | CNBC Chief Economist, Speaker on Finance

Marci Rossell will energize your audience as she shines an optimistic light on the issues and trends shaping the Economy. Marci’s pertinent, upbeat, and thought provoking commentaries on the markets and the Economy will open audiences’ eyes to the challenges and opportunities for the year ahead.

Marc Wayshak | Speaker on Innovative Selling

Marc Wayshak is an All-American athlete, Ivy League graduate, and start-up entrepreneur who can teach your audience how to excel at Sales in the year ahead. His presentation on The Game Plan Selling System, a revolutionary sales methodology, is based on three tenets: Be Distinct; Be Systematic; and, live by the Prospecting Play Book. With his coaching, Marc’s audiences leave his presentations eager to put his innovative selling system into use.

 

*Speakers are listed in alphabetical order

The Top 10 Speakers for Sales Audiences – August 2015

16 September 2015
Blog Admin
No comments
Categories: Change, Communication, Customer Service, Employees, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Sales, Teamwork

blog_Sept_16_2015

Sales are the backbone to any and every organization because the sales department generates the revenue. Regardless of how well your manufacturing department functions, or how innovatively you use emerging technologies, if you do not have a strong sales force those progressive manufacturing techniques and innovative culture are of no use. Here at The Sweeney Agency we know that many sales conferences take place at the beginning of each year, and they take months to plan, so we wanted to provide you with some great ideas for sales speakers for your next conference. Here are The Top 10 Sales Speakers: *

Jeanne Bliss | Speaker, Author, and Executive Coach on Sales and Customer-driven growth

Filled with insight and practical tips, Jeanne Bliss’ keynotes will have your sales audience excited to begin implementing a customer-centric approach to sales. Jeanne’s techniques help your sales force make sales decisions that are innovative and sustainable, leading to increased business and stronger, more consistent customer relationships.

Walter Bond | Motivating Sales Speaker on Becoming More Accountable, Former NBA Athlete

An expert on organizational accountability, Walter Bond’s unique presentation style motivates sales audiences to take responsibility for their own continued improvement when it comes to selling. Walter teaches sales teams how to overcome objections, incorporate storytelling, and establish themselves as experts in their fields.

Bob Burg | Author and Speaker on Communication, Networking, and Sales

Bob Burg’s empowering presentations outline his strategic systems for gaining endless referrals and a constant stream of clients and customers. His keynotes will coach audience members on how to properly network and put their communication skills to use in order to build a substantial and durable client-base.

Dan Clark | Inspirational Speaker on Change, Teamwork and Sales

One of the most sought-after speakers on the circuit, Dan Clark’s energetic keynotes outline the process of the why, how, and when of effective selling. Attendees will leave Dan’s presentations understanding the next steps that ought to be taken to generate more revenue, more loyalty, and more repeat business.

Chip Eichelberger | Motivational Speaker, Sales Trainer, and Former Tony Robbins Robbins International point-person

Motivational Speaker Chip Eichelberger will energize your audience with his contagious enthusiasm. Through his years of experience and research, Chip will guide your sales audience through the simple shifts that will garner big results. Attendees will leave his presentation feeling motivated, excited, and empowered to deepen their relationships with their existing clients and to establish new ones!

Ryan Estis | Expert on Sales, Leadership, and Business Performance

Hard-hitting and high impact, Ryan Estis’ keynotes will take your sales team through the evolution of sales and identify how the most successful companies have not only utilized increased sales capacities but have also recognized the development in sophistication and demands of the “average” consumer. Audiences will leave feeling organized and prepared to compete in more competitive markets and with more complex clients.

Sally Hogshead | Author and Speaker on Innovative Sales and Personal Branding

Sally Hogshead takes a more self-identification approach to sales. She teaches audiences how to identify what makes them fascinating and how to use this advantage to create outstanding first impressions, become more memorable and showcase value – all leading to not only a more sustainable client base, but creating relationships where you clients are your most valuable advocate not only for your company, but for you as a sales person.

Cam Marston | Expert on Selling to Different Generations of Consumers

Cam Marston operates within the first rule of sales: know your customer. To succeed in sales you must know who your client is and how their generational perspective is informing their buying decisions and consumer perspectives. Cam’s presentations go through each generation’s general consumer habits and audiences will learn how to use this knowledge to close any sale with Traditionalists to Millennials.

Sam Silverstein | Accountability Expert and Speaker on Leadership and Sales

Whether in the field of sales, customer service or business management, Sam Silverstein contends that the momentum towards success is propelled by eliminating excuses and taking personal accountability for choices, actions and outcomes. In his presentations Silverstein uses unforgettable illustrations and paints vibrant, often hilarious, always inspiring stories for his audiences on how to gain the loyalty and trust of today’s hyper-discerning consumer.

Marc Wayshak | America’s Coach on Game Plan Selling

Marc’s innovative selling system works for salespeople, entrepreneurs and companies alike. He created the Game Plan Selling System, a revolutionary sales methodology, based upon his experiences as an All-American athlete, Ivy League graduate, and start-up entrepreneur. His rallying cry is based on three tenets: Be Distinct from your competition; Be Systematic and follow a game plan for every aspect of selling; and, have a Prospecting Play Book and live by it. With these guidelines, audiences leave his presentations energized and eager to put Marc’s selling system into use.

 

*Speakers are listed alphabetically

Ryan Estis: Leadership Isn’t Your Job, It’s Your Responsibility

27 July 2015
Blog Admin
No comments
Categories: Employees, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Teamwork

blog_July_27_2015

Ryan Estis has dedicated his career to helping companies and individual contributors to use change as a means to achieve breakthrough performance. Having two decades of hands on business experience, the former McCann World Group Advertising Chief Strategy Officer is widely regarded as a leading expert on Culture, Leadership, Sales Effectiveness and the Future of Work. Below Ryan chronicles his introduction to two colleagues (Ellice and Mim) and how their story demonstrates how powerful good Leadership can be: 

If you think back to all those who have helped you get to where you are today, is there a stand-out leader who has made a major impact? Hopefully you are like me and can clearly identify those few individuals who provided the inspiration and mentorship that helped shape the person and professional you are today.

But do they know?

I challenge people to think about this question and encourage them to tell their impactful influencer(s) how important they were in their life and career. To this day, I regret missing the opportunity to thank someone who had a big impact on my life and I don’t want others to feel the same.

And while you ponder who these mentors are, it’s worth asking yourself: “Whose list would I be on? What difference am I making in someone’s life/career?”

This simple exercise can often lead to powerful instances of human connection. After my opening keynote for the HRMA Conference in Vancouver, I was made aware of one of these instances through Twitter.

Ryan Estis blog twitter

Wanting to learn more about Mim, Ellice, and their “thank a mentor” moment, I asked Ellice to tell me more. Here’s what she told me:

As she was walking out of the HRMA Conference she heard someone say, “You were my ‘one’! You know that, right?” When Ellice turned around she saw her former employee, Mim.

“It really made me emotional,” Ellice told me. “I didn’t know I’d had such an impact on her life. That’s what you want to do as a leader — help people grow and become better (even better than you). But it’s almost like a dream when someone tells you you’ve achieved that.”

Mim had just earned her degree in HR when Ellice hired her right out of school. “Our company wasn’t an easy place to start a career in HR,” Ellice explained. “The learning curve was very steep. But the way I approached it was from a place of trust. I trusted that Mim had the ability to research and ask questions. I’d often give her assignments and let her run with them. I tried to include her in everything I did so that she’d learn. When I was a new grad, I didn’t get much challenging work. So I wanted to make sure she wasn’t just filing papers.”

Ellice explained that she had taken a more humble approach to mentorship with Mim. “I always listened to her. I didn’t assume she wouldn’t know how to do something just because she was young. And because of that, she made us look like stars a number of times. She came up with processes and ideas that were much better than the way I’d been doing things. She became a more valuable employee because she was exposed to a lot of new opportunities. She stretched and grew quickly.”

And Mim agreed. “Instead of just telling me the answer, she’d ask what I thought first,” she says of Ellice. “She was always there to help me. She empowered me.”

Our leaders today almost always affect the leaders we will be tomorrow. Ellice recognizes her first professional mentor as the one who showed her how to be a more vulnerable, more open leader. “She told me the truth, stuck up for me, listened to me, and gave me opportunities to grow,” Said Ellice. “She put a lot of effort into helping me learn and develop. That’s definitely influenced my own style as a leader.”

So naturally I wanted Ellice’s advice for fellow leaders, and here’s what she told me:

“First, come from a place of trust. Then, be humble. You don’t have all the answers, and it’s totally possible for someone brand new to have a great idea that can help everyone shine. And, it’s important to give people guidance if they do go off track. No one’s perfect. But if you come from a place of trying to help people, they’ll be more open to feedback. Having hard, honest conversations builds trust. It’s about making people better, not paring them down.”

Leadership isn’t a job — it’s a responsibility. And those who take that responsibility seriously have the opportunity to have a major impact on the lives of the people they lead.

Mim admits she was surprised that Ellice was unaware that she was Mim’s “one.” “Ellice was a huge inspiration to me,” Mim explained. “I assumed she knew what an impact she’d had on me, but I realized through our conversation that she didn’t know the extent. It made me realize how important it is to reach out to people and let them know you appreciate them. Even if you think the person knows — tell them anyway.”

Now that’s a worthwhile challenge for the day: Tell one person how they’ve influenced your life and/or career. You may create a great moment that neither of you will forget.

 

Ryan Estis helps companies and individual contributors embrace change and achieve breakthrough performance. Each live event blends original research with compelling stories that move participants to take action. Ryan has 20 years of business experience working with the world’s best brands to initiate change, inspire innovation and deliver growth. Learn more about Ryan Estis.

Top Speakers On Customer Service

4 November 2014
Blog Admin
No comments
Categories: Customer Service, Frequently Asked Questions, General, Sales

We are constantly gathering recent reviews and references on both our existing speakers as well as new additions to our roster. We tabulate the data to see who clients are picking as the best.

As of November 4th, 2014 here are our highest rated Speakers on Customer Service:

Top Customer Service Speakers

Harry Beckwith
Marketing and Client Service Speaker

Jeanne Bliss
World-wide Speaker and Executive Coach on Customer Driven Growth

Curt Coffman
Chief Science Officer of the Coffman Organization and Executive Fellow at the Daniel School of Business

Dr. Kevin Freiberg
Leadership, Innovation, & Change Expert

Doug Lipp
Speaker on Leadership, Customer Service and Change

Scott McKain
Dynamic Speaker on Sales and Customer Service

Dennis Snow
Speaker and Author on Customer Service and Leadership

Robert Spector
Customer Service Expert

*Speakers are listed in alphabetical order

4 Ways Every Salesperson Can Innovate to Win More Business

5 August 2014
Blog Admin
No comments
Categories: Communication, General, Leadership, Management, Sales

ryan-estis-photo-3The best salespeople are also marketers, constantly connecting, learning and sharing.

If you’re in sales , you might read that and pause. You don’t influence your company website, write white papers or contribute to the company Twitter feed. You deliver the sales plan. So why do people like me keep talking about trends in social selling and building connections and credibility online? A few reasons:

1. I hate making cold calls.
2. I hate trade show booth duty.
But more than anything…
3. I hate losing.

I spend time inside a lot of sales organizations and one question I like to ask is:

Is sales harder or easier than it was 5 years ago? 10 years ago?

It’s a loaded question. The answer is that it depends. It depends almost entirely on you.

Your customers are overwhelmed. They’re checking email 30 times an hour and looking at their smart phones 150 times a day. In a recent focus group with CIOs (often the most sold-to people in an organization), we found that the average CIO gets more than 250 emails per day. Barriers to customer attention have never been more severe. The last thing anyone has time for is another cold sales pitch.

Recognizing this shift, top producers are always looking for opportunities to innovate in an effort to break through and make a meaningful connection. You don’t need permission to be innovative, think differently and experiment. You just need to take some shots.

I’ve been there.

Ten years ago, I worked for an ad agency. We were heavy proponents of trade show marketing (I’m always reluctant to call that sales). No one ever questioned our investment in trade shows, largely because that’s the way we had conducted business for years. It amounted to some exposure, face time with clients and a steak dinner for a few executives. As a salesperson, I wanted my time to count on the bottom line.

I remember one moment at a big industry trade show. I found myself sitting in our booth handing out swag (nail clippers with our logo, to be precise). From where I sat, I could make eye contact with three competitors, who were sitting in their own booths with their own tables of swag. I was done. I knew I had to find a better way to do my job in spite of the established precedent around trade show booth duty.

I never advocated for abandoning trade shows. I just wanted to find a way to get a lot more out of our investment and my time. It was time to experiment.
The first step was offering to conduct conference breakout sessions. I got off the trade show floor and in front of potential customers. That provided me with undivided attention for one hour on a topic that immediately helped qualify everyone in the room. Subsequently, those sessions served to immediately elevate engagement back on the trade show floor and separate me from my competition.

Developing the content and getting approved to speak was heavy lifting at first. Over time, it made selling a whole lot easier. That is the whole idea.
While I’m a huge proponent of social selling and content marketing, I’m not challenging every sales pro to speak, start a blog, or even become a LinkedIn power user. Here’s what I am challenging you to consider: Think about whether or not your own strategy is evolving as fast as your customers are changing.

What is still working really well? What isn’t? How can you stop spending your time on low-yield activities and start surfacing more qualified opportunities?

Here’s my formula: Spend 90% of your time doing what you’ve always been doing if you’re crushing plan — but also spend 10% of your time experimenting and testing. Too many salespeople get stuck using the same traditional tactics that aren’t going to deliver big results. The market share will increasingly move toward the producers who are willing to test, measure, iterate and evolve.

Here are 4 Ways Every Salesperson Can Be An Innovator:

Audit everything. The best salespeople audit everything. After every call, meeting, conversation and decision, they reverse-engineer what happened to understand what worked and what didn’t. Ask yourself critical questions about how your own performance can improve — whether you win or lose the sale.

Look at what your most successful peers are doing. If you’re stuck for inspiration, look around you. What are the most successful salespeople at your company doing differently? What about the best salespeople at competing companies? I’m willing to bet they’re not making cold calls. Take notes and emulate that winning behavior. Or, build on what’s working to make it even better.

Study. We’re working in an exciting time. You have endless amounts of information available to you — about your industry, about your role in sales, and about your customers and competitors. Start reading and researching. Follow the best blogs. Keep an eye on competitors’ social sites. Pay attention to Twitter chats and LinkedIn group conversations. Soak up all of the knowledge that’s floating, for free, right in front of you.

Test and measure. Try new things. Reach out to prospects in new ways. Brainstorm new groups of customers you’re not targeting today. If you’ve never tried building a relationship with a customer by sharing an interesting article about their business, start. What do you have to lose? Everyone can spare 10% of their time to experiment and innovate.

Is sales harder or easier than it was 5 years ago? 10 years ago?

The answer depends almost entirely on you.

Source: RyanEstis.com

About Ryan Estis – Speaks on Business Performance, Leadership and Sales:

leading-breakthrough-sales-performance-6-quick-tips-for-every-sales-leader-1-638Ryan Estis has dedicated his career to helping both companies and individual contributors leverage change as a catalyst to achieve breakthrough performance. Using his two decades of hands on business experience the former McCann World Group Advertising Chief Strategy Officer is widely regarded as a leading expert on Culture, Leadership, Sales Effectiveness and the Future of Work.

Recently recognized as one of the best keynote speakers seen or heard by Meetings & Conventions Magazine, Ryan serves as a faculty member for the Institute of Management Studies, is a Sr. Associate with Employer Brand International, an advisory member on the SmartBrief Workforce Council and is a certified Human Capital Strategist. His work has been featured in Electronic Recruiting Exchange, Workforce Management Magazine, HR Professional Magazine, HR Times, SHRM, Business News Network, Crain’s Business, Staffing Management Magazine, and the books Your Employer Brand and Employer of Choice.

As the Chief Experience Officer in his training and development organization, Ryan Estis & Associates, Ryan delivers over 70 live events annually helping prepare participants to thrive in the ultra competitive, hyper connected business environment we now know as the new normal. Ryan brings a relevant, high-energy message to the platform helping the world’s best brands unleash human potential including Mayo Clinic, Motorola, Mastercard, AT&T, The National Basketball Association, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Prudential and Adobe.

For more information on Ryan Estis, please visit The Sweeney Agency.

Determine What Gets In the Way of Mid-Level Performers Becoming Great

16 June 2014
Blog Admin
No comments
Categories: Employees, Leadership, Management, Sales

C.Brennan PicManagers can be consumed by the mid-level performer; possibly minimizing the time they should be spending with a top performer or the new hire with the prospect of vast potential.

To assist the mid-level performer to become better managers need to:

  • be more effective with balancing their time between performers;
  • know how to “coach-up” the mid-level performer; and
  • reduce the stress and drama associated with the mid–level performer without implication.

Most mid-level performers are unable to anticipate their customers or colleagues responses, comments and reactions. As a result of this, their performance suffers. Most remarks are predictable and expected. The mid-level performer does not foresee these responses or pre-determine how they will reply.

Mid-level performers need to improve their ability to:

  • anticipate a person’s opening comments and respond with an effective and manageable answer to minimize the possibility of rambling;
  • engage a person at a higher level of relevant conversation to create meaningful dialogue;
  • manage a difficult conversation in a positive direction;
  • minimize their word count and maximize their customers or colleagues; and
  • conduct a series of conversations that are more productive and insightful.

Top performers demonstrate the ability of “always knowing what to say next!” In addition, they do not display hesitation or confusion during their conversations.

Knowing how to effectively open and control a conversation, engage in meaningful dialogue and how to achieve a pre-determined goal at the end of the conversation is what separates the mid-level performer from the top.

About Charles Brennan Jr. – Author and Speaker on Advance Sales Training:

716iw9Z-t8L._SL1500_Identified as one of the best trainers in the country and author of McGraw Hill’s Take Your Sales To The Next Level, American Management Association’s best selling paperback book Sales Questions that Close the Sale and award winning book, Proactive Customer Service, Charlie Brennan brings a unique blend of innovative skills and real world application to his presentations. His core competencies are focused on advancing interaction, dialogue and accelerating decisions.

His techniques have been featured in many leading publications and called a breakthrough approach in sales development. He is a veteran of over 2,500 presentations. His concepts are the primary training format for many Fortune 500 to mid-sized companies. His knowledge of adult learning enables him to conduct interactive, challenging and memorable presentations.

For more information on Charles Brennan Jr., please visit: The Sweeney Agency