Episode 8

This Strong, Strategic Senior Exec Will Stretch You as a Sales Leader

with Special Guest

Dennis Sorenson, SVP Revenue & Sales

No sales leader has pushed and challenged Mike as hard his guest for this powerful episode. Take a listen as Mike leans in with Dennis Sorenson – one of the strongest and most strategic senior executives with whom he’s worked.

You’ll be stretched as Dennis and Mike tackle…

  • The true role of a sales leader
  • The importance of dreaming big and asking, “what’s possible?” 
  • Why sales leaders should invest more time with their best people
  • How deep preparation is key for critical customer meetings and penetrating key accounts
  • How sales process and sales culture intersect
  • Sweating the details, leaning in, and getting your hands dirty 
  • Strong advice for newly promoted sales leaders
  • Salespeople needing to focus on their primary job – selling
  • Why too many senior leaders and executives are distant and clueless 

Mike also shares his excitement about resuming in-person Supercharge Your Sales Leadership Elite Events in the second half of 2021. Sign-up for more info at mikeweinberg.com/events.

A few highlights

  • 1:57 – no client has pushed or challenged Mike to raise his game more than Dennis
  • 4:47 – Dennis’ passion to be prepared
  • 5:06 – the power of your subconscious mind
  • 5:44 – family mentors and role models’ influence
  • 9:17 – Dennis: “show me what good looks like”
  • 9:50 – hear how a strong leader asks questions and stretches salespeople to think bigger and maximize revenue within an account
  • 11:28– “plan for ambition and let quota happen” – start by exploring “total possibility”
  • 12:46 – mindset: think differently and develop new muscle memory
  • 13:57 – great sales managers stick their hands-in and help shape a seller’s vision, plan, preparation, and practice
  • 14:38 – it’s more fun working with big numbers!
  • 15:08 – increasing your sales team’s business acumen
  • 18:43 – pushing average performers to take it to a new level
  • 21:01 – Dennis’ use of Mike’s three favorite sales verbs (create, advance, close) and the need to ensure our sellers are proficient at all three
  • 24:03 – one of the greatest stories ever demonstrating how strategic preparation for customer meetings pays off (and why we should often NOT follow our customer’s lead)
  • 28:58 – a huge career and geographical move (from the Western US to London)
  • 32:20 – where leaders are supposed to be and why so many senior leaders and executives are clueless
  • 34:27 – strong advice for newly promoted leaders: spend time with your people and listen to them
  • 37:41 – salespeople need to sell (not chasing invoices and customer success tickets)
  • 39:49 – exciting news from Mike
  • 41:44 – Mike’s takeaways from the conversation with Dennis and four challenge questions for listeners

Links

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