Navigating Difficult Conversations: Strategies for New Leaders

Building Elite Sales Teams

Summary

In this episode of "Building Elite Sales Teams," the audience is invited to learn from the expertise of Lucas Price, who delves into the often intricate process of managing challenging conversations in B2B sales environments. The episode begins with an introduction to the significance of such discussions and their impact on team turnover, emphasizing how mastering this skill is vital for new leaders aiming to cultivate a culture of clear communication and high performance.

Navigating the complex dynamics of difficult conversations requires a balance of clarity, assertiveness, and sensitivity. Lucas Price shares his seasoned approach to building transparent relationships with team members from day one, explaining how setting crystal-clear expectations is foundational for accountability and improvement. He also underscores the importance of providing balanced feedback, ensuring that constructive criticism is delivered in a way that fosters growth rather than defensiveness.

• Setting the right tone from day one is crucial for productive conflict management.
• Building strong relationships with employees should precede delivering tough feedback.
• Effective feedback involves clarity and a focus on issues rather than personal critique.
• Holding employees accountable requires both agreement on issues and a plan for improvement.
• Senior leaders should mentor frontline managers on handling tough conversations effectively.

Take Aways

• Strong foundational relationships are key to productive feedback and difficult conversations.
• Clarity in expectations from day one can prevent misunderstandings and foster a high-performance culture.
• Being hard on issues, not on people, is critical to maintaining professional rapport and trust.
• Authenticity and genuine commitment from leaders play a pivotal role in employee engagement, even during performance improvement plans.
• Frontline leaders can benefit from role-playing sessions with more senior leaders to prepare for difficult discussions.

Learn More: https://www.yardstick.team/

Connect with Lucas Price: linkedin.com/in/lucasprice1

Connect with Dr. Jim: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Mentioned in this episode:

BEST Intro

BEST Outro