Tuesday, September 28th, 2021
ISP events 7.4 2021
Webinar: Outsourced sales – brand partners or guns for hire? 6 October 2021: 9.00 am – 9.45 am BST Dr Beth Rogers, Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University School of Management and examiner and lecturer in sales topics at two other universities in Europe. This talk explores research about the factors in the make-or-buy decision for sales activities and provides a…
Tuesday, September 28th, 2021
GADs: mindsets, methods and models
What makes a great global account director? Introduction I began my Global Account Director journey five years ago, following my successful completion of SAP’s Sales Academy Programme. I started out working as an Account Manager alongside the Global Account Director (GAD) in developing new sales opportunities for one of SAP’s most important banking customers and subsequently have taken ownership of…
Monday, September 27th, 2021
The role of trust in sales
If we expect our customers to trust us, we need to develop both an internal and an external culture of trust. Trust is an essential foundational element in any sales environment, and it can (and must) take many forms. Perhaps the most obvious manifestation lies in the relationship between the salesperson (and the vendor they represent) and the customer’s decision-making…
Monday, September 27th, 2021
Four steps to embedding ethics
Sales ethics is essential in the new normal. Good business strategy Many companies, even entire industries, struggle to remain open during this ongoing period of challenging economic uncertainty. Business models that were shifting prior to the pandemic, such as the move from instore shopping to e-commerce, have accelerated because of the pandemic. Businesses are adjusting strategies to stay ahead of…
Monday, September 27th, 2021
CSO post-Pandemic checklist
GARTNER SUGGESTS EIGHT STEPS TO CREATE COMPETITIVE…
Tuesday, July 27th, 2021
Agile leadership
How applicable is agile leadership within a traditional organisational structure? Introduction “Just because you fail once doesn’t mean you are going to fail at everything.” – Marilyn Monroe History has shown through all endeavours, be it in business, sport or academics, that those who are able to adapt to change and remain open to new ideas are the most likely…
Monday, July 26th, 2021
The Emerging Importance of Ethical Leadership
A modern-day Odyssey in search of ethics and purpose in leadership. Background I have observed increasing concerns about the potentially unfortunate fate of organisations and society in the event of ethics and purpose not playing an important role in leadership, human relationship and our behaviour. Therefore, I strongly believe that it is the responsibility of today’s leaders to communicate to…
Monday, April 26th, 2021
Open courses and events 7.2 2021
Sales Essentials for Success – Cranfield Executive Development 2-3 June 2021 Sales Essentials for Success gives you the tools to build and create a sales function that is strategically directed and controlled. You’ll gain a fundamental knowledge of the tactics that must be employed on a daily basis to succeed. £2,200 + VAT (concessions available) – execdev@cranfield.ac.uk +44 (0)1234 589292https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/open-executive-programmes/growing-businesses/sales-essentials-for-success…
Monday, April 26th, 2021
Cultural and emotional barriers which cause resistance to change
In the current ever-changing corporate world perennial adaptability is the key to sustainability and culture has become the conceptual foundation which should embrace ambiguity, uncertainty and complexity to ensure organisational success. Culture is not just mandated but it should be shaped at every level of the organisation and “even without a direct mandate from the top, people with passion, persistence…
Monday, April 26th, 2021
Do millennials have a chance?
“When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become a wiser and more inclusive and a better organisation” – Pat Wadors, head of HR at LinkedIn. At SAP, we have set ourselves a target of achieving 10% of young talent in our workforce in South East Asia (SEA) by 2023. This is a two-fold increase from…
Friday, February 26th, 2021
Open courses and events 7.1 2021
Key Account Management Best Practice – Cranfield Executive Development 10, 12, 26 Mar 2021 – live online Joining an experienced group of fellow KAM practitioners, you will gain: State-of-the-art knowledge and tools for creating an effective key account management process. Strategic understanding on how to focus your time and attention appropriately in the development of key accounts. Improved collaboration skills…
Friday, February 26th, 2021
4 key sales reads
Four new books written by distinguished contributors to the Journal offer business leaders, sales professionals, students and academics new insights and guidance as they seek to navigate the complexities of selling and sales leadership today. Each of the authors delivers that rare combination of academic credibility and practical business experience. Sales Management That Works by Frank V Cespedes Rather than moving…
Friday, February 26th, 2021
Team tenure
Why understanding team tenure can be a key to healthy sales-team dynamics and a rapid alignment of teams. The longer a team has spent together with the same composition of team members, the more harmonious interpersonal relationships become. The shared experience builds trust and psychological safety, leading to smoother team processes, more effective use of resources and increased team performance…
Friday, February 26th, 2021
Need to know for 2021
Q: What do you see as the “new sales normal” emerging post-Covid? What will be different from before over the longer term? Mark Davies: A few things, all of which were trends that were occurring anyway (the Covid-forced recession has just accelerated these trends). Firstly, the trend whereby customers buy via digital channels will intensify. This is because customers know…
Tuesday, November 10th, 2020
Mapping out the solution
Here’s how to use “systemic intelligence” collaboratively. Article summary Let’s face it! We all need as much as help as possible in the current business climate. Systemic Maps are coaching tools that sales leaders can use for faster problem-solving and more effective decision-making. In this article, we explore “mapping” as a tool, in the sense of a fast and powerful…
Monday, November 9th, 2020
Improved leadership communication
How storytelling can help bridge the gap between management and teams. “1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.2The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.4And God saw that the light was good.”Genesis, First Book of Moses Day 1 Since…
Monday, November 9th, 2020
Leadership in the digital future
What are the required leadership behaviours that will help leaders succeed in the digital age, and to what extent do our leaders need to change their leadership behaviour in the future? Why is the concept of “digital” so important for us today? Technologies are changing the way customers conduct business. Communication has found new ways that I would have never…
Monday, November 9th, 2020
Master storyteller
SAP’s Waldemar Adams explains that compelling storytelling is not just for customer communications – it’s vital when communicating internally. Storytelling is enriching the pure facts to add the purpose, to build alignment, and also to forge a communication which lasts, that people can remember and recall, and create an emotion. A long time ago in Germany, a young Waldemar Adams…
Monday, November 9th, 2020
Imagine…
How will leadership change in the digital future? Imagine… You are strolling on a boardwalk by the beach. The warm rays of the sun are tickling your nose as you savour the beautiful scenery. Suddenly, darkness takes over, the sun vanishes, and there is a mist in the air. A tornado! A huge swirling spout of water, this massive monster…
Friday, November 6th, 2020
The Magic 6
How to lead virtual (and hybrid) meetings. In spring 2020, meetings changed. Instead of physically meeting up with colleagues, everything moved online during lockdown. Of course, sales teams have been catching up with colleagues in the field by phone or video chat for years, but, in March, everything went remote: team meetings, client meetings and much, much more. While meetings…