Episode 46: Shortening the Leadership Growth Curve with Darcy Smyth and Steve Claydon

Stronger Sales Teams with Ben Wright

In this riveting episode of the Stronger Sales Team Podcast, Ben delves into the vast realm of B2B sales management, sharing invaluable insights and actionable strategies with his special guests, Darcy Smyth and Steve Claydon from Outbound Game. The show outlines the dynamic interplay between personal development, team leadership, and the utilization of gamification to enhance sales effectiveness.

Ben opens the discussion by highlighting some of the common hurdles faced by new Sales Leaders, particularly those transitioning from being top-performing salespeople to guiding a team. As Darcy and Claydon articulate, these leaders often grapple with unexpected challenges, from implementation gaps to mental health considerations. The conversation transitions into how businesses contend with global pressures, emphasizing the need to be creative and efficient in light of evolving AI and automation technologies. The guests share their approach to balancing human connection with automated processes, underscoring the significance of authentic relationships in the current business landscape.

About the Guest:

Darcy Smyth is recognised for his decade-long expertise in sales, training, and mentoring, specializing in understanding the intricacies of the human mind and consumer behaviour. Currently, Darcy co-leads Outbound Game, undertaking new and ongoing team responsibilities. With a fascination for golf, he is also a dedicated father.

Steve Claydon, the strategist and design maven behind Outbound Game. Steve's role is pivotal in assisting organisations worldwide to shatter their monthly sales goals. Steve is an enthusiast of helicopter simulations and inventing card and board games, underpinning the fun motif of Outbound. He's also a family man, taking pride in his role as a husband and father of three, including his newly born, Sammy.

Key Takeaways:

• Transitioning from a top salesperson to a sales leader presents distinctive challenges, including gaps in implementation, leadership skills, and mental well-being.
• Doing more with less has become a pervasive theme in businesses, pushing leaders to innovatively leverage systems and automation without compromising human-driven relationship building.
• Personal development and continual learning are vital for sales leaders, which can be enriched through pursuing diverse interests and staying curious beyond their industry.
• The importance of setting goal-orientated strategies and structuring learning into one's weekly routine to ensure sustained professional growth.
• New sales methodologies, like social selling and managing remote teams, demand adaptation and a forward-thinking mindset from sales leaders.

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro

1:15 Guest Introduction

3:07 Outbound

5:11 Challenges of New and Emerging Sales Leaders

8:23 Training Sales Leaders

12:37 Coaching

14:44 Business Wide Challenges

19:30 Doing More With Less

23:15 Learning for Emerging Sales Leaders

28:19 Guest’s Socials

29:09 Outro
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