Strategic Milestones with Steve Gielda

In this episode of The Art and Science of Complex Sales, Paul Fuller is joined by Steve Gielda, President and Co-founder of Ignite Selling and co-author of Ignite Your Sales Strategy. From hauling copiers out of a van to building a global sales consultancy, Steve brings a rare blend of frontline grit and strategic clarity. Together, they dive into the real reasons B2B sales efforts stall and what high-performing teams do differently to keep deals moving and win more often.

Why Pipelines Stall (6:14)

Steve reveals the biggest myth in pipeline management: that activity equals progress. Sales teams may be logging actions, but without clarity around what really moves a deal forward, opportunities stagnate. His solution? Replace vague sales stages with clearly defined strategic milestones—critical actions that, if skipped, put deals at risk.

Why Coaching Is the Missing Multiplier (21:11)

Sales managers often play the role of closer or CRM enforcer instead of coach. Steve emphasizes that the sales process only becomes a growth engine when managers coach reps through strategic thinking—asking not just what happened, but what matters next. Organizations that invest in coaching see faster pipeline movement and better forecasting.

Why "Checking the Box" Kills Deals (16:09)

Too many reps treat CRM milestones as admin tasks instead of strategic checkpoints. Steve explains how reframing milestones as thinking tools—like identifying true decision criteria and neutralizing internal naysayers—helps reps win more consistently. And when milestones are co-created with reps, adoption and performance soar.

Why Your Sales Strategy Doesn’t Stick (29:14)

Even the best training fails without reinforcement. Steve breaks down how Ignite Selling’s modular, gamified learning approach embeds sales behaviors over time—not in one-off workshops. His programs simulate real-world scenarios and provide tools integrated into CRM platforms for ongoing coaching and performance improvement.

📚 Bonus: Mention this episode on Linkedin to Steve to receive a free copy of his book, ‘Ignite Your Sales Strategy’