

Manage Smarter
C. Lee Smith and Audrey Strong
Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith on the #1 sales management podcast as they dive into management, leadership, business, sales, company culture, talent retention, revenues, performance metrics, hiring and more. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage with and without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode and will be able to implement positive change throughout your workplace. Available on all major podcast outlets and all episodes available on ManageSmarter.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 28, 2025 • 25min
288: Copyrights, Trademarks & AI: Legal Essentials for Content Creators with Stephanie Weier
Stephanie Weier, CEO and co-founder of Brandwood Global, dives into copyright, trademark, and intellectual property rights for content creators and marketers. She shares actionable tips to avoid legal risks, explains the impact of AI on content, and introduces her Brandingo app for secure brand engagement. Essential listening for anyone in content creation, digital marketing, or brand management.
"If you are broadcasting in any forum, you know, Facebook streaming, whatever, that then becomes a commercial, so to speak. So when you go from a personal use... to posting it on different social media sites, then you become a commercial use. And so those music pieces that are going to be heard, do they carry forth, you know, so now you're infringing on those copyrights.4It's going to be a burgeoning litigation field, I believe, because [AI is] completely vacuuming up all copyrights, all trademarks. And then it's morphing those into new products, new designs." - Stephanie Weier
KEY TAKEAWAYS
-Learn best practices for music licensing
-Latest definitions of fair use
-How to protect your company from liability and protect your content
-Uses of logos and artwork
-More insights for influencers, content creators on actionable legal insights and SEO tips to protect intellectual property
Connect with Stephanie Weier
www.Brandwoodglobal.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieweier/https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.weier.14
Connect with Manage Smarter and its hosts!!!!· Website: https://salesfuel.com/manage-smarter/· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreystrong/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleesmith/
TWITTER/X
Audrey https://x.com/tallmediamaven
Lee https://x.com/cleesmith
Connect with SalesFuel·
Website: https://salesfuel.com/·
Twitter: https://x.com/SalesFuel· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/
#internetinfluencer #socialmedia #socialmediainfluencer #tiktokinfluencer #youtubeinfluencer #facebookinfluencer #snapchatinfluencer #legal #AI #fairuse #intellectualproperty #Brandingo #Brandingoapp #BrandwoodGlobal #stephanieweier #copyrights #trademarks #law #video #audio #logo
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Sep 14, 2025 • 30min
287: Law, HR, Furries and Other Accommodations with Leah Stiegler
Leah Stiegler, a seasoned labor attorney from Woods Rogers, delves into the complexities of modern workplace dynamics. From handling toxic personalities to navigating the intricacies of non-compete agreements, Leah offers invaluable insights for employers. She discusses the importance of maintaining a psychologically safe environment and the role of documentation in protecting both employees and employers. Leah also touches on the ethical use of AI in workplace management, emphasizing transparency and responsible practices. Tune in to learn how to manage workplace challenges effectively and keep your organization legally compliant. Whether you're dealing with workplace toxicity or exploring AI's role in sales, Leah's expertise is a must-listen for all managers.
"I would say that the best advice I can give on that is for managers to address concerns early on, to hear someone out regardless of whether they think the concern is ridiculous or whether they know that the person is wrong about their perception, whatever it may be." - Leah Stiegler
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
-How can managers handle false allegations without appearing retaliatory?
-The importance of handling workplace HR legal issues promptly
-The latest unusual workplace HR trends and accommodations, including furries, litter boxes and other requests
-Non-Compete agreements
-What to do about workplace romances and the various dynamics and scenarios of those
-AI, technology forensic data, social media posts legal latest
#HR #humanresources #businesslaw #law #lawyer #laborlaw #laborattorney #HRattorney #workplaceaccommodations
CONNNECT WITH LEAH STIEGLER
www.woodsrogers.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-stiegler-28aa7a62/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/woodsrogers/
Connect with Manage Smarter Website: https://salesfuel.com/manage-smarter/· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreystrong/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleesmith/
X
Audrey https://x.com/tallmediamaven
Lee https://x.com/cleesmith
Connect with SalesFuel·
Website: https://salesfuel.com/·
X: https://x.com/SalesFuel· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/
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Sep 3, 2025 • 5min
Extra Point: Most Underrated Sales Traits
This week, we're talking about some of the most underrated traits that can take your sales game to the next level.
Join us each week for a brand new bonus Extra Point episode. In less than 5 minutes, you'll get additional insights about the psychology of leadership and management from the producers of the Manage Smarter podcast. Find all of the Manage Smarter episodes on ManageSmarter.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 31, 2025 • 23min
286: Team Trust and Credibility with Tracy LaLonde
With over 30 years in training, consulting, and professional development, Tracy LaLonde’s courses, keynotes, and guidance propel professionals and businesses to success. Her current work centers around helping professionals develop trustworthiness as a key part of their personal brand, teaching revenue generators to strengthen client loyalty, and working with businesses to create environments where trust and loyalty drive results. She is the author of “Trust Me: The Insider’s Guide to Being a Go-To Person at Work” which helps individuals become indispensable in their jobs.
"Trust is a physiological phenomenon. When I extend trust to you, it releases oxytocin in your brain, the bonding or connection hormone, and that makes you like me and want to trust me in return." - Tracy LaLonde
KEY TAKEAWAYS
-The Physiological part of trust
-How managers can effectively delegate tasks to build trust
-The Six Elements of Trust
-How to repair broken workplace trust
CONNECT
www.joychiever.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/joychiever/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylalonde/
Connect with Manage Smarter and its hosts!!!!· Website: https://salesfuel.com/manage-smarter/· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreystrong/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleesmith/
X
Audrey https://x.com/tallmediamaven
Lee https://x.com/cleesmith
Connect with SalesFuel
Website: https://salesfuel.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/SalesFuel
#workplace #trust #credibility #workertrust #managertrust #trustworthiness #professionaldevelopment
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Aug 27, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Customer Motivators
This week, we're exploring the fascinating world of customer motivators. You know, those elusive factors that drive people to make purchases.
Join us each week for a brand new bonus Extra Point episode. In less than 5 minutes, you'll get additional insights about the psychology of leadership and management from the producers of the Manage Smarter podcast. Find all of the Manage Smarter episodes on ManageSmarter.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 20, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Customer Retention Techniques
This week, we're talking about something that can transform your business from the inside out—customer retention
Join us each week for a brand new bonus Extra Point episode. In less than 5 minutes, you'll get additional insights about the psychology of leadership and management from the producers of the Manage Smarter podcast. Find all of the Manage Smarter episodes on ManageSmarter.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 17, 2025 • 26min
285: Surviving Toxic Bosses with Eric Charran
In this insightful episode, Eric Charran, author of 'Have You Ever Had a Boss That?', delves into the complexities of navigating dysfunctional workplaces. With more than 25 years of experience in digital innovation and AI-driven solutions, Eric shares practical strategies for dealing with difficult bosses and enhancing personal effectiveness. Discover how to manage up, grow your manager, and succeed in challenging environments.
"I wrote this book after experiencing and observing unhelpful behaviors in the workplace. Many employees feel these behaviors are directed at them personally, but often it's just a matter of leaders using the wrong tools in their toolbox." - Eric Charran
Charran identifies the nine boss archetypes as:
The Surprised – The Deer-in-Headlights Boss who is caught off guard by issues, even when previously informed.
The Emergency Broadcaster – The Chicken Little Boss who believes every minor issue is a major crisis and panics frequently.
The Complainer – The Woe-is-Me Boss who constantly complains about problems without seeking solutions.
The Amnesiac – The Forgetful Leader who frequently forgets past discussions, decisions, and promises.
The Firefighter – The Crisis Junkie who thrives on managing crises, often creating emergencies to feel important.
The Order Taker – The Yes-Man (or Woman) who always agrees with superiors and avoids making independent decisions.
The Raw Nerve – The Overly Sensitive Boss who reacts emotionally to feedback and criticism, often taking things personally.
The Attack Sub – The Stealthy Saboteur who engages in undermining behaviors and indirect attacks on colleagues.
The LIFO (Last in, First Out) – The Fickle Manager who frequently changes priorities, often abandoning tasks or projects halfway through.
Key Takeaways:
-How do I identify my boss' archetype and how do I deal with it?
-How do I know my worth and leverage it to become more valuable to my boss?
-What is the Q-Tip Principal and how can it help me?
-How can I manage up?
-How can I survive in a dysfunctional workplace?
#careeradvice #workplacetips #dysfunctionalworkplace #badleaders #horriblebosses #AI #workplaceculture #careergrowth #careerproblems #hatemyboss
Connect with Eric Charran
https://prbythebook.com/experts/eric-charran/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericcharran/
Connect with Manage Smarter and its hosts!!!!
· Website: https://salesfuel.com/manage-smarter/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreystrong/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleesmith/
TWITTER/X
Audrey https://x.com/tallmediamaven
Lee https://x.com/cleesmith
Connect with SalesFuel
· Website: https://salesfuel.com/
· Twitter: https://x.com/SalesFuel
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/
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Aug 13, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Peer Advisory Groups
This week, we're talking about something that could be a game-changer for your leadership journey—peer advisory groups.
Join us each week for a brand new bonus Extra Point episode. In less than 5 minutes, you'll get additional insights about the psychology of leadership and management from the producers of the Manage Smarter podcast. Find all of the Manage Smarter episodes on ManageSmarter.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 6, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Hiring the Right People
This week, we're tackling a topic that's as crucial as it is challenging: hiring the right people.
Join us each week for a brand new bonus Extra Point episode. In less than 5 minutes, you'll get additional insights about the psychology of leadership and management from the producers of the Manage Smarter podcast. Find all of the Manage Smarter episodes on ManageSmarter.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 3, 2025 • 21min
284: The Power of Peer Groups with Aviva Leebow
Aviva Leebow, a Vistage Chair, explores the impact of peer advisory groups on leadership development. She shares insights on how these groups help CEOs and business leaders break barriers, gain diverse perspectives, and make impactful decisions. Aviva emphasizes the importance of addressing blind spots and the unique benefits of peer groups over traditional mentorship. She is based in Atlanta, Georgia, where she leads two groups within the world's largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and mid-sized businesses.
"If you had to choose one between a coach and a peer group environment, I choose a peer group environment all day long. Even as a coach, I say that." - Aviva Leebow
KEY TAKEAWAYS
-Benefits of a peer advisory group
-Shallow networking vs. deep connections
-Different structures, arrangements and leadership levels of peer groups. What should you look for?
-Most common networking mistakes most leaders make
CONNECT WITH AVIVA LEEBOW
https://app.vistage.com/sites/s/chairs/0038000001eDGIVAA4/aviva-leebow
https://www.linkedin.com/in/avivaleebow/
Connect with Manage Smarter and its hosts!!!!
· Website: https://salesfuel.com/manage-smarter/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreystrong/ · LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleesmith/
TWITTER/X
Audrey https://x.com/tallmediamaven
Lee https://x.com/cleesmith
Connect with SalesFuel
· Website: https://salesfuel.com/
· Twitter: https://x.com/SalesFuel
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/
#networking #peers #peertopeer #vistage #salesfuel #managesmarter #peeradvisorygroups #businessnetworking #networkinggroups
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