

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

Dec 3, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Holiday B2B Selling
This week, we're talking about a question every B-to-B seller secretly asks: can you actually increase sales during the holidays?
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

Nov 26, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Voice of the Sales Rep
This week, we're exploring the unfiltered insights straight from the frontlines of sales — courtesy of over 800 sales professionals who participated in The Voice of the Sales Rep: 2025 Focus Report.
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

Nov 23, 2025 • 26min
292: Maximize Employee Potential—Work Smarter, Not Harder with Matt Granados
Matt Granados, founder of LifePulse Incorporated and author of "Motivate the Unmotivated," reveals how to replace hustle culture with sustainable workplace success. He shares actionable strategies for employee engagement, optimal performance, workplace culture, and leveraging AI for productivity—without risking burnout. Gain leadership tips for integrating work-life harmony and building high-performing teams that thrive in today’s changing business environment.
"There’s a difference between high performers and optimal performers, right? So a high performer is where everyone used to try to get to, especially in sales. High output, unsustainable pace compared to others. That’s like saying I beat a bunch of slow people in a race, so therefore I’m fast. Optimal performance flips the script a little bit—same exact high output, but at a sustainable pace compared to one’s own ability. That’s the key."
WEBSITE FOR MANAGE SMARTER LISTENERS: lifepulseinc.com/ms
-What is optimal performance and how do I get it?
-What's the 80/100 performance rule?
-How to set both action-based and time-based goals to get greater productivity
-How to use AI as a force multiplier and to help work/life balance
CONNECT WITH MATT GRANADOS
www.lifepulseinc.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt87granados/
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/
X: https://x.com/SalesFuel· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 19, 2025 • 5min
Extra Point: The Unspoken Sales Advantage
This week, let's get real about what separates a successful salesperson from just a decent one. It's not just what you say—it's how you say it, and, more importantly, what your body says for you.
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

Nov 12, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Trust, Communication & Teamwork
This week, we're spotlighting something every business leader faces, but few master: how communication and trust boost your team’s efficiency.
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

Nov 9, 2025 • 23min
291 : Never Ask for the Sale with Sue Heilbronner
Sue Heilbronner, author of "Never Ask for the Sale: Supercharge Your Business with the Power of Passionate Ambivalence," reveals top sales strategies to build referrals, trust, and credibility. Learn how her approach increases premium pricing, drives mutual relationships, and enhances your business’s success by focusing on authentic, value-driven sales methods and letting your expertise attract ideal clients.
"The reason that the book is titled Never Ask for the Sale is I want to make the point that selling is a mutual process and if you as a seller are putting yourself in a subservient position to a prospect, you are limiting not only your opportunity to close but you are also demeaning your price point and your long term value to that customer."
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
-Why does Sue Heilbronner advocate for 'never asking for the sale' in modern sales methodology?
-What is the 'Passionate Ambivalence' model and how does it enhance sales outcomes?
-Effective technique for generating client testimonials and word-of-mouth referrals
-What steps should sales teams take to transition from a traditional hard-sell approach?
CONNECT WITH SUE HEILBRONNER
www.heysue.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sueheilbronner/https://www.facebook.com/tellsue
neveraskforthesale.com
Connect with Manage Smarter and its hosts
Website: https://salesfuel.com/manage-smarter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreystrong/
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/
#sales #selling #salestips #referrals #businessreferrals #salescred #salesfuel #sueheilbronner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 5, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Smarter Sales Hiring
This week we're talking about something that could make or break your next sales hire: using objective sales assessments, instead of going with your gut.
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

Oct 29, 2025 • 5min
Extra Point: Rebuilding Trust After Layoffs
This week, we're talking about how you can rebuild trust with your salespeople after layoffs.
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

Oct 26, 2025 • 21min
290: Workplace Culture Realignment with Salvatore Manzi
Leadership communications coach Salvatore Manzi joins to discuss why, when, and how organizations should approach cultural realignment. Drawing on 20+ years in DEI and international consultancy, Salvatore breaks down his powerful 4D methodology: Diagnose, Define, Deploy, and Deepen. Learn practical steps for overcoming employee resistance, aligning values, and ensuring leadership buy-in to advance workplace culture, employee engagement, and organizational performance. Highlights include detailed strategies for fostering lasting change, involving HR in the process, and the significance of office environment and presence. Salvatore also shares insights from his book, "Clear and Compelling: Communication Strategies for Big Thinkers and Bold Ideas," packed with actionable communication and culture change tips for business leaders.
#organizational culture #cultural realignment #workplaceculture
GET THE BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQJ6M6B7
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Managing change: What to say when people are scared
The 4Ds: Diagnose, Define, Deploy, and Deepen as the framework for effective organizational cultural transformation.
The key signs your organization needs a cultural realignment
Managing resistance to cultural realignment
Harnessing your HR department to assist with realignment
"There’s three myths to cultural realignment. The first one is that we can roll this out at a town hall meeting. We just got to tell them... The third is that, oh, this can be done in 90 days. 18 to 36 months to do a cultural realignment is what's required."
Connect with Salvatore Manzi
www.salvatoremanzi.com
Connect with Manage Smarter
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
https://salesfuel.com/
https://x.com/SalesFuel
https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 22, 2025 • 5min
Extra Point: Underrated Sales Traits
This week, we're discussing underrated traits to look for in your salespeople.
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


