Manage Smarter

C. Lee Smith and Audrey Strong
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

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