

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

Jul 9, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Sales Closing Scripts
This week, we're talking about the art of closing sales with confidence and finesse.
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

Jul 6, 2025 • 23min
282: Sabbaticals and Career Breaks with Laura Nguyen
Laura Nguyen is an accomplished marketing executive and entrepreneur with a rich background in data-driven marketing, digital marketing, and communications for Fortune 500 companies. She is the author of 'Career Break Compass: Navigating Your Path to a Balanced Life Through Intentional Time Off,' a book that explores the transformative potential of career breaks. Laura is also a certified executive coach, dedicated to helping mid-career high-achieving leaders transition from burnout to balance through her coaching programs and online community.
" 84% of millennials plan to take a career break, highlighting a shift in work-life balance priorities. But only 17% of organizations globally have a formal sabbatical program, offering a unique opportunity for companies to support employee well-being." - Laura Nguyen
Key Takeaways:
-Various types of career breaks and pros and cons
-How career breaks can be leveraged for personal and professional growth
-How to recognize signs of burnout in both you and your employees
-How to handle requests as a leader for a career break
ARE YOU BURNED OUT? TAKE LAURA'S BURNOUT QUIZ
https://www.lauranguyen.co/resources
CONNECT WITH LAURA NGUYEN
https://www.lauranguyen.co/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauran546/
BOOK:
"Career Break Compass: Navigating Your Path to a Balanced Life Through Intentional Time Off"https://www.amazon.com/Career-Break-Compass-Navigating-Intentional/dp/1685557325
CONNECT WITH MANAGE SMARTERE, LEE AND AUDREY
· 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/
#careerbreak #sabbatical #leaveofabsence #careerburnout #worklifebalance #overworked #workburnout #timeoff #personalgrowth #burnedout
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 2, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Fix What's Not Selling to Scale Your Business
I'm Chip Gray and this week, we're talking about something that every business leader needs to master: fixing what's not selling to scale your business.
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

Jun 25, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Women in Leadership
This week, we're exploring some fascinating insights from Mary Ann Pruitt, the CEO and President of Mosaic Media. Mary Ann has a wealth of experience in media strategy, and she’s sharing some golden nuggets on how women leaders are making waves in the business world.
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

Jun 22, 2025 • 26min
281: Mastering Sales Leadership with Derek Johnson
Derek Johnson, author of 'The Strategic Sales Leader,' shares his insights on sales leadership, internal politics, and strategic execution. With a background in military and sales, Derek discusses the challenges of managing team dynamics and the importance of a clear vision. Learn practical tips for aligning your sales team and overcoming common obstacles in this insightful episode.
"You can either light a fire underneath someone, or you can ignite a fire within someone. The BHAG, the Big Hairy Audacious Goal, is the vision you set forth. The vision is the why." - Derek Johnson
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
-How to manage internal politics, which is the biggest issue in sales
-Overcoming salespeople who are resistant to change
-How to find your key players within your existing team
-Finding clear vision when there isn't agree on the big team goals and KPIs
CONNECT WITH DEREK JOHNSON
https://www.instagram.com/hardcoreleaders/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-j-404b7/
CONNECT WITH MANAGE SMARTER AND OUR 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/
#sales #salescred #salescredibility #cleesmith #derekjohnson #salesleadership #salesskills #salestips #officepolitics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 18, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Behavioral Assessments
This week, we're talking about a game-changer in hiring: behavioral assessments. Gain valuable insights on leadership and team dynamics with host Chip Gray.
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

Jun 11, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Leading Instead of Selling
This week, we're talking about an important topic for your sales team: leading instead of selling. Gain valuable insights on leadership and team dynamics with host Chip Gray.
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

Jun 8, 2025 • 23min
280: Navigating AI's SEO Changes with Corey Morris
Corey Morris, author of 'Digital Marketing Success Plan,' delves into the evolving world of digital marketing. He discusses the impact of AI on SEO, the rise of zero-click searches, and the importance of quality over quantity in lead generation. Learn how to adapt to changes in Google's first page dynamics and leverage AI for effective digital marketing strategies.
"We have to be working smarter and not harder. So doing things the long way, the manual way, and or the expensive because it hasn't been made efficient by AI ways will be in trouble." - Corey Morris
Key Takeaways:
-What is the impact of zero-click searches on SEO?
-How to adapt marketing strategies with new AI in SEO
-Managing lead nurturing to adjust to AI in SEO
-Managing the future of marketing with digital integration
Connect with Corey Morris
https://voltage.digital/
https://voltage.digital/corey-video-mtg
https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreymorris/
https://www.facebook.com/voltagekc
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/
#AI #marketing #artificialintelligence #SEO #searchengines #google #bing #yahoo
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 4, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Tips for Rebranding
This week, we're talking about something that can make or break your business: rebranding. Gain valuable insights on leadership and team dynamics with host Chip Gray.
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

May 28, 2025 • 4min
Extra Point: Spotting Your Sales Star
This week, we're talking about something every business leader needs to know—how to spot the sales star on your team. Gain valuable insights on leadership and team dynamics with host Chip Gray.
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


