HOW BRANDON’S ADVICE TOOK LUXURY LANDSCAPE TO THE NEXT LEVEL Our Latest Student Success Story
In this newsletter, you’ve already read about how I've helped a magician, a tech entrepreneur, and a clothing designer grow their businesses. At this point you might be wondering, is there
Think about the traits of a leader. You may be thinking of someone who can take charge, isn’t afraid to fail, communicates clearly, has a passion for helping people, and is extroverted. Optimize Your Sales Team BY ENHANCING THEIR LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
any kind of company Brandon hasn’t worked with? The answer is more or less “no.” Today’s student success story is a perfect example of how my advice can work for every entrepreneur. I met Jackie and Ken, the co-owners of Luxury Landscape, when they were in the early stages of launching their company. They had combined Ken’s 40-plus years in landscaping with Jackie’s management background to offer beautiful, unique landscape designs to residential and commercial properties in Nebraska. It was a great concept, and their orders were rolling in! The trouble was that as business boomed, they were forced to grow quickly — which caused some staffing, stocking, and marketing hiccups. I knew right away what they needed to do.
Now, think of a successful salesperson. Do you see any overlap in characteristics? The answer is likely yes.
Salespeople are natural leaders. They lead consumers to the best product or service, and they effectively push our economy and businesses forward. However, having multiple leaders on one team can create friction. As an entrepreneur or sales manager, you must create a work environment that nurtures your leaders in the sales department without causing issues. Those with an innate sense of leadership still need the right training and work environment to optimize their skills and excel. When you provide these, the confidence of your team increases, their ability to sell effectively is boosted, and your sales numbers improve. It’s a win-win-win for you, your team, and the company.
“Brandon shared his successes with us in such a relaxed manner, as well as the importance of taking time to care for yourself when you grow a business,” Jackie says. “This was something we both needed to hear since we were burning the candle at both ends. It was nice to have assurance that it’s okay to take a break.”
You can create a plan for cultivating leadership with these two steps.
In addition to encouraging her to slow down, I taught Jackie the ins and outs of social media (SM) marketing, something she hadn’t realized she was struggling with. “Brandon offered online SM marketing training/coaching, and it fit in my schedule, so I decided to jump on,” Jackie says. “The info he shared blew me out of the water! Boy, was I wrong with what I thought I knew! He taught me so much and when I put his practices to work, my SM platforms started to grow rapidly, with lots of interactions from followers who became customers!” Since making those changes, Jackie and Ken have seen their business become more sustainable. They plan to prioritize becoming their city’s best landscaping company rather than its biggest , and I’m excited to help them do it. “Whenever I have a business question, I always ask Brandon first!” Jackie says. “He responds immediately, which helps us busy business owners move forward correctly with our companies.”
Analyze Traits Leaders do have defined traits, but no two leaders are alike. Pinpointing the qualities that make each team member an effective leader — and therefore great at their job — can help you identify sales teams or partners that will function harmoniously. (Coincidentally, this process will also show you who should not work together.) The best pairs feed off one another. Maybe you have one salesperson who is the best at explaining the technical aspects of your product, while another is the most empathetic and emotional seller. Together, they’re a winning combination. Provide Leadership Training Learning is an essential part of sales. Salespeople have to understand the demographic, cater to trends, and be the first to admit when a sales tactic is wrong. In addition to learning skills specific to their position, salespeople should also undergo leadership training. Many of these courses and teachings target managers who have employees, but when you encourage your team to apply these concepts to potential clients, they will learn what leadership skills they must nurture within themselves to get more sales. You can also take managerial leadership training and convert it into a program that targets your sales team.
To learn more about Luxury Landscape, visit LuxuryLandscape-LLC.com.
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