S2, Ep 11: Leading Through Language with Anne Unsworth

What does it mean to lead with trust and transform an organisation for the future? In this episode of Sales Leader Secrets, Amanda Downs chats to Anne Unsworth, Head of Retail Operations at Dee Set: Complete Retail Solutions, master practitioner of NLP, and a passionate champion of people in commercial teams.Anne’s journey is a lesson in resilience and curiosity. From building her career at Master Foods (Mars), through two decades at Tactical Solutions supporting iconic brands in retail, to leading ESG strategy and championing diversity, her approach is founded on integrity, transparency, and the belief that people are at the heart of every successful business.If you’re interested in leading sustainable change and tapping into the power of communication, make sure you tune in.Here are the highlights: 00:00 Introduction: Anne’s career journey from hospitality to field marketing02:09 What is field marketing in retail?03:17 Leading ESG: sustainability and social responsibility05:10 Focusing on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion06:52 Anne’s first management role and building relationships07:32 How team meetings shaped her approach to leadership08:45 Learning every day in ESG12:39 The core leadership values: trust, transparency, and integrity13:58 How personal adversity shaped Anne’s leadership journey16:42 Discovering NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and its impact17:51 Why the language we use matters in sales and leadership22:11 Training Tactical teams in NLP for confidence and communication23:31 Building team resilience and delivering change projects25:43 Advice for sales leaders: be authentic, encourage debate27:25 Anne’s sales leader's secret.Join us each month for the Uspire webinar series “Become a Better Leader” and get valuable leadership frameworks and techniques to help you achieve sustainable growth that lasts. https://theuspiregroup.com/uspire-events/become-a-better-leader-webinar-series/​About Amanda Downs:Amanda Downs is Uspire's Director of Commercial Leadership and a commercial training and coaching expert. She has worked extensively in Europe, EMEA, the US, and Asia and is an accredited Insights Discovery practitioner. She also leads Uspire's commercial leadership proposition.​She produces the popular Sales Growth Expert blog and is currently writing her first sales leadership book.​Connect with Amanda:Website: theuspiregroup.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandadowns2/​About The Uspire Partnership:Uspire challenge, energise and upskill leaders to set the stage for business transformation and commercial success. Members of the Uspire team are all industry professionals and have first-hand experience of the commercial challenges you face. We develop leadership skills and commercial capabilities; delivering profitable growth and a sustainable legacy of change.​Connect with Uspire:Website: theuspiregroup.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uspire-ltd/About Anne Unsworth:With 25 years in the Grocery Retail industry, I have built a successful career in account and field performance management. Working with some of the UK’s biggest retailers and brands.I’ve also led...