Sales [UN]Training

Sales presentations don't fail by accident—they fail by design. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs breaks down why most solution presentations sound the same, feel unconvincing, and consistently fall short of winning decisions. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Drawing on decades of observing real sales calls and role-play sessions, Kelly explains how traditional sales training creates predictable mistakes. Salespeople are taught to master the product, build a slide deck, and "go sell"—which leads directly to unstructured presentations, feature overload, and conversations with the wrong people in the room. The result? Confused prospects, delayed decisions, stalled deals, and shrinking win rates. Kelly walks through the most common presentation failures, including winging it without a plan, relying on PowerPoint as a crutch, and dumping features instead of guiding decision makers. He also highlights the real objective of a solution presentation: creating a clear, compelling connection between what the prospect needs and what the solution uniquely delivers. This episode is a wake-up call for sales leaders who assume good discovery calls and product knowledge automatically translate into effective presentations. Kelly makes the case that salespeople must be trained—intentionally—on how to prepare, structure, and deliver individualized solution conversations that stand out from competitors. If your team's presentations sound interchangeable, feel scripted, or struggle to move deals forward, this episode will challenge how you think about sales training—and show you where the breakdown really starts. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs challenges one of the most common—and costly—habits in sales leadership: making assumptions. From declining win rates to underperforming reps, many leaders jump to quick conclusions and implement fixes that never address the real issue. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly shares a powerful personal story that highlights how easy it is to misdiagnose a problem—and how dramatically outcomes can change when you identify the true root cause. He connects that lesson directly to sales teams, where leaders often assume poor closing is the issue, when the real breakdown happens much earlier in the process. You'll hear why "I don't have time" is one of the most dangerous mindsets in leadership, how surface-level fixes create frustration and stagnation, and why role play and structured practice remain essential tools for development when done correctly. Kelly also takes aim at common myths around motivation, showing how high-performing organizations succeed by building systems, culture, and standards—not by blaming people. The episode wraps with a critical leadership challenge: stop relying on first impressions and start diagnosing core issues. Because when leaders fail to do the hard work of proper assessment, they don't just miss the problem—they limit the potential of their entire team. If you want better results, it starts with better thinking. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly gets to the root cause of many sales problems and it all comes back to people. The systemic issues plaguing sales teams often comes down lackadaisical approach to hiring and the prevalence of mediocrity in sales. Finding the right people is HARD, making coaching your B and C players to A level work is more critical than ever! He stresses the necessity of adopting a more rigorous and strategic hiring process to consistently onboard high-caliber talent. He underscores the critical role of sales leaders in coaching and developing their teams, asserting that top-performing salespeople thrive under competent leadership. Riggs concludes with a call to action for sales leaders to reevaluate their hiring and coaching practices, thereby transforming their teams and alleviating the persistent "headache" of underperformance. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales. Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com. Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019. Music and Editing by Doug Branson and Pod About It Productions

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs walks through a real-world sales scenario that looks successful on the surface—but quickly raises red flags for experienced leaders. Revenue is up, yet the company is underperforming compared to the broader market. The top salesperson continues to lead the team but hasn't grown in years. So what's really going on? Watch OR listen to Sales [UN]Training wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly challenges sales leaders to rethink how they diagnose problems. Instead of jumping to conclusions like pipeline issues or lack of activity, he emphasizes the importance of asking better questions and identifying root causes. Using practical examples, he illustrates how common assumptions can lead leaders in the wrong direction. The episode highlights a critical but often overlooked issue: capacity. A top performer may actually be limiting their own growth by over-servicing too many accounts. Kelly also outlines how ineffective sales management—despite experience and good intentions—can quietly undermine team performance. From leadership and talent evaluation to systems, processes, and culture, this conversation lays out a clear framework for analyzing sales performance at a deeper level. It also calls out a major mistake many organizations make: assuming that hiring experienced salespeople means they already know how to succeed. If you're a sales leader trying to close the gap between your performance and the market, this episode offers a sharp, practical perspective on where to start—and what to fix first. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs challenges one of the most fundamental assumptions in sales leadership: what is the true role of a sales manager? Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Too many managers focus on chasing revenue—tracking numbers, pushing deals, and stepping in to "save" opportunities. While it may feel productive, Kelly explains why this approach creates dependency, limits growth, and ultimately caps team performance. Instead, he introduces a powerful shift in thinking: the most effective leaders prioritize developing people who can consistently produce results without constant oversight. Using real-world examples and a compelling coaching analogy, Kelly breaks down the difference between revenue chasers and true people developers. He outlines the hidden costs of micromanagement, the illusion of control through metrics, and why accountability and coaching are the real drivers of sustainable success. The episode also explores new research revealing a surprising truth: leaders who balance results and people development dramatically outperform their peers—yet only 1% actually achieve this balance. If you're a sales VP or leader looking to scale performance, build stronger teams, and create lasting impact, this episode offers a clear roadmap for shifting your leadership approach and unlocking your team's full potential. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Why do so many capable salespeople fall short of their revenue goals—even after extensive sales training? In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs challenges the idea that success in selling is driven primarily by personality, charisma, or natural talent. This episode originally aired January 12th, 2026. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining While selling skills matter, they only produce results when supported by three foundational habits that consistently successful salespeople share. First, elite performers plan everything. From prospecting to discovery calls to territory management, they don't leave outcomes to chance. A clear plan creates focus, efficiency, and more time in front of customers. Second, they execute that plan with discipline. Kelly explores why time—not effort—is a salesperson's most valuable asset and how distractions quietly sabotage results. He outlines how intentional execution, not longer hours, leads to predictable quota attainment and confidence in the number.  Finally, the habit that sustains long-term success: continuous learning. The most consistent producers are relentless learners who reflect on every call, catalog lessons, and build a deep base of real-world expertise. They don't rely on product knowledge alone—they bring insights, best practices, and perspective clients actually value. This episode is a practical reset for sales professionals and leaders who want consistency instead of peaks and valleys. If you're building a sales culture—or trying to level the playing field against more "naturally gifted" competitors—this conversation delivers a clear roadmap for sustained performance. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs sits down with Steven Rosen, author of Focused: A Leadership Discipline for Sales Managers Under Pressure, to tackle one of the biggest frustrations in sales leadership—why training so often fails to produce results. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly Riggs opens with a hard truth: most sales managers are overwhelmed, undertrained, and pulled in too many directions to focus on what actually drives performance. Steven builds on that idea by explaining how lack of focus—not lack of effort—is the real issue holding teams back. The conversation highlights a critical flaw in most organizations: sales training is treated as an event instead of a system. Without reinforcement, coaching, and accountability, even the best training quickly fades. Kelly emphasizes that leaders who fail to reinforce training are essentially wasting their investment. Steven also breaks down the danger of "hero managers"—those who step in to close deals instead of developing their people. While it may feel productive in the moment, it ultimately creates dependent teams that can't perform without constant intervention. Another key theme is the idea of "exposure vs. mastery." Too many organizations mistake introducing a concept for actually building skill, skipping the repetition and practice required for real improvement. Finally, the episode explores the power of focus through Steven's "Three Things" framework, helping sales leaders prioritize what truly matters in a high-pressure environment. If you're a sales leader looking to improve performance, build stronger teams, and stop wasting time on ineffective training, this episode delivers a clear path forward. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly sits down with Adam Boyd to challenge one of the most common beliefs in sales: that teams struggle because they can't close. The reality is far more complex—and far more fixable.  Kelly opens the conversation by exposing a hard truth: most "closing problems" are actually symptoms of deeper breakdowns earlier in the sales process. From weak discovery to poor qualification, sales teams often fail to uncover what truly matters to the buyer. When that happens, deals stall, objections rise, and price becomes the only remaining lever. Adam expands on this by explaining how discounting is often a signal—not a solution. When salespeople haven't built a compelling reason to buy, they default to cutting price, eroding both margin and perceived value. The discussion also highlights how many reps ask too few questions, miss key stakeholders, and fail to understand risk from the buyer's perspective. The conversation then shifts to talent and leadership. Adam makes the case that training alone won't fix performance issues if the underlying talent isn't there. Kelly reinforces this by pointing out the critical role of coaching, noting that even the best training fails without strong sales leadership. Finally, they tackle the importance of process—why hiring better people won't help if there isn't a clear, consistent system for execution. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining  Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

On this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs sits down with influence and buyer-psychology expert Robin Burr explore why traditional sales tactics often fail. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Many sales professionals rely on product knowledge, statistics, and persuasive arguments to win deals. But as Kelly and Robin explain, the real barrier in most sales conversations isn't information—it's human psychology. Buyers resist change, protect their identity, and often reject ideas when they feel pressured or "sold." In this conversation, Robin explains why the first sale is not the product or service—it's helping the buyer decide that change is necessary in the first place. When salespeople skip that step and push features or logic, they often create resistance that shows up later as objections. Kelly and Robin also unpack why many sales teams unintentionally sabotage themselves. From overloading prospects with information to relying on scripts and closing tactics, salespeople frequently treat symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of buyer hesitation. You'll also hear Robin break down his PERFECT objection framework, which focuses on prevention, exploration, reframing, facilitation, empathy, closing, and transition—an approach designed to resolve concerns without turning the conversation into a debate. If you lead a sales team or carry a quota yourself, this episode will challenge how you think about persuasion, objections, and the real drivers behind buyer decisions. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly looks at a sales scenario to outline the real challenges in identifying what's ailing most sales teams today.  Link to the post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kriggs_a-sales-team-has-13-salespeople-all-have-activity-7434938240450727936-Pqdj Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly challenges sales leaders to confront one of the most damaging patterns in sales organizations: focusing on what's outside their control. Economic headwinds. Marketing gaps. Customer service issues. Tariffs. Competition. While all of these factors are real, Kelly makes the case that allowing them to dominate conversations creates a culture of excuses. And once excuse-making permeates a team, performance declines and accountability disappears. Instead, Kelly outlines four critical areas every salesperson and sales leader can control: decisions, influences, habits, and circumstances. From daily prospecting choices to the people your team surrounds themselves with, these controllable factors shape mindset, skill development, and ultimately win rates. He explains why role play matters, why learning initiative should be non-negotiable in hiring, and why improving win rates even slightly can dramatically impact revenue. But the responsibility doesn't stop with the sales rep. Kelly emphasizes that the sales leader is the "thermostat" of the culture. If leaders commiserate, make excuses, or tolerate negativity — even from top producers — they risk being held hostage by poor behavior that erodes the team. This episode is a practical blueprint for sales V.P.s and frontline managers who want to eliminate excuse-making, reinforce accountability, strengthen culture, and build a team capable of performing regardless of external conditions. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson   https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kriggs_a-sales-team-has-13-salespeople-all-have-activity-7434938240450727936-Pqdj?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADrbl1kBpztm1p7QkSPYfPv1romvcsi1FTk

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs challenges sales leaders to confront one of the most damaging patterns in sales organizations: focusing on what's outside their control. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Economic headwinds. Marketing gaps. Customer service issues. Tariffs. Competition. While all of these factors are real, Kelly makes the case that allowing them to dominate conversations creates a culture of excuses. And once excuse-making permeates a team, performance declines and accountability disappears. Instead, Kelly outlines four critical areas every salesperson and sales leader can control: decisions, influences, habits, and circumstances. From daily prospecting choices to the people your team surrounds themselves with, these controllable factors shape mindset, skill development, and ultimately win rates. He explains why role play matters, why learning initiative should be non-negotiable in hiring, and why improving win rates even slightly can dramatically impact revenue. But the responsibility doesn't stop with the sales rep. Kelly emphasizes that the sales leader is the "thermostat" of the culture. If leaders commiserate, make excuses, or tolerate negativity — even from top producers — they risk being held hostage by poor behavior that erodes the team. This episode is a practical blueprint for sales V.P.s and frontline managers who want to eliminate excuse-making, reinforce accountability, strengthen culture, and build a team capable of performing regardless of external conditions. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Most sales teams operate on "tribal knowledge"—a set of unverified assumptions about why customers choose them. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs sits down with Jeff Bajorek to challenge these assumptions and expose a systemic failure in sales leadership. Research suggests that 80% of salespeople would be shocked to learn the real reasons their best customers buy from them . This gap in understanding often leads to generic messaging and missed opportunities for growth. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Jeff introduces a tactical Five-Question Framework designed to bridge this gap through vulnerability and specific discovery. By asking customers exactly why they chose the company the first time—and why they keep coming back—salespeople can refine their go-to-market strategy and slash time spent on maintenance by 50% without losing revenue. Beyond the technicalities of selling, the conversation explores the human element of leadership. Kelly and Jeff discuss the "coin-operated" management trap, where leaders assume throwing money at a problem replaces the need for genuine relationship-building . They emphasize that while systems and processes require efficiency, people require empathy and time. If you are a Sales VP looking to move beyond "good luck" management and start building a high-performance team grounded in mutual trust and verified value, this episode provides the blueprint for your evolution. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs tackles one of the most misunderstood — and most powerful — drivers of sales performance: culture. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Many sales leaders blame poor results on weak selling skills, flawed compensation plans, or lack of process. But Kelly makes a compelling case that culture — defined simply as the commonly accepted behaviors inside your organization — is often the true root cause of underperformance. It's not what you post on the wall. It's what you allow. Kelly shares research showing how strong cultures outperform the market, improve profitability, reduce turnover, and increase engagement. More importantly, he explains why leaders are the thermostat of culture — not just observers of it. If mediocrity, gossip, entitlement, or poor accountability exist on your team, leadership tolerance is likely the reason. Through a real-world case study, Kelly outlines a practical blueprint for transforming a toxic environment into a high-performance culture. The steps include defining a clear and elevating vision, hiring and retaining the right people, eliminating toxic behaviors, implementing consistent skill development, and building a culture of accountability. If you want to attract A-players, reduce turnover, and dramatically improve sales performance, this episode provides a leadership framework you can implement immediately. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Selling has always been a high-pressure profession, but not all pressure is created equal. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs examines the fine line between productive urgency and the kind of stress that quietly erodes sales performance, confidence, and consistency. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly explains how pressure affects the brain, why a little can sharpen performance, and why too much leads to cognitive decline, poor decisions, and erratic selling behavior. You'll learn the early warning signs that stress is damaging execution—including skipping steps in the sales process, rushing to quote, incomplete discovery, and increased ghosting from buyers. For sales leaders, this episode delivers a clear challenge: stop passing pressure straight downhill. Kelly outlines why reinforcing executive stress only magnifies performance problems and how filtering pressure is a core leadership responsibility. He also addresses one of the most common leadership failures—vague, nonspecific direction—and explains why clarity around expectations, behaviors, and outcomes is essential when urgency increases. The episode closes with a powerful insight drawn from real leadership experience: confidence comes from capability. Kelly shares how training, coaching, and time in the field equip salespeople to handle pressure without breaking down—and why teams with higher capability outperform others when the stakes are highest. If you lead a sales team and want stronger execution without burnout, this episode delivers practical guidance you can apply immediately. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Most sales professionals believe relationships drive revenue—but too many confuse familiarity with credibility. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs sits down with keynote speaker and sales veteran Chris Cummins to unpack why credibility is the first and most important sale every salesperson makes. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly and Chris challenge the idea that knowing a prospect's hobbies or personal details equals trust. Instead, they outline a practical, disciplined approach to earning credibility by doing meaningful homework, asking better questions, and demonstrating a real understanding of a prospect's world. From researching industries and competitors to using personalized video outreach, Chris shares the exact methods he uses to stand out before a sales conversation even begins. The conversation also tackles a major blind spot in sales: what happens after the deal closes. Chris explains why most salespeople disappear post-sale—and how showing up anyway creates stronger relationships, more referrals, and expanded opportunities. Kelly reinforces why sales leaders should rethink how they train teams to lead with credibility instead of product pitches. This episode is packed with real examples, sharp contrasts to common sales behavior, and practical insights sales VPs can apply immediately. If you want your team to stop sounding like everyone else and start being seen as trusted partners, this conversation will reframe how you think about selling. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Are you accidentally sabotaging your sales culture by promoting your top producer into a management role they aren't ready for? It's a classic B2B sales blunder: taking your best Account Executive off the field and expecting them to suddenly excel at sales coaching, performance management, and strategic leadership without a playbook. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs challenges the industry-standard "battlefield promotion" and explains why traditional sales leadership hiring consistently produces poor results. If you're a Sales Director looking to scale or a Sales Manager struggling with the transition from "doing" to "leading," this episode is your wake-up call. Inside This Episode: The Gallup Gap: Why research shows that most organizations promote the wrong people into leadership roles 80% of the time—and the specific "talent vs. skill" trap you need to avoid. The Firefighter Blueprint: A look at the unconventional leadership model fire departments use to ensure their leaders can perform under pressure before they get the badge. Building Your Sales Management Framework: How to create a Sales Leader Guidebook that defines clear expectations, role-based coaching scenarios, and measurable performance assessments. The Individual Contributor Pivot: Understanding the fundamental shift in mindset required to move from hitting a personal quota to driving team-wide revenue growth. Stop "recycling" underprepared managers and start building a high-performance sales culture based on preparation and process. Whether you are currently leading a team or have your sights set on a VP of Sales role, Kelly provides the roadmap to ensure your next promotion is a success, not a statistic. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Sales presentations don't fail by accident—they fail by design. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs breaks down why most solution presentations sound the same, feel unconvincing, and consistently fall short of winning decisions. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Drawing on decades of observing real sales calls and role-play sessions, Kelly explains how traditional sales training creates predictable mistakes. Salespeople are taught to master the product, build a slide deck, and "go sell"—which leads directly to unstructured presentations, feature overload, and conversations with the wrong people in the room. The result? Confused prospects, delayed decisions, stalled deals, and shrinking win rates. Kelly walks through the most common presentation failures, including winging it without a plan, relying on PowerPoint as a crutch, and dumping features instead of guiding decision makers. He also highlights the real objective of a solution presentation: creating a clear, compelling connection between what the prospect needs and what the solution uniquely delivers. This episode is a wake-up call for sales leaders who assume good discovery calls and product knowledge automatically translate into effective presentations. Kelly makes the case that salespeople must be trained—intentionally—on how to prepare, structure, and deliver individualized solution conversations that stand out from competitors. If your team's presentations sound interchangeable, feel scripted, or struggle to move deals forward, this episode will challenge how you think about sales training—and show you where the breakdown really starts. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Why do so many capable salespeople fall short of their revenue goals—even after extensive sales training? In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs challenges the idea that success in selling is driven primarily by personality, charisma, or natural talent. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining While selling skills matter, they only produce results when supported by three foundational habits that consistently successful salespeople share. First, elite performers plan everything. From prospecting to discovery calls to territory management, they don't leave outcomes to chance. A clear plan creates focus, efficiency, and more time in front of customers. Second, they execute that plan with discipline. Kelly explores why time—not effort—is a salesperson's most valuable asset and how distractions quietly sabotage results. He outlines how intentional execution, not longer hours, leads to predictable quota attainment and confidence in the number.  Finally, the habit that sustains long-term success: continuous learning. The most consistent producers are relentless learners who reflect on every call, catalog lessons, and build a deep base of real-world expertise. They don't rely on product knowledge alone—they bring insights, best practices, and perspective clients actually value. This episode is a practical reset for sales professionals and leaders who want consistency instead of peaks and valleys. If you're building a sales culture—or trying to level the playing field against more "naturally gifted" competitors—this conversation delivers a clear roadmap for sustained performance. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, host Kelly Riggs tackles one of the most critical challenges sales leaders face—hiring the right kind of salesperson. While many resumes look impressive on paper, the truth is that three out of four salespeople are failing to meet revenue goals, and one of the biggest reasons is misaligned roles. Kelly breaks down the essential distinction between "hunters" and "farmers," explaining why a top performer in one role may fail miserably in another. Drawing on personal experience as a sales leader and even a surprising ride-along with law enforcement, Kelly reveals how hunting is as much a mindset as it is a skill set. He shares how to probe during interviews to uncover whether a candidate has truly created opportunities from scratch—or simply thrived on inbound leads. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Learn why vague expectations set salespeople up for failure and how crystal-clear role requirements can dramatically reduce costly hiring mistakes. From the importance of identifying hunters early, to the tactics you can use to confirm whether a candidate has both the drive and skills for growth, this episode is packed with insights for sales leaders who want to stop wasting money on the wrong hires. Whether you're building a team from the ground up or looking to strengthen your existing sales force, this episode will equip you with practical strategies to identify, attract, and retain the kind of sales talent that drives real growth. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs tackles one of the most costly and overlooked problems in sales leadership: unprepared sales calls. He opens with a jarring truth that most leaders already suspect—salespeople are practicing on customers because they aren't being coached consistently, and the price companies pay for that lack of preparation is enormous. Kelly breaks down the real role of a sales leader, contrasting true coaching with the technical "support work" that consumes so many managers' calendars. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly shares the lessons he learned from one of the most impactful sales managers in his career, illustrating why every call needs a clear objective, planned questions, and anticipated obstacles. He explains how great reps think ahead, rehearse their approach, and walk into conversations ready for objections, emotional curveballs, and the unexpected. You'll hear why rapport isn't the same as trust, how discovery should create genuine dialog, and how preparation helps salespeople remain calm, confident, and consultative. The episode also highlights the importance of curbside coaching after calls—how to reinforce what went well, isolate areas for improvement, and teach reps to observe signals they currently miss. Ultimately, Kelly shows why preparation and coaching aren't optional—they're the foundation for developing capable, independent performers who no longer need a manager to "run the call." Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Consistency and predictability — according to Kelly Riggs — are the true holy grail of selling, and in this episode of Sales [UN]Training, he explains exactly how sales leaders can build both into their teams. Kelly starts by challenging the long-held belief that revenue is impossible to predict, arguing instead that the real issue is that most sales organizations lack a clear methodology for hitting their number. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining He introduces the first major discipline: creating a detailed, account-level plan that goes far beyond budgeting or forecasting. Kelly shows how true planning clarifies the exact opportunities required to hit quota, exposes revenue gaps early, and prevents salespeople from relying on chance. He then moves to the second discipline — executing the plan relentlessly. With classic reminders like "plan your work, work your plan," he emphasizes time management, distraction elimination, and the importance of structuring prospecting instead of squeezing it in "when there's time." But the third discipline is the one Kelly says separates predictable performers from everyone else: making every call a learning experience. Instead of rescuing deals, sales leaders should observe, coach, and guide reps through what they missed, what they executed well, and what to apply to the next opportunity. From wins to losses, each interaction becomes a coaching moment that accelerates long-term capability and capacity. Whether you lead a team or carry a quota, this episode offers a practical, repeatable approach to delivering results regardless of circumstances. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs takes sales leaders inside the real engine of sales performance: coaching that creates meaningful adjustments in real time. Rather than simply teaching new skills and hoping they stick, Kelly explains how true coaching mirrors elite athletics — observing, correcting, and refining behaviors as they occur in the "game" of a sales call. He walks through the difference between training new concepts and coaching during live execution, highlighting why most salespeople fall into repetitive habits without someone watching closely enough to help them change course. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Drawing from both sports and decades of front-line sales leadership, Kelly breaks down four essential adjustments every sales leader should look for during calls. These include helping salespeople become proactive with common objections, pushing them to explore beyond surface-level answers, preventing them from flipping into "selling mode" too early, and strengthening their emotional intelligence so they can maintain composure when conversations turn tense. He also shares personal stories of coaching that shaped his own career — from game-planning calls to the powerful "curbside coaching" method that accelerates a salesperson's growth immediately after the meeting. Sales leaders will gain practical steps for raising their credibility, increasing their influence, and building trusting relationships that make real coaching possible. If you want more consistent performance, better conversations, and salespeople who adjust instead of repeating the same mistakes, this episode delivers the roadmap. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs confronts a topic many salespeople avoid: professionalism and its direct connection to credibility. Drawing from real research and decades of field experience, Kelly shows how first impressions influence trust long before a salesperson asks a single question. Whether you sell to blue-collar environments, executives, or high-stakes decision-makers, the way you present yourself—appearance, demeanor, language, and respect—signals your capability immediately. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Using a relatable doctor analogy, Kelly highlights how rushing into "solution mode" without understanding the full picture destroys trust and derails opportunities. He explains why prospects subconsciously evaluate whether you're credible, prepared, attentive, and professional far earlier than most salespeople realize. Kelly also breaks down the unforced errors that make salespeople look average: talking too much, selling too soon, neglecting preparation, and engaging prospects with casual or sloppy behavior that undermines confidence. Listeners will hear why the first call has only two real objectives: build credibility and create a meaningful business conversation. Kelly outlines how consultative questions, genuine curiosity, and disciplined pacing dramatically increase the likelihood of earning a second meeting. He also challenges sales leaders to recognize the clues that distinguish true professionals from pretenders. If you want to fast-track trust, elevate your presence, and eliminate costly credibility mistakes, this is an episode you can't afford to miss. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Most salespeople are using AI wrong—and it's showing. Kelly and guest Jeff Bajorek of Outbound Squad unpack how to stop getting generic junk from ChatGPT and start using it to actually improve your sales game. Salespeople love shortcuts—but AI isn't one. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly is joined by Jeff Bajorek to dismantle the lazy approach most reps are taking with ChatGPT. Spoiler: If your prompts are weak, your outputs will be worse. Jeff shares how he pulled the most common AI prompts from sales pros—and why they're failing to move the needle. You'll hear the top 10 things reps are asking AI to do (hint: it's mostly their job), and the smarter way to leverage the tool. They break down why ChatGPT is not a better Google and how it can become your best practice partner. Jeff walks through how he's using AI for personalized role play—complete with real-time feedback, tone analysis, and escalating difficulty levels. No awkward team huddles, no judgment—just pure reps. Kelly jumps in with stories from the field, how he's spotting AI in job candidate submissions, and why using AI to "act human" might backfire if you're not ready for the follow-up questions. If you're a VP of Sales or a frontline manager wondering how to integrate AI into your training without dumbing things down—this episode is your roadmap. Plus, Kelly closes with a reality check: AI is here to handle the tasks that aren't human, so your people can do what only humans can—build real trust and relationships. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Stop letting your salespeople practice on customers and wondering why they fail under pressure. This episode explains how to adopt the pro sports model of repetitive practice and coaching to build skills that stick. Why do three out of four salespeople fail to meet their revenue targets? The problem isn't the salespeople; it's the training model. We let our teams "practice on customers", a strategy that would get any professional sports coach fired. This episode explores what sales leaders must learn from the high-performance training models used by pro sports teams. Kelly contrasts the typical "exposure" model of sales training—a one-off kickoff meeting or seminar with no follow-up, repetition, or coaching —with the athletic model of daily, repetitive practice. Athletes don't start with a full-pads scrimmage. They break down skills into individual components (like a receiver catching one-handed balls), then practice them in small groups (like 7-on-7 drills), building habits through repetition. This is the only way to move a skill from "conscious incompetence" (knowing you're not good at it) to "unconscious competence" (flawless execution under pressure). If you're tired of your team developing bad habits and failing under duress, it's time to embrace real practice, like role-play. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Kelly celebrates two years of transforming how professionals think about sales — and tackles one of the biggest questions in the business world: why is selling so hard? Drawing from decades of experience, Kelly unpacks the long list of skills every salesperson must master — from systems and product knowledge to industry fluency, customer psychology, and competitive strategy. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining But it doesn't stop there. Kelly explains how companies unintentionally make the job harder through poor onboarding, unrealistic expectations, and one-off "event" training that quickly fades away. He highlights how many organizations still perpetuate outdated sales stereotypes — focusing on product pitches instead of developing professionals who listen, adapt, and solve problems. Sales is not a fallback career — it's one of the most complex, performance-driven roles in business. And while great salespeople thrive on challenge, true success depends on leaders who prepare and support them the right way. If you lead a sales team or want to understand what separates elite performers from the rest, this episode is a must-listen. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson 

Stop pitching at the first buying signal and learn the real secret to effective selling: listening. Discover the critical questions you're not asking—like "how do you feel?"—that unlock the motivations, emotions, and information needed to build trust and win the deal.  Salespeople are trained to talk, not to listen. We load them with product knowledge and then wonder why they commit the ultimate amateur mistake: pouncing on the first potential buying signal with a full-blown product pitch. This approach doesn't build trust; it breaks it. In this finale of a three-part series on listening, Kelly Riggs exposes the real secret to becoming a great listener. It's not just about asking good questions; it's about having the emotional intelligence to explore the details behind the first answer. You will learn that the ability to be a truly effective listener is predicated on one overlooked skill: preparation. When you are prepared, you can get out of your own head and stop thinking about what to say next, allowing you to genuinely tune in. This episode provides concrete examples of the powerful questions most salespeople are afraid to ask—including the simple shift from "what do you think?" to "how do you feel?"—to uncover a prospect's true motivations. Finally, learn why making assumptions is so dangerous and why clarification is the critical final key to understanding what your prospect really means. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Most salespeople think they're great listeners—but Kelly Riggs says they're wrong. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly explores the critical difference between "hearing" and "listening to learn." Using lessons from psychology and real-world sales experience, he reveals why too many reps focus so hard on pitching that they miss what's actually being said. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly draws from "The Invisible Gorilla" experiment to illustrate how attention blindness ruins sales calls, then shares the concept of "staying in the moment"—a key sales competency proven to predict success. You'll learn why amateur salespeople ask fact-based questions, how pros create dialogue instead of interrogation, and why curiosity and empathy are the true foundations of effective selling. From sidewalk coaching to trade show mistakes, Kelly breaks down the traps every salesperson falls into—and exactly how to avoid them. If you've ever wondered why your prospects go silent or why your "great product pitch" fell flat, this episode is a masterclass in what to actually listen for. Tune in, take notes, and start rewiring your sales brain today. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs tackles one of the most overlooked skills in sales—listening. Most sales calls are dominated by the salesperson's voice, leaving little room to learn what really matters to the buyer. Kelly explains why that's a critical mistake and how asking the right questions is the foundation of every successful sales conversation. Through relatable stories and sharp analogies, including one comparing listening to a car's transmission, Kelly illustrates how true sales effectiveness comes from curiosity, not chatter. He exposes why traditional training fails—focusing too much on talking about the product instead of discovering what the customer actually values. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Listeners will learn how to shift from "listening to reply" to "listening to understand," how curiosity drives connection, and why rapport doesn't come from swapping stories but from making people feel genuinely heard. Kelly also shares practical advice on retraining sales teams to lead with thoughtful questions and resist the urge to sell on the first call. If you're ready to rewire your sales brain and close more deals through better conversations, this episode will show you exactly where to start. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, host Kelly Riggs tackles one of the most critical challenges sales leaders face—hiring the right kind of salesperson. While many resumes look impressive on paper, the truth is that three out of four salespeople are failing to meet revenue goals, and one of the biggest reasons is misaligned roles. Kelly breaks down the essential distinction between "hunters" and "farmers," explaining why a top performer in one role may fail miserably in another. Drawing on personal experience as a sales leader and even a surprising ride-along with law enforcement, Kelly reveals how hunting is as much a mindset as it is a skill set. He shares how to probe during interviews to uncover whether a candidate has truly created opportunities from scratch—or simply thrived on inbound leads. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Learn why vague expectations set salespeople up for failure and how crystal-clear role requirements can dramatically reduce costly hiring mistakes. From the importance of identifying hunters early, to the tactics you can use to confirm whether a candidate has both the drive and skills for growth, this episode is packed with insights for sales leaders who want to stop wasting money on the wrong hires. Whether you're building a team from the ground up or looking to strengthen your existing sales force, this episode will equip you with practical strategies to identify, attract, and retain the kind of sales talent that drives real growth. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Kelly and Lee Salz break down why most salespeople fail at the very first meeting — and what to do instead. They uncover how playbooks, meaningful value, and emotional engagement can change the sales game. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, host Kelly Riggs sits down with best-selling author Lee Salz to tackle one of the most overlooked — and costly — challenges in sales: the first meeting. Lee, author of The First Meeting Differentiator, explains why so many salespeople lose before they've even had a chance to win. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Together, Kelly and Lee explore why traditional training fails, why most sales meetings are forgotten within days, and how sales leaders can create reinforcement strategies that actually stick. They dig into the power of a documented sales playbook, the importance of shifting from a "discovery" mindset to a consultation mindset, and why providing meaningful value in every interaction is the key to earning a second meeting. Lee also reveals why emotional connection — not logic alone — drives buying decisions, and how salespeople can avoid the trap of product pitching. From understanding the forgetting curve, to developing target client profiles, to creating a true "deal foundation" in the very first meeting, this episode is packed with insights that every sales VP and frontline rep needs to hear. If you've ever wondered why hard-won opportunities stall, or why first meetings rarely turn into long-term relationships, this conversation offers a practical framework you can put to use immediately. Don't miss this timely and practical guide to transforming your first meetings into real business wins. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Kelly breaks down why selling is truly a competition and why there's no reward for second place. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, he shares four ways sales teams "play the game" and how mindset separates the elite from the average. Selling isn't just a job—it's a competition, and Kelly wants to make sure you're playing to win. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly challenges the conventional view of sales training and asks a critical question: are you preparing your team to truly compete, or just to participate? Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly unpacks the unique reality of selling—there are no prizes for second place. Through powerful analogies and hard-hitting examples, he outlines the four ways salespeople play the game: showing up to play, playing to win, playing to win at all costs, and playing not to lose. Each mindset carries consequences, and only one creates consistent winners. Beyond strategy, Kelly explores the crucial role of mindset in sales success. Drawing parallels from elite athletes, he shows how mental conditioning, resilience, and the ability to learn from every win and loss are what propel salespeople into the top 5% of performers. Leaders, he argues, must go beyond assigning tasks—they must coach, train, and cultivate a culture of excellence rooted in competition and growth. If you're a sales leader looking to transform your team, or a salesperson ready to shift from "showing up" to competing at the highest level, this episode delivers the insight and challenge you need. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

How long does it really take for a new salesperson to become competent? Kelly Riggs challenges the myths, shares data on failure rates, and lays out a framework that sales leaders can actually use. How long should it take for a brand-new salesperson to reach competency? If you ask ten sales leaders, you'll get ten different answers—ranging anywhere from weeks to years. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly Riggs pulls apart the debate and examines the critical milestones that determine whether a new hire becomes productive or becomes part of the 75% who never make it. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly exposes the overconfidence many managers place in "experienced hires" and highlights why resumes, industry connections, and product familiarity often fail to translate into actual selling ability. He shares eye-opening stats: only 1 in 20 salespeople are truly elite, while the vast majority struggle. From there, he introduces the "Four Buckets" every salesperson must master—systems and processes, product knowledge, industry context, and the actual skills of selling. But here's the twist: training that overloads product details without real-world context slows development dramatically. Kelly provides a pro tip that accelerates onboarding—immersing new hires with satisfied customers so they can connect product knowledge with real experiences and stories. This method not only builds competence faster but also arms salespeople with authentic credibility when meeting prospects. If you're a VP of Sales or sales leader frustrated by long ramp times and inconsistent performance, this episode is packed with blunt truths and practical strategies you won't want to miss. Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Stop trying to incrementally improve a broken system. Discover why radical, Deion Sanders-style transformation is the only way to fix the systemic issues holding your sales team back from explosive growth. We're on a short summer break. New episodes will return in September. In the meantime enjoy this episode in honor of College and NFL football returning. This episode originally aired on October 2nd, 2023. Most sales leaders believe they can transform their team's results, but the data shows three out of four teams fail to consistently grow year-over-year. The truth is, you can't transform your sales team—at least not in the way you've been trying. Incremental changes and minor tweaks won't fix the deep, systemic issues that lead to mediocrity and high turnover. Lasting change requires a radical overhaul, and most leaders simply don't have the stomach for it. This episode explores what it truly takes to engineer a massive turnaround. Drawing a powerful parallel to Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' controversial but effective reconstruction of the Colorado Buffaloes football program, Kelly Riggs explains why you might need to change everything—your people, your culture, and your expectations. You'll examine the three core pillars of a successful sales organization: acquiring unique talent, developing radically focused leadership, and implementing bulletproof processes. Forget putting a band-aid on a major health problem. This is your guide to diagnosing the underlying causes of poor performance and executing a strategy that creates disproportionate, sustainable results. Are you ready to do the hard work required to win? Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Could your team's sales training routines be considered a "dumpster fire"? Kelly Riggs explains why salespeople won't participate in training and reveals the systemic problems, and surprising solutions, to the sales training problem. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, host Kelly Riggs addresses the frustrating reality for many sales leaders: their teams' lack of engagement in training. Kelly identifies three common complaints—salespeople who don't attend, schedule over training, or simply don't engage—and offers a blunt but necessary truth: "You're the problem". The problem isn't the salespeople's lack of motivation; it's a systemic issue that starts with who sales leaders hire and how they lead. This episode originally aired on June 2nd, 2025 The episode explores the non-existent barriers to entry in the sales profession, which often results in hiring individuals who are not self-motivated or dedicated to continuous learning. Kelly emphasizes that great leaders must hire people who are committed to self-improvement and set clear, non-negotiable expectations from the outset. He also discusses the critical distinction between training and learning, explaining that training is merely "exposure" to new ideas, while true learning and habit change only occur through coaching, practice, and a consistent feedback loop. Sales leaders must stop looking at symptoms and instead address the root causes of their team's underperformance. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Stop overwhelming prospects with information; it isn't persuasive and it's killing your deals. Discover the seven critical psychological steps you must guide a buyer through to build trust, prove value, and create urgency. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, host Kelly Riggs tackles one of the most common and costly mistakes in sales: believing that giving prospects more product information will win the deal. Drawing from decades of observing sales calls, Kelly dismantles the "show up and throw up" approach and replaces it with a proven, customer-focused framework. Listeners will learn the Seven Critical Steps to a Sale, a process that goes beyond features and functions to address the real decision-making drivers in a prospect's mind. Kelly walks through each step in detail: identifying or creating a perceived need, helping the buyer see the loss of inaction or the gain from change, building trust in your solution, making change feel manageable, minimizing risk, ensuring value exceeds price, and creating genuine urgency. With practical insights, real-world examples, and the reminder that "information isn't persuasion," Kelly shows how the best salespeople connect emotionally, align with personal agendas, and move deals forward without stalling. Whether you lead a sales team or close deals yourself, this episode will help you replace product dumping with a strategic, emotionally intelligent sales approach that wins more business—faster. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Everyone throws around "value," but most salespeople can't actually communicate it. Kelly explains why credibility comes first—and how selling ROI without trust is just noise. "Value" might be the most overused and misunderstood word in sales. Sales leaders preach value propositions, ROI claims, and solution-based selling—but when your reps hit the field, are they actually communicating value or just tossing around buzzwords? In this episode, Kelly breaks down what value really is: something perceived, not proclaimed. He shares stories of companies with solid ROI pitches that failed to connect, and exposes the disconnect between what sales teams promote and what customers care about. You'll hear why "the first sale is your credibility," how trust is the gateway to value, and why selling features instead of outcomes leads to missed targets. Kelly also walks through the phases of a true value conversation—from establishing credibility, to diagnosing pain, to aligning your offering with exactly what the buyer needs. He even explains how to address the real objection behind "your price is too high": fear of change. If you're tired of sales training that leads to reps talking past their prospects, you need this episode. It's time to rewire your sales brain. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Salespeople are taught to sell product features, yet prospects almost never buy them. This episode breaks down why this common sales tactic fails and reveals how to connect with what customers actually want. Still leading sales calls with product features? Kelly says that's not just outdated—it's losing you deals. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, we tackle Sales Dumpster Fire #6: the mistake of selling what prospects don't care about. Kelly walks through the truth most salespeople avoid: buyers aren't sold on specs, they're sold on results. Time saved. Headaches avoided. Personal wins that make them look good at work. This episode breaks down why features are just noise unless you clearly tie them to meaningful outcomes. You'll learn: Why buyers tune out product specs (even the flashy ones) What you should be leading with on a sales call How emotion—not logic—actually drives purchasing decisions The 3 things you should always be selling: results, value, and risk reduction Kelly also shares a killer question that opens the door to your buyer's personal motivation—and why that matters more than any one feature. Plus, hear what science says about how people decide and how to use that to your advantage. If your team is getting ghosted or struggling to close, this is required listening. Quit pitching. Start connecting. And watch your sales performance shift. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Why do salespeople struggle with accountability? Kelly shows how the real problem often starts at the top—and what you can do to change it. If your reps aren't owning their results, you might be looking in the wrong direction. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly pulls no punches: "It's not them—it's you." From vague expectations to weak training and poor hiring choices, he breaks down the four most common ways leaders accidentally create a culture of excuse-making. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining This is not about coddling your reps. It's about facing the reality that accountability doesn't magically appear—it's built, modeled, and reinforced from the top down. Kelly walks through the damaging effects of unclear communication, underdeveloped skills, low motivation, and hiring without grit—and then shows how to fix each one. He also shares what not to do if you want accountability to take root: blame your people. If you make excuses as a leader, your team will too. But if you're serious about performance, it starts with extreme ownership. ✅ 4 leadership mistakes that kill accountability ✅ Why salespeople "not getting it" is often your fault ✅ The #1 behavior that shuts down coaching before it starts Whether you're managing a team or preparing to build one, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you lead, train, and build trust. Let's rewire your sales leadership brain—one hard truth at a time.   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

If you sound like a salesperson, you're toast. Kelly walks through six dead-giveaway phrases that kill your credibility before you ever get a shot at the deal. This week, Kelly calls out one of the most common—and costly—mistakes salespeople make: sounding exactly like every other salesperson your prospect's ever met. If your opener screams "commission breath," the shades come down, the windows close, and your prospect is already looking for the eject button. Kelly breaks down five behaviors that scream "salesperson" and follow them with six phrases that almost guarantee resistance, ghosting, or a polite brush-off. From asking a prospect to "tell me about your business" (without doing your homework) to the classic "I'm just calling to follow up," this episode is a must-listen if you're tired of stalled deals and prospects going cold. Instead of resorting to generic claims and weak openers, Kelly offers hard-earned insights on how to build credibility, earn attention, and extend the conversation. The real first sale? Your trustworthiness. If you don't land that, the product pitch doesn't stand a chance. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Sales reps don't get enough reps—and it's killing performance. Kelly and guest Jeff Bajorek show how ChatGPT can simulate high-stakes cold calls and discovery sessions so your team doesn't practice on prospects. Three out of four salespeople are failing. Why? Because most sales training stops short of actual practice. In this episode, Kelly is joined again by Jeff Bajorek to demonstrate a live, unscripted roleplay using ChatGPT. No scripts, no retakes—just real-time practice that mirrors the real world. They start with a cold call simulation and then shift into a face-to-face discovery meeting, each designed to uncover and overcome the two big obstacles every sales team faces: lack of pipeline and stalled deals. You'll hear exactly how ChatGPT can be used to rehearse permission-based openers, work through objections, and tailor questions based on buyer psychology. You'll also hear how to level up AI roleplay sessions with contextual prompts from real earnings calls or buyer research, and why this approach beats traditional practice methods—hands down. This isn't theory. It's tactical, repeatable, and ready to use. If you're managing a sales team or trying to sharpen your own skills, this is the episode you didn't know you needed. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Most salespeople say they want to improve, but never actually change—and sales leaders let them off the hook. Kelly explains how mindset, repetition, and the absence of deadlines are sabotaging your team's potential. You hear it all the time: "I want to get better at sales." But the truth? Most salespeople won't change—and most sales leaders don't know how to make them. In this episode, Kelly breaks down the harsh reality of why sales training fails: because it relies too heavily on exposure and doesn't build in accountability, coaching, or clear expectations. He outlines the three root causes behind the failure to change—momentum, mindset, and lack of confidence—and why vague coaching like "get serious" or "make more calls" won't move the needle. You'll hear the role of repetition, specific practice, and why deadlines matter just as much as the skill itself. Sales managers, if you're frustrated by your team's lack of follow-through, this one's for you. Kelly pulls no punches as he lays out how to actually build a sales team that improves week over week—not just one that listens to another training video. Plus, he opens up limited slots to book 30-minute calls for anyone facing a specific sales challenge. It's real talk for real change—and your wake-up call to rewire your sales brain. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Three out of four salespeople are falling short, despite having mountains of available training content at their fingertips. In this episode, Kelly is joined again by Jeff Bajorek to tackle the real issue: why sales organizations fail to execute—even when they know what to do. ChatGPT joins the show (yes, literally) to offer insight into how AI can help close the "knowing-doing" gap. Jeff discusses how he uses ChatGPT to uncover blind spots, rehearse tricky calls, and pressure test sales strategies before taking them to market. Kelly and Jeff go beyond the hype to show how AI isn't just another tool—it can become a true thinking partner. You'll hear exactly how to set up ChatGPT for cold call roleplay, overcome price objections, and get reps consistent, meaningful practice in the final 15 minutes of every workday. Plus, Kelly lays out what separates strong sales leaders from the rest—and how they can use AI to build a culture of continuous improvement. This episode is packed with tactical advice and mind-bending ideas. Whether you're a VP of Sales or a frontline manager, this one's worth a listen. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Sales training fails when it becomes a box to check instead of a culture to create. Kelly explains how sales leaders set the tone, and why your team's lack of engagement might just be your fault. Three out of four salespeople are missing quota. But it's not always because they're lazy, unmotivated, or disinterested—often, it's because sales leadership is dropping the ball. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly pulls no punches. He lays out why traditional sales training often turns into a total dumpster fire, how sales leaders are enabling it, and what it actually takes to build a high-performance sales culture. From setting clear expectations during hiring, to eliminating excuses for skipping training, to understanding the difference between exposure and behavior change—Kelly breaks down why engagement starts at the top. You'll hear exactly what role coaching plays, why notebooks should be mandatory, and how to create real accountability around learning. He even offers a pro tip for using books to level up your team (without boring them to death). If you've ever said "we tried training, but it didn't work," this episode is a wake-up call. Leadership isn't about control—it's about clarity, standards, and consistency. And it starts with you. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

You won the deal. Now what? Kelly explains why execution—not the close—is what separates pros from amateurs, and how being present after the sale sets you up for the next one. You did the hard work. You prospected, qualified, presented, and closed. But if you think the job's done, think again. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly sounds the alarm on one of the biggest threats to future business: poor execution after the deal is done. Winning the sale means nothing if your delivery and implementation process falls apart. Kelly walks through the critical steps every salesperson must take after the contract is signed—from maintaining contact during execution, to handling hiccups without throwing teammates under the bus, to building a branded delivery process that competitors won't touch. You'll also hear why your customer's experience matters more than the quality of your solution, and how salespeople can turn great execution into repeat business and internal referrals. If you're checking out after the signature, you're lighting your next deal on fire. 🔑 In this episode: Why being "present" during delivery drives loyalty How to brand and sell your execution process What most reps get dead wrong about post-sale ownership The magic of proactive communication and follow-up Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson  

Why are so many sales teams built around underperformers? Kelly breaks down the hard truth behind marginal reps, the hamster-wheel excuses that keep them on payroll, and what it really takes to fix it. Every sales leader has faced it: the likable but ineffective rep who never quite makes quota—and never quite gets fired. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly hits the uncomfortable truth that most managers don't want to confront: your loyalty to marginal performers is killing your team's performance. Kelly walks through the excuses sales leaders give—"I don't have time," "They're not that bad," "I haven't done enough"—and tears them down one by one. He explains how this inertia traps you on a hamster wheel of constant reactivity, leaving little time for what actually grows the business: developing A players and building a high-performance culture. Need Real Sales Feedback? Let's Talk. Got a specific sales challenge you can't solve in a Slack thread or weekly meeting? I'm opening up a few 30-minute, no-pitch consults to talk shop—off the record, outside the chain of command, and 100% focused on your world. No fluff No selling Just you, me, and the problem that's costing you time and margin 📅 Book your time now at BLKR.co/30 Let's fix what's stuck. You'll also hear four hard diagnostic questions that reveal whether a rep belongs on your team, and a 3-step framework to ensure your development process actually drives results. Kelly doesn't just talk sales strategy—he challenges you to lead like your job depends on it. If you're ready to build a team that sells and stop babysitting those who don't, this is the episode you've been avoiding—and absolutely need to hear. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Kelly and Jeff Bajorek team up with a unique guest—ChatGPT—to explore how AI can actually train sales reps. From role play to resilience, this episode challenges everything you thought you knew about sales development. Together, the trio breaks new ground, asking whether AI can play a real role in sales development and coaching. Spoiler alert: the answer isn't what you think. The conversation pulls no punches. Kelly challenges ChatGPT on what it really knows about sales, drilling into topics like emotional intelligence, tactical skills, and the glaring flaws of traditional corporate sales training. Jeff puts ChatGPT to the test with questions about roleplay, personalization, and feedback loops—and is surprised by what he hears in return. You'll hear real insights into: How AI can help reps prep for cold calls, improve objection handling, and analyze conversations post-call. Why most sales training misses the mark by focusing on product instead of people. The irreplaceable human elements—empathy, intuition, timing—that AI can't mimic. If you're a sales leader who's tired of hearing the same tired strategies and wondering how to get actual results from your team, this episode is for you. Stick around to hear Kelly's plan for future roleplays with ChatGPT—and how sales pros can use this tool without losing their edge. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Why do so many salespeople miss their numbers—even after training, reporting, and CRM rollouts? Because too often, sales leaders are solving symptoms instead of real problems. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly shares a powerful metaphor that starts with chronic back pain but lands squarely on why your team isn't performing. You'll hear the three root causes that are likely sabotaging your revenue—people, planning, and prospecting—and why each one matters more than any new tactic, tool, or motivation play. Kelly unpacks why visibility reports and CRM systems don't move the needle unless your team is having the right conversations with the right people. He breaks down why objection handling, product knowledge, and closing skills won't matter if your reps aren't doing great discovery or consistently prospecting. Plus, he challenges the feel-good "action bias" that tricks sales managers into thinking they're leading when they're really just papering over cracks. If you're tired of investing time and money into training that doesn't move the needle—or frustrated by a team that has a few stars and too many underperformers—this is the episode for you. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

The market's unpredictable—but your sales team still has a number to hit. Kelly outlines 3 must-do actions for sales leaders navigating tariffs, inflation, and buyer hesitation. Interest rates. Tariffs. Economic chaos. Sales leaders are facing real headwinds—but does that give your team a free pass? In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly lays it out plain: leading in tough economic conditions requires more than empathy. It demands clarity, consistency, and the kind of mindset that refuses to let external chaos derail performance. If you're fielding complaints about supply chains, pricing pressure, or budget freezes, this episode is your wake-up call. Kelly breaks down 3 non-negotiables every sales leader must put into practice when uncertainty is high: Spend more time in the field – drop the spreadsheets, hit the calls. Get obsessive about planning – strategy is oxygen in a downturn. Audit your language – stop feeding excuses and start setting tone. You'll also hear a story from Kelly's media sales days that proves a simple change in meeting cadence and mindset can completely change results—even in a down market. The bottom line? You're either reinforcing a culture of ownership or enabling one of excuses. This isn't a motivational speech. It's a tactical guide for leaders who don't want to get left behind. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson

Sales managers often dream about turning their best technical minds into sales machines—but more often than not, it falls flat. Why? Because it takes more than product expertise. In this episode of Sales [UN]Training, Kelly sits down with Kermitt Francis, a former auditor and coder turned Director of Business Development, who shares exactly what makes that rare technical-to-sales transition actually work. Kermitt didn't just memorize the features. He built relationships by caring more about the person than the pitch. His story is packed with practical insight: how to identify technical folks with sales potential, the three traits to look for before making the leap, and why most "big personality" reps crash and burn. You'll also hear how Kermitt trains his team, how he uses personal experience to connect with clients, and how to keep your emotional energy steady through the highs and lows of sales. This isn't theory. It's a masterclass in how empathy, listening, and genuine care create trust—and trust closes deals. If you're looking for a new approach to building a sales team from your technical bench, this is your playbook. Follow the audio podcast and watch OR listen wherever you are: https://linktr.ee/salesuntraining   Kelly Riggs is an author, speaker, and business consultant for executives and companies throughout the United States and Canada. He has written two books: 1-on-1 Management: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don't and Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.  Get more Kelly: www.BizLockerRoom.com.  Widely recognized as a powerful speaker and performance coach in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning, Kelly is a former sales executive, a two-time national Salesperson-of-the-Year, a business owner, and a member of the Forbes' Coaches Council since 2019.  Music and Editing by Pod About It Productions @dougbranson