Libsyn Directory

Tools and Tactics Every Key Account Manager Needs, Ep #507

Release Date: 05/20/2026

Sales Reinvented

Sales prospecting and lead generation are the lifeblood of any thriving sales career—but they’re also some of the most misunderstood and mismanaged aspects of the job. Carole Mahoney, Darryl Praill, and Tim Hughes share insights that challenge traditional mindsets and equip listeners to approach prospecting with precision, empathy, and creativity. We explore the necessity of ongoing learning, time-blocking for prospecting, and seeking support from peers. My experts also discuss the risks of overvaluing a single champion in the sales cycle and the power of humanized content to...

Building Connections that Convert, Ep #518

Sales Reinvented

We’re digging deep into the essentials of prospecting and lead generation with guests Brynne Tillman, Jeff Bajorek, and Caryn Kopp this week. They share their top actionable do's and don'ts, revealing prospecting strategies that they have found to work. You’ll hear real-world success stories—from making warm connections on LinkedIn to the power of consistent, quality touchpoints and the importance of solving your client’s real challenges, not just following the standard playbook. Outline of This Episode [05:53] Challenges of prospecting and leads [07:09] Taking...

Unlocking the Science of Prospecting, Ep #517

Sales Reinvented

This episode of Sales Reinvented dives deep into the essential do’s and don’ts of prospecting and lead generation with advice from three industry trailblazers. I host Bill McCormick, Mary Grothe, and Tony Hughes to help you transform cold outreach into meaningful connections and qualified leads. You'll hear their top do's and don'ts for successful lead generation, compelling real-world sales stories, and get their lessons learned from overcoming challenges in the field. Outline of This Episode [01:49] Nurture prospects on LinkedIn by providing value and insight...

Spinning Sales Gold—Why Stories Sell, Ep #516

Sales Reinvented

Today’s “Best Of” episode brings together top minds in storytelling for sales success. In this episode, you'll hear practical do’s and don’ts from Philip Humm, Doug Keeley, and Patti Pokorchak, who share how to craft stories that engage, connect, and create real value for clients. Whether it’s making your customer the hero, keeping stories concise and relevant, or demonstrating the undeniable power of value-driven storytelling, this episode is packed with actionable insights to elevate your sales conversations and results. Get ready to be inspired by compelling examples and...

How to Captivate Customers, Ep #515

Sales Reinvented

Storytelling isn’t just a buzzword in the world of sales, it’s a transformative tool that can turn mundane pitches into memorable, persuasive conversations. This week, I bring together industry experts Mark Smyth, Kristie Jones, and Park Howell to share their top storytelling do’s and don’ts for sales professionals. Whether you struggle to keep your stories concise, want to captivate your audience, or wonder how to make your data more compelling, this episode will give you actionable advice and inspiring real-world examples. Outline of This Episode [01:40] Guide the...

Don’t Just Tell—Engage, Listen, and Share Stories that Stick, Ep #514

Sales Reinvented

Sales isn't just about products, features, or numbers, it's all about forging genuine human connections. The best way to do this is by mastering the craft of storytelling. In this episode, I speak to some phenomenal sales experts, Mike Adams, John Livesay, and Kyle Gray, who share their favorite storytelling do’s and don’ts, and their personal strategies for winning business and building trust. Listen in as they share their wisdom and practical tips to help you refine your own sales storytelling. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Importance of knowing what a story is and isn't...

Mastering Sales Storytelling, Ep #513

Sales Reinvented

This week, my three expert guests, Mary Jane Copps, Paul Smith, and Roy Furr, cover everything from injecting humor and vulnerability into your stories to crafting narratives that move prospects closer to a sale. They discuss the importance of using stories with purpose: tailoring them to your audience, keeping them concise, and ensuring they support your sales process. They also share their thoughts on the dangers of boastfulness, going off topic, or using stories without a clear connection to your sales goals. Tune in for practical advice, real-world examples, and memorable lessons to help...

Mastering Referral Selling: Strategies, Stories, and Lessons from the Pros, Ep #512

Sales Reinvented

Referral selling remains a game-changer in modern sales, not just for filling pipelines with high-quality leads, but for building lasting business relationships rooted in trust. My guests, Stacey Brown Randall, Steve Hall, and Dr. Ivan Misner shared their most impactful referral selling strategies, missteps to avoid, and stories that deliver invaluable lessons for any sales professional looking to maximize their impact through referrals. The lessons shared in this episode will help you elevate your referral selling game to new heights. Outline of This Episode [01:04] Identify and revisit...

How to Build Powerful Referral Networks, Ep #511

Sales Reinvented

Referrals are the lifeblood of high-performing sales organizations, yet many teams overlook their full potential. In this Best Of episode of Sales Reinvented, I bring together three dynamic referral selling experts, Steve Benson, Lori Richardson, and Joanne Black, to share actionable strategies, hard-hitting do’s and don’ts, and memorable stories from their own careers. Outline of This Episode [0:00] When to ask for referrals [00:55] Importance of tracking referrals [02:03] Making the referral process fun and personal [05:48] Creating value leads to natural,...

Referral Rocket Fuel: Real Stories and Unbeatable Tactics from Top Sales Leaders, Ep #510

Sales Reinvented

In this “best of” episode, I’m sharing some golden nuggets from sales trailblazers, Jamie Crosby, Nick Kane, and Liz Heiman. They share the secrets behind scalable, trust-based referral selling to help you ditch haphazard “who do you know?” asks and start building referral systems that deliver. Today’s show is packed with actionable advice on referral selling—the dos, the don’ts, and lessons learned from real-world sales situations. Outline of This Episode [00:41] Jamie Crosby's top three referral selling do's and don'ts [05:12] Importance of organically building...

More Episodes

On this episode of the podcast, I’m joined by Ian Cartwright, a New Zealand-based sales coach, speaker, and author. Ian is known for his clear, actionable approach and his passion for empowering B2B sales professionals and SME owners with practical tools and engaging workshops.

Ian gets straight to the point and shares the biggest mistakes salespeople make when moving into account management, as well as why stakeholder mapping is absolutely essential. We also talk about how to align strategies with customer objectives and the importance of building strong, value-driven relationships. He also tells a real-world story of turning around and growing a fractured strategic account. This episode is packed with actionable insights to help you elevate your key account management game and build even better customer partnerships.

Outline of This Episode

[00:00] Shifting from selling to strategic account management
[03:41] Building key account relationships
[08:18] Building a strong key account plan
[12:55] Maintaining key customer relationships
[16:16] Key account management challenges
[18:03] Navigating customer relationships

Key Accounts are More Than Just Big Customers

A common pitfall in sales organizations is conflating “big” customers with “strategic” or “key” accounts. As Ian says, many companies assume their largest customers automatically qualify as key accounts. However, true strategic accounts represent high revenue AND offer pathways to greater opportunity—such as access to new sectors, product development partnerships, and strong cultural fit.

Working with a strategic account should be mutually enjoyable and aligned with the business’s core values and long-term objectives. Size alone doesn’t make a customer “key”—the relationship’s potential for synergy and evolution does.

The Account Manager’s Evolving Role

Transitioning from frontline selling to account management requires a fundamental mindset shift. Sticking with purely transactional tactics is risky. Successful account managers act as connectors and orchestrators, mapping organizational dynamics, understanding stakeholders, and proactively seeking opportunities to add value.

Equally, organizations must invest in upskilling their sales teams. Treating account management as a passive, reactive role limits growth. Ian advocates for a white space strategy: continuously identifying hidden opportunities within the account, even if the returns may manifest months or years later. At its heart, key account management is business development driven by insight and relationship-building.

Tools of the Trade: Blending Old School and New

Proficiency with modern CRMs is non-negotiable, but Ian also recommends blending old and new methods for a comprehensive approach:

CRM: Centralizes information, opportunities, and collaboration across the team.
Desktop Research: Staying ahead of trends in the client’s industry supports anticipation rather than simply reaction.
The Phone: Proactive, personal outreach builds trust—don’t be afraid to pick up the phone!
A Credit Card: Never underestimate the power of a coffee or meal to grease the wheels of partnership.

Communication and Relationship-Building

In our conversation, Ian shares a real-world example of how fractured relationships, even with major clients, can be turned around through intentional stakeholder engagement, regular communication, and focusing on shared wins. Simple, consistent reporting of impact—such as reducing unplanned downtime reinforces partnership and value.

Key account management isn’t a static process or a matter of “set and forget.” It’s an ongoing practice of curiosity, planned engagement, innovation, and value reinforcement. By treating key accounts as evolving partnerships rather than static revenue streams, sales teams can drive mutual growth and position themselves as essential partners for the long term.