Blogs leadership Leadership Development Personal Sales Development Sales Leadership

Bloojam Bookclub: Issue 4

Title: Coaching for Performance

Author: Sir John Whitmore

Who is it for? Managers, leaders, Sales Leaders, coaches – anybody who wants to take a coaching approach to help others improve their work performance.  Suitable for all levels of coaching experience.

What is it about? The role of the manager as a coach and the role of coaching in management. This book explains the principles of coaching drawing on examples from the worlds of sport and business.

Why should I read it? A highly practical and accessible book written by a leader in the coaching field. It helps those new to coaching by providing an easy-to-follow framework for coaching conversations.  Equally, it serves as a helpful refresher and guide to more experienced coaches.  The case studies bring the GROW framework (Goals, Reality, Options, Will) to life. Highly recommended.

Blogs Business leadership Leadership Development Personal

Insights from Psychology That Explain Why People Are Responding Differently To The Covid-19 Crisis (Part 1)

The world has changed. That has created a lot of uncertainty for many people both personally and professionally. As business psychologists we, here at Bloojam, understand people and behaviour and are privileged to share our expertise with others to add some value at this challenging time.

In this 2-part blog we thought that it might be helpful to share some behavioural theories and models for you to bear in mind when considering your own response, and that of those around you, to the current situation:

Blogs Business Leadership Development Sales Development Sales Leadership

Bloojam Bookclub: Issue 3

Title: Emotional Intelligence: Why It Matters More Than IQ

Author: Daniel Goleman

Who is it aimed at? Business Leaders, Salespeople and anyone who wants more than a cursory understanding of emotional intelligence

What is it about?

Written from an organisational perspective, the author argues that EI has business implications for employees and leaders alike. Goleman’s key premise is that cognitive intelligence (IQ) is not the sole predictor of workplace success – Emotional Intelligence (EI) is an equally important non-cognitive skill. He defines EI as a set of skills that encompass self-motivation, social abilities, empathy, and impulse control, among others and argues that, with the right training and support, these can be developed and improved.

Why should I read it?

Whilst it is no longer a new topic, EI is a term that is bandied about with an expectation that we all know what it means. If you want a more in-depth understanding, this book is a great place to start.

Blogs Leadership Development Sales Development Sales Leadership

Bloojam Bookclub: Issue 2

In our second issue of Bloojam Bookclub we’re recommending a title that has something for both B2B salespeople and those in leadership roles:

Title: Stop Selling and Start Leading

Author: James Kouzes, Barry Posner, Deb Calvert

Who is it aimed at? Salespeople and Leaders

What is it about?

Research showing that at its core selling, like leading, is based on relationships. Written by highly respected experts in Leadership, this book describes their research into sales and the striking similarities between the behaviours that drive success in both sales and leadership roles. For each of the 10 behaviours described, there are practical activities that you can implement immediately.

Why should I read it?

This book combines our two favourite subjects- B2B sales and Leadership- and makes a great case for why both are important in business, and how both can learn from each other. For any aspiring leader or strategic salesperson the insights are invaluable.

Blogs Leadership Development Sales Development Sales Leadership

Bloojam Bookclub: Issue 1

If you’re looking to further your professional development during lockdown we’re launching Bloojam Bookclub offering our recommendations of key texts from the field of business psychology that are relevant for people in sales and leadership roles. Our first recommendation is below:

Title: To Sell Is Human

Author: Daniel Pink

Who is it aimed at? Everyone

What is it about?

His principal argument is that, as professionals, we are all in sales whether we are selling a product or service or simply an idea- in fact any situation in which we are trying to persuade others to part with their resources e.g. money, effort or attention. Drawing on research from a broad range of social sciences he skilfully pinpoints three key qualities that are most valuable in moving people from one position to another.

Why should I read it?

Packed with references, the author has done the research for you and as an ex-journalist, it is easy to read and written in a format that is both insightful and entertaining.

Blogs Leadership Development Sales Development Sales Leadership

Leadership truths no 1: Great leaders are open-minded and always learning

Do you find the myriad of different leadership models and theories difficult to navigate? You’re in good company! Personally, I find it helpful to focus in on areas of commonality or convergence, as well as what the research tells us about these areas – this tends to lead me away from the buzz words and passing trends.