Episode 3: The Power of Sales Mentorship

Have you ever had a sales mentor? Have you ever been a sales mentor? Looking for ways to integrate a mentorship program into your own sales organization but don't know how to start? 

In this episode of “True Confessions of a Sales Leader” we discuss the power of mentorship in sales orgs and teams and how successful companies can use mentorship to ramp up sales, build confidence, and create success. 

Scott Olsen, founder of the Olsen Group, Gary Brashear of the Olsen Group, and Konnor Martin, VP of Sales, RFPIO, discuss the importance of mentorship but also share their own personal stories on how it has affected their careers. 

Here are four key takeaways from this podcast episode: 

Mentorship, defined
Mentorship is about imparting wisdom that comes with experience. It helps keep things running and fulfills a leadership and coaching capacity that one individual can’t do on their own. It’s also about sharing knowledge, wisdom and advice—a relationship that benefits both the mentor and mentee. 

Get introspective
Ask yourself how mentors have helped you to get you to where you are. This can add clarity to the why and purpose of a program, based on its impact on you. Use that experience. 

Exercise humility
Being a mentor is more than what you know and telling your mentee how to do it. Ask questions. Prod and probe. Try to understand where your mentee is at in their career. Mentorship involves heart, your mentee’s best interests, and encouragement from you. Put your ego aside. 

Integrating a mentorship program into your organization
If you want to start integrating a mentorship program, establish clear expectations on what the boundaries and parameters are for mentors and mentees before getting team members involved. Start with coaching—it’s short term and simpler and may evolve into mentorship.