A podcast from Topaz Sales Consulting covering sales beliefs, leadership development, hiring, training, and the philosophies behind consultative selling. Each episode is packed with insights from decades in the field, real-world stories, and tools you can use to turn your team into a revenue-generating machine.
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This podcast explores the tools and stories of great speakers, facilitators, and makers of meaningful, transformational experiences. HOWEVER this is being temporarily repurposed to share our wedding story!
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Leanne Hughes from the First Time Facilitator blog reveals all of her group facilitation, training and workshop tips and tricks so you can be ahead of the curve the next time you step out in front of a group.Discover how you can tweak elements of your facilitation style, or incorporate new techniques to engage your audience and leave with lasting impact (and 5-star feedback). Icebreakers, leadership, group interaction, preparation, games, conflict, props, flip-charts, delivery, voice, body l ...
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We promote and support the growth of professional Scrum. Scrum Facilitators helps the professional Scrum facilitators in their journey. In the podcast we discuss ideas, lessons and tools that can be helpful for Scrum Masters, Product Owners and Developers. Bringing forward ideas by interesting people from the community and our larger network.
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Welcome to the Alternative Living Podcast. Where amazing ideas are talked about and your standard of living are put into questions. Or in other words; how to add more life to your life! ...Still not clear? Well; it's normal; it's kind of a new thing, maybe the future of things... I beleive that everybody has the potential to change his life; spend less money on superficial "wants" and actually have the chance to work more at something that is a pationnate "need" for them. ---Cover art photo ...
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In the cosy studio of André I have beautiful conversations with special persons. Apparently a certain insight, perspective or thought was the compelling reason for the rendezvous. Communication, contact and culture often emerge during the conversation. How to facilitate a group, how to involve people, how to make an impact for sustainable change, are not simple to-do-lists. These questions challenge us to explicit our personal beliefs and ways of working. That is why we have a conversation. ...
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In this episode of The Buyer Facilitator Podcast, George Chavez, President of Topaz Sales Consulting, explores how sales leadership has evolved, and why leading your team like it’s still 2010 could be costing you growth. George breaks down twelve essential traits that define today’s most effective sales leaders. From being a strategist who aligns t…
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Are you accidentally giving away your expertise for free? In this episode of The Buyer Facilitator Podcast, George Chavez, President of Topaz Sales Consulting, tackles one of the most common traps in sales—the “free consulting support trap.” Discover how even the most well-intentioned sales professionals end up offering endless advice and strategy …
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Budget conversations can make or break a deal. In this episode of The Buyer Facilitator Podcast, we share two simple yet powerful sales questions that transform how you qualify prospects and uncover real intent. What your prospect says about budget is rarely the full story, and asking the right follow-up questions can uncover hidden motivations, de…
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Send Leanne a message Today, I’m thrilled to welcome back my friend, leadership strategist, and powerhouse of positivity — Neen James — to the show! If you haven’t seen the YouTube version yet, go and watch it. Neen radiates light, energy, and fun — she’s truly a walking champagne moment. Fun links: Discover Your Luxury Mindset Self-Assessment Luxu…
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Send Leanne a message In this episode of First Time Facilitator, I chat with Dr Liz O'Riordan about her leap from the operating theatre to the workshop room. After being diagnosed with cancer and leaving surgery, Liz turned to speaking, writing, and now — facilitation. With only days to prepare, she discovered my book The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint,…
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In this episode, Jorge Chavez tackles one of the most debated topics in sales hiring: Does a salesperson really need industry-specific expertise to succeed? Drawing on the core principles of the Buyer Facilitator model, Jorge explains why sales fundamentals and leadership skills are more transferable, and more valuable, than most companies realize.…
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Ever assume you know what your buyer’s thinking before they finish their sentence? In this episode of The Buyer Facilitator Podcast, Jorge Chavez, President of Topaz Sales Consulting, explores how top-performing salespeople flip assumptions into powerful questions. Learn the four essential sales question types: Open-ended, investigative, assumptive…
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Objections are part of every sales conversation. How you handle them can make or break the deal. In this episode of the Buyer Facilitator Podcast, host Jorge Chavez unpacks insights from a survey of 1,000 sales professionals to reveal when objections happen most, which ones derail deals, and what top-performing reps do differently. Learn how the Bu…
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In this episode of The Buyer Facilitator Podcast, Jorge Chavez explores one of the most overlooked moments in the sales process: the conversation that happens after you leave the room. Learn how to spark that internal dialogue while you’re still there, build trust, uncover hidden concerns, and become part of your buyer’s decision-making process. Do…
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In this episode of the Buyer Facilitator Podcast, host Jorge Chavez offers a liberating mindset shift every sales professional needs to hear: You are not for everyone. And that’s perfectly okay. Embracing this truth can transform your sales approach, helping you spend less time chasing unqualified prospects and more time connecting with the right o…
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Chasing quick wins might feel like you’re winning in sales. In this episode of The Buyer Facilitator Podcast, Jorge Chavez breaks down the trap of short-term gratification in sales and why the most sustainable success comes from long-term strategy, trust-building, and buyer-focused relationships. We’ll explore: Why short-term thinking can sabotage …
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Welcome to the Topaz Sales Consulting Podcast, hosted by Jorge Chavez, President and Co-Founder of Topaz Sales Consulting in Austin, Texas. In this first episode, Jorge introduces a bold and transformative sales philosophy: The Buyer Facilitator. Forget outdated tactics and pressure-based selling. This episode focuses on what it means to truly help…
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Send Leanne a message I wrote this article this after being on a group call where one person dominated the airtime. You know the ones, right? As facilitators, it’s our job to respect the room, the time, and the energy of everyone there. And sometimes, that means stepping in. Yes, interrupting can feel awkward — but if you do it with care, it can co…
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Send Leanne a message Hey, thanks for tuning in today. I just wrapped up a webinar for a long-time client — an organization that delivers live, critical, and completely anonymous support via webinars. That’s right. No faces. No names. Just silence... and a flurry of comments in the chat. So how do you respond when the comments start rolling in — es…
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Send Leanne a message I’m so excited to take you behind the scenes of my rebranding journey—aka Leanne 3.0. In this replay, I chat with Jason Knight, the brilliant mind behind my new brand. Watch our conversation on YouTube to see the brand! Jason and I first connected on my First Time Facilitator podcast back in 2019, and five years later, I final…
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Send Leanne a message Fresh off a Las Vegas red carpet experience, Leanne Hughes sits down with legendary consultant Alan Weiss for a candid conversation about career risks, professional reinvention, and the art of strategic decision-making. Drawing parallels between Vegas gambling and career moves, this episode delivers unexpected insights about w…
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Send Leanne a message In this episode of the First Time Facilitator podcast, host Leanne Hughes welcomes Mary-Louise (ML) Huppatz, CEO of the Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM), to discuss her unique approach to conferences, leading change, and facilitation. ML's passion for people and creating meaningful learning experiences come…
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FTF252: Obsess over the participant (not the meeting room) with Steven Demedio + a sneak peak of our Red Carpet Campout
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Send Leanne a message In this episode of the First Time Facilitator podcast, I am thrilled to welcome Steve Demedio to the show. Steve shares his inspiring journey from a career in sales leadership to becoming a passionate facilitator obsessed with creating engaging and memorable learning experiences. Join us for our retreat: The Red Carpet Campout…
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FTF251: How we sold out our event in 24 hours (Behind the scenes of How to Face Change) with solo reflections from Leanne Hughes
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Send Leanne a message Host Leanne Hughes takes you behind the scenes of the recent "How to Face Change" event she co-hosted with Michael Bungay Stanier (MBS). From brainstorming ideas, locking in the perfect venue, to manufacturing demand for tickets, Leanne spills all the details on how they turned a bold idea into an unforgettable experience. Exp…
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Send Leanne a message In this episode, we're joined by Hitomi Whitlock, Organizational Change Manager at the University of Washington's Housing and Food Services, and an experienced real estate investor. Hitomi shares her journey from moving to the U.S. as a child to leading change at one of the nation's top universities—all while managing a succes…
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Send Leanne a message Come along to our event! https://lu.ma/rooftopbne In this episode, host Leanne Hughes chats with Michael Bungay Stanier on their upcoming event in Brisbane together on 3 Sep 2024, and the art of co-facilitation. Reflecting on their first podcast experience in Brisbane, they dive into topics such as managing facilitation dynami…
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In this experimental episode of the Scrum Facilitators Community podcast, Sjoerd Kranendonk reads “It’s actually OK to be a Scrum Purist, and this is why!” by fellow Scrum Facilitator Chee-Hong Hsia. The article explores the concept of being a Scrum purist, and after reading it, Sjoerd adds some of his own thoughts. The article starts off by addres…
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Fostering team growth and dealing with complexity through professional coaching - Maaike Klasen
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In this episode, Sjoerd Kranendonk and Maaike Klasen delve into the nuanced world of coaching within agile frameworks. They discuss the importance of contracting for coaching sessions and the distinctions between general coaching, professional coaching, and Agile coaching. Emphasizing the emotional dynamics within teams, they explore the complexiti…
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Send Leanne a message In this episode, host Leanne Hughes provides an update on her activities as a solopreneur and content creator, sharing insights from her recent experiences and projects. She provides an update on her book, some of the work she's delivered this year, including a recent innovative conference presentation focused on flexibility. …
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In the latest Scrum Facilitators Community podcast, host Sjoerd Kranendonk and guest Anita Kalmane-Boot discuss the importance of neurodiversity in teams. Anita shares insights on recognizing and leveraging the strengths of neurodivergent team members, and emphasizes the benefits for all team members in creating an inclusive and understanding work …
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FTF247: From Workshop to Written Word: Translating Ideas into Books with Mel Loy and Jade Miller
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Send Leanne a message Are you currently running workshops, generating ace ideas, have some cool toolsup your sleeve? Maybe you should turn all of that great stuff into a book! If you're curious how to do that, you'll love today's conversation with fellow first-time authors and Brisbane business owners, Mel Loy and Jade Miller. Both Jade and Mel are…
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