From Low Performer to Top Sales
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟭 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿
My client, Alex, a senior salesperson, was victim of a smear campaign.
She consistently met her sales quotas, and her clients were loyal.
The problem?
Alex acted as her clients’ advocate, recommending solutions that were in their best interest to create sustainable, win-win solutions for her clients and her company.
This didn’t align with her company’s changing culture.
Her company prized big wins at any cost - often at its clients’ cost.
It was boom and bust - huge deals followed by long dry spells of no sales. It also meant they sometimes lost clients.
Alex was sidelined.
She didn’t fit the mold, refused to compromise her values, and struggled with low self-confidence.
But company culture wasn’t the only reason.
Alex never learned how to create relationships that work, outside of focusing on the work itself.
She didn’t know what made people tick.
She often said the wrong things, rubbed people the wrong way, and overall made things difficult for herself with key stakeholders.
I’m not saying this to put her down.
Because I was Alex.
I had to learn how how to create relationships that work - the hard way.
Like most things, this was not only about her relationship skills.
Alex had a deep set belief that the corporate world was war and went to work every day ready for battle.
Alex was tired.
Tired of fighting, tired of being held back, and tired of being scapegoated despite her strong results.
Until she found me.
Together, we achieved incredible success in just one year.
Alex moved to a competitor firm, successfully closed the firm’s most difficult, impossible deal ever with their most important client, and was recognized publicly with top accolades.
How did we achieve this?
This is what I worked on with Alex to get her to her goal.
Mindset
→ No more victim - moved Alex from “victim” to mentality to focus on the strategy and actions she needed to create her new reality.
→ No more war - understanding most people act out of self-interest so she didn’t need to create “enemies” to fight.
→ No more imposter syndrome - built confidence by helping her embrace her true value.
People
→ Be the player, not be played - Alex learned how to played the corporate game by understanding each person’s roles, relationships, and expectations.
→ Communicate with influence — strategically managed stakeholders with a deep understanding of their motivations and intent.
→ Build relationships that work - learned how to network and socialize confidently with clients and colleagues, while managing her own emotions effectively in face of conflicts.
Action
→ Defined what next step made most sense for her career
→ Identified her unique strengths — her “Superpower."
→ Revamped her resume, interview pitch, and job search strategy, ensuring no missteps.
Closing the deal
From the start of her new job, we worked together to strategize::
→ Each client pitch
→ Each deal negotiation
→ Each stakeholder
→ Each hiccup along the way
We applied deep psychological insights to each and every part so she could influence both clients and colleagues to get to the goal.
Because at the end of the day it's all about people - the relationships you build with them, the influence you have on them, all based on how much you understand yourself and others.
And did I mention, this was while her new company, like many companies around the world, was letting people go?
Her job was on the line.
The pressure was immense.
All eyes were on this deal.
And, she did it.
𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.
I’m incredibly proud of Alex.
She brought a completely new set of skills to her new role, and continually refined them to execute flawlessly.
Client management
Stakeholder management
Emotional management
Office politics can’t hurt you when you are the one playing your game.
Key Insight:
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀.
Why do I care so much?
I’ve been through a smear campaign myself, during a time when I was a top performer.
𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.
If my journey can help, it gives my suffering meaning.
And this is just the beginning.
What Alex achieved in just one year is only the start.
It’s proof that when you shift your mindset and take strategic action, you don’t just overcome obstacles—you shatter the limits that once held you back.
You can do the same.
The future? It’s hers for the taking. It’s hers for creating.
And if you’re reading this, it’s yours too.
- Natalie
Here are 2 ways to work with me:
The Relationships That Work group coaching program. Our next cohort is tentatively scheduled for June 2025. If you’re interested to get the guidance, insight, clarity, accountability and support to be in the driver's seat of your life, DM me to be added to the waitlist.
1:1 Leadership Coaching Program. I work with a highly select group of senior leaders to help them create the success and happiness they want in their careers and personal lives. This program is currently full. DM me if you’re interested to take one of our 3 May openings.
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