Eventually, her team grew bigger and became the most successful sales team in the organization. She became the leader that salespeople wanted to work for, learning from her and teaching I worked with her for about a year and helped her gain confidence and new skills, and she realized that she could be vulnerable, that she didn't have to have all the answers, that she could trust her team. She realized that every decision is a good one – until it's not, and that it's okay to change your mind. It's okay to change course when you need to make decisions, and much more quickly in this environment we're in, because the cost of delay is high and so much change can really have a big impact. “Sure. I spent the first three decades of my career in fortune 50 companies before I ran a couple of startups. One of my clients was a sales exec in a tech company, a fast growth tech company. And she was at that point in her career where she was beginning to doubt her ability to scale a bigger sales team. Her management doubted her, but they hired me to coach her. You often encounter a leader who’s not vulnerable enough to say, “Look, we've never seen anything like this before. I'm not exactly sure how to go about taking this next step or doing X. So, let's sit down and figure it out together. Because we have lots of skills and expertise and knowledge in this team; I'm sure we can figure it out.” But a lot of leaders are afraid to do that, because they feel like they'll be questioned, or their peers will say, "This person doesn't know how to do their job." It takes some courage to say, “I don't have the answers,” and “I don't know,” but if a leader isn't willing to do that, their teams still look at them and depend on them for answers that they're never going to get. And so, the whole fabric and dynamic of the leader in the team starts to fall apart. It’s important for leaders to be vulnerable, to be self-aware, crowdsource solutions through their own teams, and share a common vision.” So, basically, this book addresses the needs of the individual professional and the executive, and the team that they form - corporate professionals, business professionals. Can you share a success story, some results and transformations that your clients have experienced?
others to achieve success.”
On a personal note, what would you say is your own source of inspiration? What makes you shine in the world?
“I grew up being very unathletic, but I started training for the San Francisco marathon, then I was doing triathlons, and eventually, I trained and finished my first Ironman, which is a long-distance triathlon. In the process of training for such a tough endurance
We all have challenges, and we need the right support. Some executives hire me because they know of the connection that I make between endurance sports and leadership. And because they know of the obstacles I've overcome, and they want some guidance doing the same thing with the professional challenges they're having in their own life. event, I learned a lot about myself, my abilities, and vulnerabilities. I learned about relying on others, and I learned what I was truly capable of. And that's what gives me the incentive to inspire other people and help them see what's possible and do more.
And for those who want to know you and connect with your brand, how can they get in touch with you?
“The best way is my website, which is bobbielaporte.com. I have a newsletter, and I do a video log every Monday about navigating through uncertainty. There are lots of other resources there, blog posts, downloadable chapters of my book, etc. I do both in-person consultations and virtual ones. And on LinkedIn also, I welcome connections from people. I love building out my network and helping others make the right connections.”
Interview by Lisa E. Kirkwood – The True Stories Merchant www.thetruestoriesmerchant.com
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