The Most Expensive Sentence a Manager Can Say

 The Most Expensive Sentence a Manager Can Say

"Let me tell you how I would do it."

It sounds helpful. It feels like mentorship. But in reality, it’s a productivity killer.

I was working with a sales director recently who was frustrated that his team couldn't "think for themselves." Every ten minutes, someone was at his door asking for a solution to a minor problem. He felt like a hero for having all the answers.

I told him: "You aren't a leader; you’re a bottleneck."

By providing the answer every time, he was training his team to stop thinking. He was essentially paying them to be order-takers, not problem-solvers.

The Storytizing Shift

In my book, Shutup & Succeed, and my training on Storytizing, I talk about the power of the strategic pause. For a manager, this is your greatest tool.

The next time a team member comes to you with a "What should I do?" question, I want you to use the 3-Minute Manager Reset:

1. Listen for 60 seconds: Don't interrupt. Let them finish the thought.
2. Ask, Don't Tell: Instead of giving the answer, ask: "If I weren't here right now, what’s the first move you’d make?"
3. The "Shutup" Phase: This is the hard part. Once you ask that question, stay silent. Let the silence do the work.

Why This Works

When you stop being the "Answer Man," two things happen:

• Your calendar opens up. You stop being the person everyone has to "check with" before they move.
• Your team grows. You’re shifting the emotional bond from dependence to empowerment.

Being a "Great Manager" isn't about having the loudest voice in the room. It’s about having the most effective ears.

This Week’s Challenge: The next time someone asks you for a solution, count to five before you speak. Let them fill the gap first. You might be surprised at how smart your team actually is when you give them the chance to prove it.

Steve@stevesapatoseminars.com

563-370-4938

The 3-Minute Managr Reset

 Title: The "3-Minute" Management Reset

Most managers think they need an hour-long meeting to fix a performance issue. They don't. They just need a better story.

I once worked with an executive who was brilliant at strategy but failing at leadership. His team felt like "cogs." We applied the Storytizing framework to his weekly check-ins. Instead of asking "What's the status?", he started asking, "What’s the one obstacle I can remove so you can win today?"

By changing the narrative from oversight to support, he didn't just get better results—he got loyalty. Management isn't about the 60-minute boardroom session; it’s about the 3-minute connection that says, "I see you, and I’m in your corner."

The Manager’s Challenge this week: Find one team member and spend 180 seconds listening to their "win" of the week. No critiques. Just connection.

What makes you and your company better than otherrs

 What makes you better than your competition?

Why should anyone use your products or hire you?

Can you put it into ten words or less?

One thing I offer is that I can triple your appointments within thirty days.

Now, if you are struggling to fill your calendar, that would interest you. Am I right?

Now it's your turn. Pause right now and write down, in ten words or fewer, what you do that people want?

Can you do it? 

I've heard many times over that if you can't tell me what you do in under fifteen seconds, then you don't know what you do.

And you will lose sales and business over your inability to describe what you do. Unless you are in management, at a corporation that is.

Then, like government employees, you can blab on all you want.

But your ability to succinctly share what you do or what your product does determines your success or lack thereof.

And, your inability to differentiate yourself from your competition will create even more loss of business.

Now tell me again, write to me, Steve@SteveSapato.com, and tell me what you do or what separates you from your competition. If you cannot do it in one succinct sentence, you're out.

And I bet you wish you could close a lot more business than you are closing right now.

Then you probably need my eBook, No Bullshit Selling.https://go.stevesapatoseminars.com/nbs-ebook-lp

So I will ask again, what makes you different from your competition?  Why should I do business with you? 

Isn't it time you knew why? Why you are doing what you are doing?  Why you do it for this company? 

Why you like doing it? 

QLMan49@gmail.com

What Makes You An Expert

 

When other people start using you and your business in their posts, then you know you are moving forward as an expert.

It's why we get our pictures taken at business events. It shows we are associated with other businesses. 

It is one thing to get your picture taken with another successful person, and a completely different scenario when people are using you, your images, your ads or posts, your pictures, as examples of what success looks like.

When that starts happening, then you know you are achieving the goals you have been reaching for.

That is when other people recognize you and your abilities to be a winner.

3-Minutes To Yes, No BS Selling, and Shutup And Succeed are prime examples of this recognition.

These courses are being recognized and used as examples for other people to market their products and services. Companies like MARKY.ai recognize that our success is partially because of us using their programs and services, and they get to tag us in their marketing, like we use them and tag them in our marketing. 

Success begets success, and finding strategic partners like Marky.ai and BigVu.tv that will support you will become key to your greater success.

Learn what it takes to become that expert and then find strategic partners who will be happy to be associated with you to help strengthen both companies and their services.

Steve Sapato is a keynote speaker, elite emcee, and has proven his marketing prowess over years of successful product training for companies and organizations looking to expand their reach.

steve@stevesapatoseminars.com

A HOOK is a terrible thing to waste

Are you wasting your hooks? Do you even know what a hook is? LinkedIn people don't seem to know.

Why do I say that? .

Are you getting all of these spammy messages from LinkedIn users? Yes, they are getting around the rules and must be sending out thousands of these crappy invitations to connect.

Are you getting them too?

Crazy. They NEVER use a hook. 

A hook is something that grabs people's attention. It is meant to interrupt their thoughts and make them pause over what you are asking, offering, or saying. 

A hook is something everyone should use. Like, 10 out of every 3 people still smoke. They just spotted the Abominable Snowman in Minneapolis! 18 people got sick eating these.

Do you see what a hook is?

Why aren't you using it?

A hook can even be a simple question. Here's one - what is the hardest part of your job? What one thing do you wish you didn't have to do? If you could wave that magic wand, how would it change your business?

But they don't do any of these. They start off with stupid stuff, 'I was looking over your profile, which is amazing, I might add... we're offering - many leaders - how are you ..

Is that the worst marketing you have ever seen? Damn close to it, am I right?

So explain to me why they don't know how to connect? Do you?

Are you sending out messages that are so mundane that people ignore them? Are you simply not connecting with people because you can't figure out how to use a simple thing called a hook?

Then go buy a book. Go read another article. Hire a freaking coach to help you learn how to write a connection letter!

They used to call them sales letters, but everyone knows you offend people by calling them sales letters these days. Sales letters are out of date and dumb. Well? So are your messages if you are not using a HOOK!

Write me a message and let's see if you can HOOK me into reading your message?

After all, I am right here on LinkedIn or only an email (subject line hook) away. Steve@stevesapatoseminars.com

Let's connect and learn how we can collaborate to create more opportunities for you!

Captain Hook is stealing all of your business! Shiver me timbers!

 What is your hook? Can you all help me out here?

I am looking to find as many email, verbal, and social hooks as I can find to help a lot of businesses grow.

Here is what I am talking about, 

Dentist: Have your teeth always been this yellow? (Think you can sell them a whitening program after this observation?)

Dentist: Did you wear braces as a kid?  Client: Yes, why do you ask? Dentist: Because a lot of adults who had braces as kids end up with crooked teeth like yours..

What hooks are you using to capture attention and plant the seed that might lead to more business for you?

What most business and salespeople want to do is tell you about their solution to your problem before you even understand the problem!

Salesperson: Without them knowing you're a life insurance salesperson - Did you hear about Mrs. Baxter? Her husband passed away suddenly, and she had to sell their boat! Had you ever seen such a large boat? Fabulous, and she has to sell her house. They are moving next week. Terrible. But I am sure that could never happen to you and me could it! I carry enough insurance to protect my wife and family in case something terrible happened to me. (Then move on from that topic!)

What business are you in and what hooks do you use to add value or create additional opportunities for yourself?

You see, the people who understand 'HOOKS' are the ones stealing all of the business.

If you have ever wondered why some people have so much more business than others? Quite often, they know a lot about hooks, how to use hooks, and how to create opportunities from every hook in their bag!

If you are using hooks, would you put some of yours into the comments?

Steve Sapato is a business coach, speaker, and author.

Reach him at qlman49@gmail.com (Q = Question  L = Listen)

How will you get more business

Do you network?    The only answer should be, do I ever STOP networking?     Isn't that what sales people tell you? They never stop selling.

Well, I am here to share a few minutes of a video that helps small business, networkers, sales people, learn how to create more success and more opportunities.

The problem in most encounters is that we all want to tell others who we are, what we do and why they should buy or use our services.

That is not the correct method for growing your business.

What is sales? Finding a problem and fixing it. Hopefully with your product or service.

Listen and see if this helps you?

www.stevesapatoseminar.com