SaaS Fuel Podcasts by Jeff Mains
In this episode, one of the podcasts listed on this page, explore the journey of Darius Lahoutifard, who transitioned from a robotics engineer to a sales leader and became the CEO and a key contributor to the famed MEDDIC sales methodology. Darius’s story showcases how his passion for math and engineering naturally evolved into a successful sales career, fueled by his dedication to fair commission structures.
Discover the critical role of leadership in shaping effective sales strategies, with real-world examples illustrating how active involvement can lead to success. We explore the balance between delegating tasks and hands-on leadership, as Darius shares valuable insights on utilizing company resources, including product reputation and customer success teams, to enhance sales performance. Additionally, we discuss the strategic importance of tech investments and the potential pitfalls of over-automation.
Key Takeaways
[00:01:18] – From Engineer to CEO
[00:06:33] – Unlocking Sales Leadership Success
[00:12:15] – Hiring for Attitude, Not Ability
[00:27:23] – Importance of Human Connection in Sales
[00:42:24] -Saying “No” in Sales Strategy
[00:45:55] – Value Creation Over Exit Strategy
Tweetable Quotes
“Moved to sales because I noticed that I am the one who is solving the problems and the salespeople are getting the commissions. So I thought that was not very fair. I moved to sales and naturally after two years of successful sales, I became a manager, country manager and ended up CEO of that subsidiary of Schlumberger at the age of 28.” – 00:01:49 Darius Lahoutifard
“So sales has always been a center of interest I was passionate about. And obviously with my rational mathematician or robotician background, I was very analytical with sales and I was curious and passionate about understanding how it works. How do we sell? How people get convinced?” – 00:02:58 Darius Lahoutifard
“The worst leaders are those who sit back and just ask for results. And they, you know, a lot of, sadly, a lot of managers are used to just give goals. And some of them don’t even, are not even very good at articulating the goal. They don’t even clearly say what I’m expecting from you.” – 00:19:41 Darius Lahoutifard
“My first comment is don’t do too much. Specifically in sales quota attainment, studies show that in the past 20 years, sales quota attainment and as a result of that, sales leaders’ goal attainment has been going down little by little every single year. And I have no other explanation than automation.” – 00:29:05 Darius Lahoutifard
“I say, sales is science, but sellers are artists.” – 00:31:43 Darius Lahoutifard
SaaS Leadership Lessons
Balancing Automation with Human Connection: While leveraging technology and automation is essential, it’s important to stress the irreplaceable va
Adaptability and Resilience: It’s crucial to be willing to pivot and explore new roles or industries when necessary, showcasing resilience in the face of change. His ability to thrive in startups and lead a Schlumberger subsidiary by the age of 28 demonstrates the importance of embracing change and leveraging past experiences to succeed in new environments.
Active Involvement and Hands-On Leadership: Balance delegation with active involvement in their teams’ activities. Drawing inspiration from leaders like Elon Musk, This hands-on approach ensures leaders are attuned to the challenges and successes of their teams, enabling them to provide better guidance and support.
Coaching and Empowerment: Developing the skills of team members through coaching and empowerment is crucial. Focus on identifying and nurturing the strengths of their team members, providing continuous feedback, and creating opportunities for skill development.
How to Solve a Problem ft. Darius Lahoutifard | Episode 120 of the podcasts series
How do you solve sales problems? Do you wait for someone else to solve it? How do you attack it? Today on the Speak with People Podcast we dive into the world of problem-solving with Darius Lahoutifard, the brilliant mind behind the game-changing book, “MEDDIC.” We will unravel the secrets to transforming non-performing sales teams into revenue powerhouses. We dive into how to solve problems
Discover the common symptoms facing many businesses, from revenue shortages to erratic forecasts, and how Darius’s MEDDIC methodology serves as the ultimate cure.
Learn More About Our Guest:
Always be Qualifying
Learn More About Speak with People:
https://www.speakwithpeople.com
Access an Ever Growing Communication Skills Library
https://www.speakwithpeople.com/skillslibrary
Like/Watch/Share Our Resources:
https://linktr.ee/SpeakWithPeople
Learn MORE About these podcasts:
PASSION, PURPOSE, and POSSIBILITIES podcasts
Here’s what to expect on this podcast:
- Darius’ key reasons behind his choice to move into this particular space.
- What is MEDDIC, what does it stand for, and how does it work?
- Learning and accessing the MEDDIC methodology.
- Where is the best place for someone to start their journey in sales?
- New course Infinite Sales ™ Leadership
- And much more!
About Darius:
Welcome to the insightful world of Darius Lahoutifard, a best-selling author, leadership and sales trainer, seasoned entrepreneur, and sales virtuoso. With executive expertise at billion-dollar companies like Oracle or PTC and a history of rapid business growth—including a notable venture acquired for its multi-million user base—Darius embodies the spirit of innovation.
From a robotics engineer to a CEO by 28 and a key contributor to the famed MEDDIC sales methodology, his journey is a testament to his leadership and strategic prowess. Darius, a mastermind in tech startups, holds a Master’s from Ecole Centrale de Paris and a Stanford certification, lectures globally, and brings a wealth of knowledge in six languages from his base in California.
Connect with Darius Lahoutifard!
Website: https://meddic.academy/
New Course: https://meddic.academy/infinite-sales-leadership/
Book: https://meddic.academy/always-be-qualifying-meddic-meddpicc-book/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meddic
Links on Candice Snyder’s podcasts
Website: https://hairhealthvitality.com/passion-purpose-and-possibilities/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candice.snyder
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candicesny17/
The Value Triangle in MEDDIC Sales
On this episode of the Predictable Revenue Podcast, Collin Stewart is joined by Darius Lahoutifard, founder of the MEDDIC Academy. They dive into the origins and unique development of the MEDDIC sales qualification framework.
Highlights include:
Why is MEDDIC so Important? (16:05),
What is a Catalyst for Change? (56:27),
MEDDIC & MEDDPICC courses,
Infinite Sales Leadership course
And more…
Are you looking to create repeatable, scalable, and predictable revenue? We can help! ► https://bit.ly/predictablerevenuecoaching
Apple podcast links are provided in the above sections. For Spotify, cool enough to provide a nice search link, you can review a list of podcast episodes with Darius Lahoutifard here.
All the above podcasts, can be both listened to, in streaming or be downloaded with the appropriate apps provided by Spotify, Apple or other platforms.
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