deliver-immediate-value-without-requiring-technical-expertise

How to Sell Better using AI (no tech skills required)

By / / AI & Data, Sales Planning, Sales Skills, Sales Tips

In 30 seconds

Many sales teams struggle with AI adoption despite promising stats showing 90% faster proposals and 30% higher email response rates. The gap isn’t sales capability, it’s practical AI application. Our focused 90-minute sessions teach human-AI collaboration for research enhancement, communication amplification, and administrative efficiency. Teams achieve 60% more demos booked, 10+ hours saved weekly, and 66% productivity gains by using AI to enhance existing expertise, not replace it. We help sales professionals cut through the noise with practical guidance on accessible tools that deliver immediate value without requiring technical expertise.

In 2 minutes

Start Small: Cut Through the AI Hype …

How to Sell Better using AI (no tech skills required) Read Post »

i-have-an-awesome-team-who-has-my-back-so-I-am-not-checking-in

Gotta Plane to Catch – It’s Actually True

By / / Trust, Wellbeing

In 30 seconds

Don’t fall off your chair, but I’m finally taking a proper 10-day holiday. It’s been two years since my last major break, and I’ll confess I’m really bad at taking time off. I’m good at practising what I preach when it comes to sales, business, leadership, staying healthy and managing my mental health. However, taking proper holidays? That’s where I fall down. My husband’s significant birthday gave me the perfect excuse to step away. I have an awesome team who has my back, so I’m not checking in. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a plane to catch.

In …

Gotta Plane to Catch – It’s Actually True Read Post »

stronger-relationships-and-innovative-lasting-advantages

The Critical Soft Skills That Make Sales Teams Unstoppable in the AI Age

By / / AI & Data, Business Growth, Communication, Sales Skills, Soft skills

In 30 seconds

As AI grows more sophisticated, human connection skills become even more valuable. According to Salesforce’s 2024 State of Sales report, 83% of sales teams using AI saw revenue growth compared to just 66% of teams without AI. When AI handles data gathering, the competitive edge shifts to relationship building and creative problem-solving. Active listening uncovers emotional drivers AI misses, while strategic questioning reframes a client or prospects’ thinking. Empathy creates durable advantages by recognising how business changes affect people’s stress and timelines. Creative problem-solving translates AI insights into tailored solutions. Organisations investing in human skill development alongside AI gain stronger relationships and innovative, lasting advantages.

The Critical Soft Skills That Make Sales Teams Unstoppable in the AI Age Read Post »

ai-empowers-teams-for-lasting-competetive-advantage

AI is Everywhere, But Without Your People, It’s Going Nowhere

By / / AI & Data, Attitudes & Behaviours, CRM

In 30 seconds

In a C-suite meeting, AI’s promise is clouded by confusion. Your inbox overflows with AI pitches: chatbots, analytics, automation. Where to start? One client is learning the hard way, investing in AI only to face resistance. Past CRM failures (47-63% fail due to poor engagement) and ERP implementations (60% fail) show the cost of ignoring people. Don’t repeat these mistakes. Lead with people: assess team needs, build confidence with small AI wins, develop critical skills like strategic thinking, and foster safe experimentation. Measure human outcomes like satisfaction and growth to ensure AI empowers teams for lasting competitive …

AI is Everywhere, But Without Your People, It’s Going Nowhere Read Post »

winning-long-term

Trust Wins the Long Game: Why Game Theory Trumps Short-Term Tricks

By / / Attitudes & Behaviours, Ethics & Values, Negotiation, Value Based Selling

In 30 seconds

A national building supplies firm won a big account by slashing prices, only to lose it six months later to a pricier, more reliable competitor. In contrast, a tech-security BDM secured a $3M high-margin deal by listening, co-creating solutions, and building trust. Game theory proves cooperation outperforms deception: short-term wins erode trust, long-term partnerships drive success. The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer shows 75% of people value enduring relationships over quick gains. The winning formula? Emotional intelligence to navigate relationships, ethical guardrails to assess moral engagement, and business savviness to align strategy with long-term goals. In business, the smartest play is also the most human one.

Trust Wins the Long Game: Why Game Theory Trumps Short-Term Tricks Read Post »

eq-is-your-most-effective-power-move

Stop ‘Speaking Your Mind’. Start Winning

By / / Attitudes & Behaviours, Emotional Intelligence, Sales Skills, Sales Tips, Soft skills, Uncategorized

In 30 seconds

Blurting out whatever’s on your mind might feel good for five seconds, but it can kill a deal, a relationship, or your reputation just as quickly. In business, brutal honesty without strategy isn’t courage; it’s carelessness. Emotional Intelligence turns honesty into influence. Pause, reflect, and reframe with empathy. Ask questions to uncover the real concern. Choose words that open doors instead of slamming them shut. Listening builds trust and moves conversations forward. The goal isn’t to “be righteous” in the moment, it’s to achieve the outcome you want and others value. In high-stakes situations, EQ isn’t weakness. …

Stop ‘Speaking Your Mind’. Start Winning Read Post »

2025_Bowie_RebelRebel_Starman_Collaboration_Finding_Magic_in_Togetherness_the_Bowie_Way

Rebel Rebel Authenticity: Bowie’s Blueprint for Being Real in Business

By / / Attitudes & Behaviours, Collaboration, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, Soft skills, Teamwork

In 30 seconds

Authenticity isn’t soft: it’s a bold act of leadership. David Bowie’s evolution, especially during his Berlin years, shows how stepping out from behind the mask unlocks trust, emotional intelligence, and real connection. In today’s fast, automated world, being human is your competitive edge. Like Bowie, I once hid behind work until I learned to lead with my values and full self. That shift transformed everything. At Barrett, we call this Selling Better. It’s not about performance; it’s about being real. Because the most powerful relationships in business are built on truth, presence, and the courage to be yourself.

Rebel Rebel Authenticity: Bowie’s Blueprint for Being Real in Business Read Post »

ai-at-your-side-not-in-your-place

Humans-in-the-Loop: Selling Smarter with AI

By / / AI & Data, Sales Relationships, Sales Skills, Sales Tips

In 30 seconds

As AI reshapes sales, success hinges not on replacing people, but on partnering with machines. The “human-in-the-loop” model lets AI do the heavy lifting -analysing data, predicting behaviour, and automating tasks- while humans bring empathy, strategy, and ethical judgement. Like doctors interpreting AI-generated diagnostics, sales professionals must translate insights into value-driven conversations. You decide which leads matter, tell the story behind the data, and build trust that machines can’t replicate. In a world of rising automation and risk, human connection is your competitive edge. With AI at your side, not in your place, you drive better decisions, …

Humans-in-the-Loop: Selling Smarter with AI Read Post »

change-starts-at-the-top

Why Leader-Led Learning Works: Lessons from a Standout Client

By / / Coaching, Sales Coaching, Sales Culture, Sales Leadership

In 30 seconds

In over 30 years of experience, we’ve seen that real cultural change comes when leaders take ownership and drive learning from the top. One standout client, a financial services organisation, is showing how leader-led learning builds confident, collaborative teams who take ownership of their growth. Through a structured program of ongoing sessions – in-person and remote, leaders coach people in 1on1 and team sessions, reinforcing good habits, and creating space for self-reflection and self-correction. The result is visible: a shift in mindset, behaviour, capability uplift, improved results and culture. This client had set the benchmark for how to …

Why Leader-Led Learning Works: Lessons from a Standout Client Read Post »

reputation-is-other-peoples-business-and-how-not-to-care

Why Your Reputation IS Other People’s Business AND How Not To Care

By / / Attitudes & Behaviours, Brand & Reputation, Emotional Intelligence, Life Skills

In 30 seconds

Reese Witherspoon’s call to ignore others’ opinions promises freedom, but in business, reputation, shaped by what’s said when you leave the room, drives success. Harvard Business Review (2023) notes 70% of hiring decisions hinge on perception, underscoring our need to engage proactively. Yet, total detachment risks isolation. Emotional intelligence (EQ) bridges this gap: self-regulation and empathy foster trust while preserving identity. As an HSP, I use “caring detachment” to connect, collaborate, and lead, owning my emotions despite people-pleasing tendencies. It’s messy but manageable with reflection and boundaries. How do you balance freedom and reputation? Share your insights.

In 2 …

Why Your Reputation IS Other People’s Business AND How Not To Care Read Post »

Scroll to Top