Crawford Partners, LLC

Delivers strategic consulting in marketing, strategy, leadership, organizational design, business transformation, executive coaching, and employee experience for private organizations focused on growth.  

I also partner with many leadership development, coaching, and organizational development firms to provide shared experience and solutions for a wide range of clients.

President

Thomas More University

Provided strategic leadership in adult enrollment and marketing for the university.  Designed new revenue models and channels to drive growth.  Responsible for all advertising, media placement, digital marketing and strategic initiatives.

Vice President for Digital, Graduate & Professional Programs

Founding Dean of the College of Business

Taught strategy, innovation, marketing, MBA skills, organizational behavior, etc., at undergraduate and graduate levels.

Assistant Professor

Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University

Assisted doctorate students in designing meaningful research.

Research Advisor for Doctorate of Management Students

Direct Opinions

Provided marketing strategy, sales, employee experience, customer research and analytics for clients across retail, healthcare, consumer products, and manufacturing.

Chief Marketing Officer

Convergys

Successfully provided cross-functional marketing leadership in creating solutions, designing business transformation, and developing innovative strategies that lead to growth.  Responsible for all value proposition creation, packaging, positioning, digital marketing, branding, creative services, web redesign, lead generation, sales center of excellence consulting services and voice of the client research.

Senior Director Marketing Strategy

University of Cincinnati

Enjoyed teaching Business Ethics and Quality Management Tools courses to students by designing a highly interactive curriculum.

Adjunct Business Management Instructor

Citigroup

Led sales and marketing business transformation efforts for private label cards, retention, and mortgage across seven sites.  Managed $230M in annual revenue, driving year over year continued growth.

Senior Vice President, Regional Sales Director

AmTrust Bank

Traveled throughout the country studying contact center best practices.  Designed, developed, implemented and managed all aspects of the retail banking contact center, internet web customer service and the B2B mortgage contact center.  The program won the National Teleprofessional Award for Call Center Excellence (ACCE).

Vice President

Partnering with Leaders to Define SUCCESS and Achieve It.

Thank you for visiting my profile.  I'm Angela Crawford, a strategist and leadership consultant who empowers people and organizations to grow through authentic connection and a relentless commitment to helping others succeed.

With over 20 years of strategic leadership experience, I provide organizational consulting, along with coaching and leadership development through my customizable Leaders SUCCEED Together© system.

Let's work together to define success for yourself and your organization--and achieve it!

Who I Help:
- C-Suite Executives in privately owned companies
- Senior Leaders tackling new challenges
- HR Professionals seeking leadership development solutions
- Education and Healthcare Administrators

How I Can Help:
- Provide consulting services across organizational development, HR, sales, marketing, and operations.
- Design custom leadership programs to attract and retain top talent
- Serve as your confidential sounding board with fresh perspectives
- Enhance team dynamics and performance with tailored solutions
- Navigate the unique challenges of education and healthcare leadership

Why Choose Crawford Partners?
- Extensive cross-industry experience
- Proven, research-backed Leaders SUCCEED Together© System
- Flexible, client-focused approach
- Deep commitment to your success
- Over 13 years of delivering results

Ready to grow your organization like never before?  Let's connect.

P.S. Even if leadership development isn't your current focus, feel free to pass my information along to someone who might benefit. I'm passionate about helping leaders become the best versions of themselves.

Angela Crawford

➡️ Here's what most leaders miss about organizational culture:

They think culture change happens from the top down through mission statements and company values.

The reality?

73% of culture transformation initiatives fail because leaders diagnose the stated culture instead of the enacted culture.

After studying Cameron & Quinn's Competing Values Framework and Schein's organizational culture theory, I've adapted a 4-phase diagnostic that reveals what's actually happening:

The Framework:

✅ Phase 1: Behavioral Evidence Gathering (Weeks 1-3)
→ Track decision patterns, not policy documents
→ Observe meeting dynamics, not org charts

✅ Phase 2: Informal Culture Assessment (Weeks 4-6)
→ Map promotion patterns vs. stated values
→ Analyze crisis responses vs. company principles

✅ Phase 3: Force Field Analysis (Weeks 7-9)
→ Identify reinforcing vs. disruptive cultural forces
→ Calculate net change pressure

✅ Phase 4: Integration & Action Planning (Weeks 10-12)
→ Plot cultural reality gaps
→ Design evidence-based evolution strategy

The difference? Companies using behavioral diagnostics see 3x higher success rates in culture transformation.

You know you've succeeded when: Your promotion patterns, resource allocation, and crisis responses actually match your stated values.

Which assumption about your company culture needs challenging?

Share your biggest culture gap discovery below. ⬇️

—

👉 DM me “GROWTH” to book a free 30-minute strategy call.

And get actionable leadership tips right in your inbox every Wednesday.

(Newsletter link in my bio).

Angela Crawford, PhD

Business Owner, Consultant & Executive Coach | Guiding Senior Leaders to Overcome Challenges & Drive Growth l Author of Leaders SUCCEED Together©

Stop trying to find your one "authentic" leadership style.

Start being the leader your team actually needs you to be in the moment.

Conventional wisdom tells us to be consistent. But what if that consistency is the very thing holding your team back?

A single leadership style applied to every person and situation is a recipe for failure.

→ Your brand-new intern feels lost because you're too hands-off.
→ Your senior expert feels micromanaged because you're too hands-on.

The most effective leaders don't have one style; they are leadership chameleons. They use the Situational Leadership Model to accurately diagnose and adapt to the needs of their people.

It’s about flexing between four distinct approaches based on your team member's competence and commitment to a specific task.

🎨 The 4 Leadership Styles:

1. Directing (S1) 🎯
→ You provide clear, step-by-step instructions.
Perfect for the Enthusiastic Beginner (D1) who is eager but inexperienced.

2. Coaching (S2) 🤝
→ You still direct, but also explain the 'why' and encourage them.
Ideal for the Disillusioned Learner (D2) who has hit a roadblock and lost confidence.


3. Supporting (S3) 🤗
→ You empower them to lead the way while you act as a sounding board.
For the Capable but Cautious Performer (D3) who has the skills but is hesitant to own it.

4. Delegating (S4) 🚀
→ You turn over full responsibility and trust them to deliver.
Reserved for the Self-Reliant Achiever (D4) who is a true expert.

Your goal as a leader isn't just to get the task done. It's to develop your people from D1 to D4. That requires you to change your approach as they grow.

Ready to try it?

Try this for one week:
→ Pick one person on your team and one specific task.
→ Diagnose their Development
→ Consciously apply the matching leadership style (S1-S4).

Who's ready to become a more adaptable leader?

—

👉 Get free weekly tips and actionable guides by signing up for my newsletter at the link in my bio.

What if we’ve been wrong about what great leadership looks like?

We celebrate the charismatic, larger-than-life CEOs on the covers of business magazines. But what if the data told a different story?

In his groundbreaking research for Good to Great, Jim Collins and his team discovered something interesting:

The most effective leaders combine personal humility with professional will.

They were Level 5 Leaders.

And the climbing looks like this:

• Level 1: Highly Capable Individual 🧑💼
Makes productive contributions through talent, knowledge, skills, and good work habits.

• Level 2: Contributing Team Member 🤝
Contributes individual capabilities to the achievement of group objectives and works effectively with others in a group setting.

• Level 3: Competent Manager 📈
Organizes people and resources toward the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives.

• Level 4: Effective Leader 🧭
Catalyzes commitment to and vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision, stimulating higher performance standards.

• Level 5: Executive ✨
Builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.

Greatness is not a function of circumstance.

It is, first and foremost, a matter of conscious choice and discipline. The most powerful choice a leader can make is to subjugate their own ego to the larger goal of building something great and lasting.

You can't "fake" Level 5, but you can consciously cultivate its attributes.

—

👉 Get my free guidebook detailing the 7 essential steps for leadership growth.

Link in bio.

Have you ever seen a great strategy die a slow, silent death?

The year starts with ambitious goals and high energy. By March, the team is buried in the “whirlwind” (endless emails, back-to-back meetings, and urgent fires that keep the business running).

The whirlwind isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
But if left on its own, it can consume 100% of your time and energy.

That’s why most strategies fail. All your resources go battle against the whirlwind.

The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX), created by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling, is the proven system to fight back.

Before you can win, you must know your enemy:

⚡️ What it is: The energy it takes to run your daily operations. The calls, the reports, the fires.

🚨 Its nature: It is not evil. It is urgent. And urgency will always feel more important than importance.

⚠️ Its power: It can derail any initiative and act on your team every minute of every day.

The 4 Disciplines are your weapons to protect your most important goals from being lost in the storm:

1. Focus on the Wildly Important
2. Act on the Lead Measures
3. Keep a Compelling Scoreboard
4. Create a Cadence of Accountability

What’s your go-to framework to fight the daily whirlwind?

—

👉 Get my free guidebook detailing the 7 essential steps for leadership growth.

Link in bio.

70% of major change initiatives fail.

The dangerous myth? That the new ideas were flawed.

The harsh truth most people miss? It's almost always a failure of leadership.

For decades, we've watched leaders with brilliant visions underestimate the human side of change.

They treat it like a software update, issuing a memo and expecting everyone to comply.

They are unprepared for the inevitable storm of resistance, fear, and inertia.

The result is always the same: wasted money, cynical employees, and a failed initiative that poisons the well for future efforts.

But you don't have to be a statistic. Dr. John Kotter's research provides a proven roadmap for navigating the storm. His 8-Step Model is not a checklist; it's a sequential, disciplined process for leading people through turmoil.

Skipping a step is like leaving a hole in the hull of your ship.

Here is the 8-step voyage to lasting change:

Phase 1: 🌪️ Create a Climate for Change(You can't steer a ship that's tied to the dock.)

→ Step 1: Create Urgency. Make the status quo seem more dangerous than the unknown future.
→ Step 2: Form a Powerful Guiding Coalition. Assemble a credible and influential team to lead the charge.
→ Step 3: Create a Vision for Change. Develop a clear, simple "North Star" to guide every action.

Phase 2: 🤝 Engage and Enable the Organization(Raise the sails and remove the obstacles.)

→ Step 4: Communicate the Vision. Relentlessly, through every channel possible. Then do it again.
→ Step 5: Empower Others to Act. Remove the barriers—be it a legacy system or a resistant manager.
→ Step 6: Create Short-Term Wins. Build momentum and silence the critics with visible successes.

Phase 3: ⚓ Implement and Sustain the Change(Anchor the new way of working in your culture.)

→ Step 7: Consolidate Improvements. Use the credibility from early wins to tackle bigger challenges.
→ Step 8: Anchor in the Culture. Weave the change into "the way we do things around here."

What's your experience?
Which of these 8 steps have you seen leaders skip most often?

—

👉 Get free tips and guidebooks weekly by signing up for my newsletter at the link in my bio.

➡️ The highest-performing teams aren't the smartest, they're the safest.

Most leaders focus on hiring talent but ignore creating environments where that
talent can actually speak up.

Here's how 5 industry leaders master psychological safety:

Google: Project Aristotle discoveries

→ Team diagnostic surveys for psychological safety measurement
→ Blameless post-mortems focusing on systems, not people
→ GTEAM meetings discussing "how we work together"
→ Result: 67% higher performance in psychologically safe teams

Microsoft: Growth mindset transformation

→ Daily pulse surveys for real-time team health monitoring
→ Learning Fridays: 10% time for experimentation
→ Courage Conversations training for difficult discussions
→ Result: 35% increase in employee confidence to speak up

Pixar: The Braintrust model

→ No hierarchy in feedback, junior animators critique directors
→ "Plussing" technique: "Yes, and..." instead of "No, but..."
→ Rapid prototyping with expectation of failure
→ Result: 83% feel safe sharing wild ideas

Netflix: Radical candor at scale

→ "Keeper Test" for transparent performance conversations
→ 360-degree feedback including upward feedback to managers
→ "No Brilliant Jerks" policy, culture matters as much as performance
→ Result: 89% trust their manager to act on feedback

The pattern? All 4 companies:

→ Measure psychological safety consistently
→ Train leaders to model vulnerability
→ Normalize speaking up through structured processes
→ Iterate and improve based on feedback

Amy Edmondson's research shows 4 stages: 

✅ Inclusion Safety
✅ Learner Safety
✅ Contributor Safety
✅ Challenger Safety.

Most teams never reach stage 4, where breakthrough innovation happens.

Which stage is your team at? 

And what's one practice you'll steal from these companies?

—

👉 DM me “GROWTH” to book a free 30-minute strategy call.

And get actionable leadership tips right in your inbox every Wednesday.

(Newsletter link in my bio).

Why do so many brilliant strategies fail?

It’s rarely the strategy itself. It's the organizational 'body' rejecting the transplant.

After years of advising leaders, I've seen the same painful pattern: companies pour months into crafting the perfect strategic plan, only to watch it stall, lose momentum, or die on the vine.

The cause is almost always a hidden misalignment.

A visionary strategy is useless if the organization's internal machinery isn't wired to execute it.
You can't ask for speed and innovation if your systems are built for rigid control.

The most effective leaders think like doctors. They don't just prescribe a treatment (Strategy); they run a full diagnostic MRI to see the entire system. That's the power of the McKinsey 7S Framework.

The old way: (Recipe for failure)
→ Obsess over strategy
→ Shuffle the structure (the org chart)
→ Hope culture and processes magically catch up

The new way: (Roadmap for alignment)
→ Start with shared values (the organization's heart 🤝)
→ Align the "hard" elements: Strategy 📈, Structure 🏢, and Systems ⚙️
→ And the "soft" elements: Skills 💡, Staff 🧑💼, and Style 🎨

When these 7 elements are in harmony, execution feels effortless. When they're misaligned, you get friction, burnout, and failed initiatives. The difference isn't the quality of your strategy, but the health of your organization.

Take 60 seconds to run a quick diagnosis.

Which of the 7S elements is the most misaligned with your company's strategy right now?

—

👉 Sign up for my newsletter and get my free guidebook detailing the 7 essential steps for leadership growth.  Link in bio.

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JSESSIONID

Heidi De Wolf MODA

70% of cultural transformation initiatives fail within the first year.

After working with 100+ leadership teams, I've discovered the pattern: Most organizations skip the diagnostic phase and jump straight to "solutions."

The problem is that you can't fix what you can't see.

Here's what a successful cultural transformation launch actually looks like:

✅ Days 1-30: Foundation Building
→ Complete comprehensive Cultural Assessment
→ Conduct Informal Culture Analysis (observe actual vs. stated behaviors)
→ Map your Cultural Force Field (based on Lewin's Force Field Analysis)
→ Achieve leadership alignment on desired culture using the Competing Values Framework

✅ Days 31-60: System Design
→ Redesign performance management systems
→ Optimize people processes and structures
→ Evolve communication patterns
→ Choose 2-3 strategic change levers

✅ Days 61-90: Launch & Early Measurement
→ Launch pilot programs with 1-2 teams
→ Collect behavioral and outcome data
→ Begin scaling successful elements
→ Develop 2-3 year transformation roadmap

Companies using this systematic approach see early momentum indicators within 30-60 days.

Things like increased awareness, leadership alignment, and initial behavioral experiments.

Reality check: True cultural transformation takes 2-3 years. This 90-day framework gets you started with a solid foundation.

What's one cultural blind spot your organization might be missing?

Drop your thoughts below. ⬇️

—

👉 DM me "GROWTH" to book a free 30-minute strategy call.

And get actionable leadership tips right in your inbox every Wednesday.

(Newsletter link in my bio).

Cultural Transformation Toolkit: Your 90-Day Action Plan

After years of advising leaders on growth, I've seen a dangerous pattern.

Many organizations have a growth hope, not a growth strategy.

They default to one thing: "sell more of what we have."

This leaves them stuck in a saturated market, completely blind to the massive opportunities just over the horizon.

What is the typical pattern across the most successful companies? They navigate it deliberately using a compass.

The best compass for this is the Ansoff Matrix. It's a simple but powerful framework that outlines the four fundamental paths to growth, forcing clarity on your options and the risks involved.

Here are the four cardinal directions every leader must understand:

1. 📈 Market Penetration (Low Risk)
→ The Play: Sell more existing products to your existing market.
→ Think: Coca-Cola launching a new ad campaign to deepen its market share.

2. 🛍️ Product Development (Medium Risk)
→ The Play: Create new products for your loyal, existing customer base.
→ Think: Apple launching the Apple Watch for its massive base of iPhone users.

3. 🌍 Market Development (Medium Risk)
→ The Play: Take your proven products into entirely new markets.
→ Think: Starbucks taking its existing coffee shop model and expanding into China for the first time.

4. 🚀 Diversification (High Risk)
→ The Play: A leap into the unknown with new products for new markets.
→ Think: Virgin Group expanding from a record label into airlines, telecoms, and finance.

Most businesses live their entire lives in quadrant #1.

But true, sustainable growth requires a conscious strategy that considers all four.

What does your growth plan for the next 18 months look like?
Which of these four quadrants are you actually operating in?

—

👉 Get free leadership guides and tips right in your inbox every Wednesday.  Link in my bio.

Vision, Mission, Values... Do your team statements inspire action or just collect dust?

Most leaders have them, but almost everyone is messing them up.

These aren't just buzzwords. They're the operating system for your team.

Get them right, and you create clarity, alignment, and purpose.

Here's the simple breakdown of the only four statements you need:

1. Vision Statement: Your North Star
→ Dreams big about the future
→ Sets direction for everyone
→ Shows where you want to go

2. Mission Statement: Your Roadmap
→ Explains what you do now
→ Shows how you operate
→ Names who you help

3. Values Statement: Your Guardrails
→ Lists core beliefs
→ Guides behavior
→ Sets cultural standards

4. Purpose Statement: Your "Why"
→ Explains deeper meaning
→ Goes beyond money
→ Connects emotionally

When these four are clear and aligned, everything changes.

You don't just lead a team; you lead a movement.

Which statement does your organization need to revisit first?

Share in the comments! ⬇️

—

👉 DM me “GROWTH” to book a free 30-minute strategy call.

And get actionable leadership tips right in your inbox every Wednesday.

(Newsletter link in my bio).

Quick question for leadership teams:

When was the last time you had a real conversation about how you actually work together, not just what you're working on?

Here's what I've observed: Many executive teams spend 100% of their time on strategy, execution, and results. 

And 0% on the operating system that drives all three.

You know the symptoms:

→ Meetings where everyone talks but nothing moves forward
→ The same conflicts surfacing in different forms
→ Talented leaders who seem disengaged or misaligned
→ Decisions that require endless loops of "alignment"

These aren't people problems. 

They're system problems.

Because every leader processes information differently. 

Makes decisions differently. 

Gets energized by different types of work. 

And contributes value in different phases of execution.

What successful teams understand:

Your meeting structure advantages some leaders and silences others. What feels "thorough" to one feels "paralyzed" to another. 

You're asking talented people to operate outside their genius zones.

The problem is that you're running a high-performance team on a one-size-fits-all operating system.

Introducing the Superpower Pyramid.

Through four scientifically-validated assessments (DiSC, CliftonStrengths, VIA Character Strengths, and Working Genius), leadership teams discover the unique combination of personality, talents, values, and working genius that makes each leader exceptional, and how to orchestrate them for maximum impact.

The 8-week program delivers:

✅ Clear understanding of each person's natural "superpower"
✅ A map of how individual strengths complement or conflict
✅ Practical strategies for collaboration that actually work
✅ A sustainable framework for ongoing team development

The measurable results:
→ 25-40% improvement in decision-making speed and collaborative outcomes
→ $100,000+ saved per retained executive leader
→ Enhanced stakeholder relationships through leveraged strengths
→ Accelerated organizational growth through optimized team dynamics

Ready to unlock your team's Combined Superpower?

📩 DM me "SUPERPOWER" to learn how the Superpower Pyramid can transform your leadership team in just 8 weeks.

What If Your Greatest Asset Is Being Underutilized?

From my Thanksgiving table to yours.  Thank you for your continued support, friendship, and engagement.  I am truly grateful and blessed for so many of you who are in my life.

As we look forward to the holiday season, let’s also remember to reach out and help those in need.

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Persuasion isn't manipulation. It's the most underrated leadership superpower.

Having great ideas is common. Getting the buy-in to make them a reality is what separates effective leaders from the rest.

After years of coaching executives, I've learned that the best communicators don't force, they connect.

They use these 8 persuasion secrets to build trust and inspire action:

→ 1. Show Genuine Interest: Remember personal milestones, not just project deadlines. It shows you care about the person, not just their output.

→ 2. Give Strategic Recognition: Praise achievements that directly reflect your team's goals and values. It reinforces what success looks like.

→ 3. Lead With Presence: Your positive energy and open body language set the tone for every interaction. Your team will mirror it.

→ 4. Display Your Human Side: Share appropriate vulnerabilities. It builds psychological safety and encourages others to do the same.

→ 5. Make a Personal Connection: Use names. This simple act makes your message more personal and impactful.

→ 6. Address Issues Directly: When you sense resistance, get curious. Ask questions to transform hidden concerns into productive conversations.

→ 7. Create a Positive Culture: Your authentic passion is contagious. It inspires your team and creates a magnetic workplace.

→ 8. Practice Radical Empathy: Actively work to see the situation from your team's perspective. It's the foundation of effective communication.

These aren't tricks; they are trust-building habits.

Master them, and you'll earn commitment.

Which of these 8 secrets will you focus on this week? 👇

—

👉 DM me “GROWTH” to book a free 30-minute strategy call.

And get actionable leadership tips right in your inbox every Wednesday.

(Newsletter link in my bio).

📣 A Quick Update for Those Who Follow My Work

Over the coming months, I’m making a small but meaningful shift in how I show up here on LinkedIn. You’ll still see me posting and sharing insights (I’m not going anywhere!), but my deeper focus will be on pouring even more value into my weekly Leaders Succeed Together newsletter.
Why the shift?

Because it matters to me that I can share sources, external links, research, and practical toolkits—the kind of helpful resources that social platforms don’t always make easy to share.  Posting a quick graphic is simple… but real growth requires depth, context, and access to the right tools.
If you’ve been following me because you care about:
✨ Becoming the leader you were meant to be
 ✨ Building positive, resilient cultures
 ✨ Navigating change with clarity, confidence, and purpose
 ✨ Helping your organization grow like never before

…then I’d love for you to join me on the newsletter side of things. That’s where I can go deeper, share exactly what I think will help you, and build something real with you—not just around you.

Here’s my commitment to you:
✅ No selling your information
✅ No spam
✅ No inbox overload

Just one email every Wednesday at 8 AM EST, filled with actionable insights, valuable links, tools, articles, and resources you can use immediately—or pass along to someone who needs them.

I’m incredibly grateful for the amazing people I’ve met on this journey to 25K+ LinkedIn followers. This next step is about building something even more meaningful—a community where leaders truly succeed together.
If you’d like to be part of that community, you can sign up using the View My Newsletter link in my bio.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
 Angela

A sneak peek of my newsletter this week.  Sign up in my bio to get the research-backed insights.

40+ Linkedin Money-Making-Influence Resources I Toxic Boss Immunity I Frequency of INFLUENCE: ETHICAL PERSUASION I $20k Brain-Based Sales System | HarvardX Neuroscience Research I Keynote 🎤 I X-Microsoft I Captain ⛵

$20k Monthly Brain Based Sales System Without Chasing the "Yes"

You know the feeling:
😳 Your brain lights up with “What if they think I’m pushy?” the second you open a DM.
😬 You’d rather post and pray the right people find you than risk being ghosted.
😅 You tell yourself that if you were really good, clients would just show up.

You don’t want to fake connection just to pitch.
You want sales that feels human. Real conversations, not pressure tactics.

You’re not bad at sales.
Your brain is just protecting you.

The amygdala flags rejection as danger.
Your prefrontal cortex freezes.
And boom hesitation, overthinking, silence.

That’s where my work comes in.
I teach the Neuroscience of No-Pressure Sales so you can sell with calm confidence instead of fear.

No scripts. No manipulation.
Just science, psychology, and simple tools to retrain your nervous system so selling feels natural again.

When your brain is relaxed, your authenticity returns.
You stop pitching and start connecting.
Outreach stops feeling like an intrusion and starts feeling like service.

This is sales made easy for coaches who hate selling.

✨ Ways to get started with me:

✅ If you're a coach DM me "Butter"
✅ If you're a business owner DM me "Butter"
✅ If you're a sales leader DM me "Butter"
✅ Attend my next workshop for FREE BRAIN BASED SALES SECRETS. https://forms.gle/HvTRDEZEuu7bgQEF8
✅ Subscribe to the Be Like Butter Bugle: Weekly brain hacks for resilience and influence. https://synaptic-solutions.kit.com/newsletter

Personal interests: 
- Captain ⛵️ 
- Recovering Sugar Addict 🍭 
- Trash TV consumer 🗑️

Sales Coach | Toxic Boss Coach | Neuroscience Coach | Executive Coach | Master Behavioral Strategist | Speaker | Advisor | Expert | 7 figures | Virtual Speaking | Sales Performance Brain Hacker | Mindset Coach I Corporate Trainer I Influence I Key Note Speaker

🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

Leaders don't do things for you. 

They inspire you to grow into someone who can do them 

Your brain's mirror neurons are fascinating...

When we observe great leadership, 
Our neural networks literally reshape themselves 🧠

Here's what happened in my team's brains 
When I shifted from problem-solver to growth catalyst:

1️⃣ Neural Leadership Networks
↳ Prefrontal cortex activation in decision-making up 
↳ Stress response pathways decreased
↳ Reward circuits fired during problem-solving

2️⃣ Learning Circuit Activation
↳ Neuroplasticity peaked during challenges
↳ Dopamine loops strengthened team bonds
↳ Cognitive flexibility increased 

3️⃣ Performance Neuroscience
↳ Cortisol levels dropped 
↳ Oxytocin boosted trust signals
↳ Group synchronization improved

Science shows: When leaders step back,
The team's collective neural networks step up.

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

PS: What neural pathway did your best leader help you strengthen? 🧠

Video credit: Unlnown

-------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share to build stronger leadership brains
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based growth insights

The hard things you avoid 

Are the exact things that free you

Most people avoid the hard stuff.
Not because they are lazy.
Because their brain is trying to protect them.

The prefrontal cortex wants long term wins
But the amygdala wants immediate comfort
So every hard task feels like a threat
And your brain tells you to delay it
Even when it hurts you later.

Here is how to flip the switch
So your brain stops fighting you
And starts working for you.

1/ Reduce the threat signal
 Big tasks feel dangerous
 So your brain freezes
 Break the task into the smallest next move
 Science: Small steps lower amygdala activity
 And increase dopamine for starting

2/ Front load the friction
 Do the hardest task first
 Before your brain is overloaded
 Science: Your decision making power is highest early
 And cortisol rises as the day goes on

3/ Create a reward loop
 Your brain needs a reason to try
 Pair the hard task with a positive cue
 Tea, music, a small celebration
 Science: Dopamine releases faster
 When a reward is tied to effort, not outcomes

When you train your brain to face hard things
You stop leaking energy
You build momentum
And the tough stuff becomes automatic

P.S. Whats your best procrastination buster? 

Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Video Credit: Unknown

-----------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon  to get more brainy tips
♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to thrive

I used to shrink parts of myself to fit into corporate.

It quietly drained the life out of my ideas (and me).

At the time, I thought success required self-erasure.
I hit every goal on the board.
But I felt empty.

 🧠 Promotions
 🧠 Pay raises
 🧠 Prestige

None of it mattered.
My spark was gone.
And so was my creativity.

Have you ever noticed how your brain invents ideas
When you’re not even trying?

Your imagination lights up your neural networks
Like a synchronized light show.

Brain imaging reveals that
Most of your regions activate during visualization.

Here’s what fuels your imagination 👇

1/ Your Brain’s Creative Engine
 ↳ Default Mode Network turns on as the PFC steps back
 ↳ Memory blends with emotion to create new associations
 ↳ Your brain recombines patterns without limits

2/ The Moment Insight Strikes
 ↳ Gamma bursts peak during big realizations
 ↳ Hippocampus sends raw material to the DMN
 ↳ New pathways strengthen the more you play with ideas

3/ Your Creativity Enhancement Tools
 ↳ Take short intentional pauses for DMN activation
 ↳ Change scenes to trigger fresh circuitry
 ↳ Welcome boredom because it sparks innovation

Creativity is not magic.
It is a neural process you can train.
All you need is the space and permission to
Reconnect with curiosity and let your mind roam.
Don’t lose your spark chasing goals that dim you.

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

PS: When does your imagination run wild?

Video Credit: Unknown

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share to help others reclaim their creativity
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Your brain won't save you.

Your heart will. 

For two weeks, I volunteered to help rescue animals.
Feeding, cleaning, comforting the scared and the broken.

They had nothing to give back
but showing up still felt right.

Because giving changes you.
It pulls you out of fear and back into purpose.

And right now, the world needs more of that.
 💔 People are hurting.
 💔 Jobs disappearing.
 💔 Markets spiraling.
 💔 Stress levels through the roof.

Everyone’s doing their best just to stay afloat.
But when everything feels unstable,
most people grip tighter.
They try to control.
They chase.
They push harder for the “yes.”

That’s exactly why it stops working.
The brain senses pressure and shuts down trust.
You can’t sell, serve, or lead from scarcity.
You can only do it from calm generosity.

That’s why I’m giving away what I’ve learned.
The exact framework that helped me break free from corporate,
build consistency on my own,
and stop chasing clients who weren’t ready.

It’s called Stop Chasing the Yes.
A workshop to help you
 – Build your own predictable client system
 – Shift from pressure to presence in every conversation
 – Lead with calm confidence instead of fear

If you’ve been giving everything and still feel stuck,
this is your next step.

Because giving works best
when you give to yourself too.

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

P.S. Do you volunteer, if so where?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for more neuroscience tools for calm influence
♻️ Repost to help others give without burning out

The only true failure in life is quitting. 

Success is never a straight line. It certainly wasn't for me.

I've had many failures and setbacks along my path.
Layoffs.
Failed ventures.
Bad investments. 

Life is messy. 
Mess is a part of life.

Enjoy the messiness. 
And, your brain kinda likes it messy too.

Why your brain craves zigzag paths 🧠

(The science of why progress feels so messy) 👇

Your neural pathways aren't built in straight lines
And neither is your path to greatness
Here's what's really happening in your brain:

1️⃣ The Neural Reality
↳ Growth pathways form through trial and error
↳ Each "failure" strengthens neural connections
↳ Your brain requires contrast to learn

2️⃣ The Resilience Loop
↳ Setbacks activate problem-solving networks
↳ Stress actually enhances memory formation
↳ Recovery periods boost cognitive flexibility

3️⃣ The Growth Paradox
↳ Progress activates dopamine reward system
↳ Plateaus create new neural foundations
↳ Breakthroughs happen during apparent standstills

Your "messy" journey is how your brain is designed to learn and grow.

P.S. What was your latest messiness?

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Video Credit: Unknown

-------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if you're ready to embrace the zigzag
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based insights

Most people’s LinkedIn strategy: grind harder and hope

Mine: close clients while living life on my own schedule

I’ve wandered through the Greek islands
- Boat rides to hidden beaches
- Mornings working with seaside views
- A weekend in Skopelos without realizing it was a movie set

I spent a month in Athens
- Day trips to Agistri, turquoise blue waters
- Afternoons coaching clients

Why am I sharing this?
 Because your brain says “that’s not for me”
 Because it tells you to stick with the familiar
 (It’s called comfort bias and it keeps you stuck)

But here’s what no one will tell you:
If you want it, this life is closer than you think

Here’s how your brain makes it happen:

1️⃣ The Belief Reset
 ↳ Your brain avoids what feels out of reach
 ↳ Turn “impossible” into doable with simple shifts
 ↳ Stack wins until change feels normal

2️⃣ The LinkedIn Advantage
 ↳ Know what your ideal client looks for before they decide
 ↳ Post and message in ways that feel safe and personal
 ↳ Use a system that works even while you’re away

3️⃣ The Lifestyle Flywheel
 ↳ Every yes starts before the offer is made
 ↳ Match your approach to their decision process
 ↳ That’s how I work from coastlines and mountain trails

The point?

It’s not about more work
It’s about the right work for the brain

I am offering a once in a lifetime DONE FOR YOU SYSTEM
For One Month, I will revamp your LI system
- ICP Subtext Discovery 
- LI Optimization
- DM Framework that gets sales calls
- 1 month of content that gets inbound leads
- Engagement that builds your reach

I will only take ONE client. 
If you want me to build your system,
the way I went from 3k to 50k followers, then DM me
"DFY Butter" and we'll chat.

P.S. Where would you take your laptop first?
P.P.S. Pic from Poseidon's Temple (10/10)
-----------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if your goal is freedom without the hustle
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales strategies

One more trip around the sun.

It's been a doozy.

Every birthday, I pause and reflect on my last year.
This year was the year that stretched me in every direction.

I lost my favorite person (my Belley Bean)
That loss began an 8 month walkabout across the globe.

I found my spiritual side.
I found strength I didn't know I had.

I escaped 3 typhoons
I sailed the Mediterranean
I ate the most amazing food 
I chopped a bajillion bananas
I swam in the Blue Cave in Croatia
I cared for 140 elephants and 700 dogs
I got bit and headbutted by deer in Nara
I moved what felt like a million watermelons
I spoiled myself at a Japanese Onsen regularly
I calmly navigated a stalker sitch right up to my airplane 
I lost a toenail trying an advanced yoga post in Cabo San Lucas

I missed my family.
I missed my friends.

I grew.
I grew so much.
I think I grew more this year than any year before.

I admired the precision of Japanese trains.
I learned Thai people do not use chopsticks.
I went from a 3k to 50k community in 8 months.
I was stunned by the beauty of the Greek islands.
I made new friends in the most unexpected places.
I built a predictable, brain-based revenue machine.
I helped countless clients do the same for their businesses.

This year was not easy.
It was not predictable.
But it was deeply transformative.

Here is to another year of becoming.
Here is to letting go, leaning in, and staying open.

And if you are reading this…
Thank you for being part of my journey.

P.S. Today, I am Seattle celebrating!
Wanna celebrate with me?

I am offering a once in a lifetime DONE FOR YOU SYSTEM
For One Month, I will revamp your LI system
- ICP Subtext Discovery 
- LI Optimization
- DM Framework that gets sales calls
- 1 month of content that gets inbound leads
- Engagement that builds your reach

I will only take ONE client. 
If you want me to build your system,
the way I went from 3k to 50k followers, then DM me
"DFY Butter" and we'll chat.

-----------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if your goal is freedom without the hustle
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales strategies

You have more answers than you think. 

You just don't know it...yet.

Most people say they want to think outside the box.
But few ever leave it.

Because the box feels safe.
It’s made of habits, rules, and comfort.
It’s your brain’s way of protecting you from uncertainty.

But that same safety is what keeps you small.
Every great idea, every business, every leap
starts the moment you question the walls around you.

When you think differently, new neural pathways fire.
Your prefrontal cortex lights up.
Dopamine releases as you connect unfamiliar dots.
That’s not chaos. That’s creativity.

Thinking outside the box trains your brain to
🧠 see possibilities instead of patterns,
🧠 stay adaptable when the world shifts,
🧠 and turn fear into curiosity instead of paralysis.

Inside the box, life feels predictable.
Outside, it feels alive.

If you want freedom, income, and purpose,
you can’t just color outside the lines.
You have to stop believing they’re even there.

That’s the work we do inside my workshop
Because the world doesn’t reward safety.
It rewards those who think beyond it.

🧠 Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Usually, the answer is already within you 
(channeling Yoda today).

P.S. When was the last time you already knew the answer...you just had to remember you did?

Video credit: Unlnown

---------------------------------------------------------

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♻️ Repost to help more people break out of their mental box

Persuasion isn't manipulation

Persuasion is making the prospect feel safe.

The top 8 secrets to ethically persuade 👇

Most people think persuasion means convincing or winning.
But real persuasion begins in calm awareness.
Your nervous system leads the conversation 
Long before your words do.
When your energy is steady, others feel safe to open.

Here's the 8 secret ways to ethically persuade

1️⃣ Regulate before you relate
 Take one slow breath before you speak.
 This quiets the body and steadies your focus.
 Your calm signals safety and builds connection.

2️⃣ Lead with curiosity
 Ask questions that invite reflection.
 “What feels most challenging right now?”
 Curiosity keeps the brain open and the energy light.

3️⃣ Validate before you redirect
 When people hesitate, meet them with empathy.
 “I understand why you’d feel that way.”
 Validation relaxes tension and rebuilds trust.

4️⃣ Keep autonomy intact
 People need to feel in control of their choices.
 Invite, don’t push.
 “Would you like to explore this together?”

5️⃣ Reframe with clarity
 Fear narrows focus, clarity opens it again.
 Ask, “What might shift if this were already solved?”
 It helps people see beyond the problem.

6️⃣ Align around shared intention
 Focus on what matters to both of you.
 “We both want this to create real results.”
 Shared purpose turns pressure into partnership.

7️⃣ Match energy before guiding change
 People follow what feels familiar.
 First, attune to their tone and pace.
 Then gently guide the conversation toward calm and clarity.

8️⃣ End with clarity, not pressure
 Unfinished conversations keep the mind spinning.
 Summarize, confirm, and close the loop.
 “Are you ready to get started?"

Ethical persuasion is calm, curious, and choice-based.
🧠 Regulate first. 
🧠 Match energy. 
🧠 Keep autonomy strong.

That’s how influence becomes trust.

P.S. Have you ever felt pressured to buy?

Starting up my workshops again!
Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 ♻️ Repost to help more people influence with integrity

Lighting someone else's candle doesn't dim yours.

It just makes the room brighter.

Helping others shine doesn't dim your light.
Your brain actually glows brighter when you lift people up.

Most people think helping drains energy.
Neuroscience shows it does the opposite.
Your brain rewards contribution.
It expands your capacity, not shrinks it.

Here are 3 ways helping others strengthens your brain 👇
1️⃣ Your reward system lights up
✔️ Kindness boosts dopamine
 Dopamine lifts motivation and focus
 Your flame grows, not fades

2️⃣ Your connection circuits strengthen
✔️ Support boosts oxytocin
 Oxytocin builds trust and safety
 Your brain gets more resilient

3️⃣ Your creative networks open
✔️ Giving lowers stress chemicals
 Lower stress frees the prefrontal cortex
 Ideas flow easier when your heart is open

Lifting others isn't self sacrifice.
It's self expansion.
Your brain shines brighter
every time you help someone rise.

P.S. What's the last time someone lit your flame?

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain based insights
♻️ Repost to help someone light up today

The number 1 reason you’re invisible on Linkedin...

You aren't breaking through the RAS filter

Your prospect never sees most of what you say.
Their brain deletes it before it gets inside.

The Reticular Activating System filters everything.
It looks for relevance, novelty, safety, and clarity.
If your message feels routine, it gets ignored.
If it feels vivid and personal, it gets through.
Here are ten ways to pass the filter fast.

1/ Pattern breaks win
Don’t start predictable
Do open with novelty
Science: RAS flags newness first

2/ Short lines keep attention
 Don’t write long blocks
 Do use simple spacing
 Science: Low load keeps thinking open

3/ Make it about them
Don’t lead with yourself
Do mirror their world
Science: RAS checks for self relevance

4/ Signal credibility fast
Don’t over explain
Do give one strong proof
Science: Fast heuristics shape trust

5/ Use micro commitments
Don’t push for yes
Do ask tiny questions
Science: Micro wins open dopamine

6/ Use visual outcomes
Don’t stay vague
Do paint clear images
Science: RAS tags vivid scenes

7/ Match their energy
Don’t push your pace
Do mirror tone
Science: Mirror neurons sync fast

8/ Validate their words
Don’t jump to fixes
Do echo their phrasing
Science: Neural validation needs match

9/ Create safety, not pressure
Don’t force urgency
Do slow the tempo
Science: Threat shuts attention down

10/ Give one next step
Don’t dump info
Do guide clearly
Science: Sequence reduces neural noise

When you speak to the brain instead of the ego
You stop sounding like everyone else
You bypass resistance
You increase trust
And your message finally lands

P.S. Which one has worked for you??

Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe
Dec 15 - 11am - 2pm PST

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♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to thrive

Persuasion isn’t pressure.

Persuasion is helping someone feel safe.

Here are 8 ethical persuasion swaps that actually work 👇

Most people try to persuade with logic or force.
But the brain listens to safety signals first.
When you protect autonomy and reduce threat,
People open up, not shut down.

Here are the 8 upgrades:

1️⃣ Regulate before you relate
❌ Don’t say: 
“Let me just explain why this makes sense.”

✅ Say this:
“Before we dive in, take a breath. I want this to feel clear.”

🔬Science:
 A calm nervous system sends safety cues.
 Their mirror neurons match your steadiness, lowering resistance.

2️⃣ Lead with curiosity
❌ Don’t say:
 “Here’s what you need to do.”

✅ Say this:
 “What feels hardest about this right now?”

🔬 Science:
 Curiosity keeps the amygdala quiet.
 Questions activate the prefrontal cortex, the part that evaluates options calmly.

3️⃣ Validate before redirecting
❌ Don’t say:
 “I understand, but…”

✅ Say this:
 “It makes sense you’d feel that way.”

🔬 Science:
 Validation reduces cortisol.
 It signals “You’re safe to express hesitations,” which reopens trust pathways.

4️⃣ Protect autonomy
❌ Don’t say:
 “You should really move forward.”

✅ Say this:
 “Want to explore this together?”

🔬 Science:
Autonomy is a core human need.
When someone feels in control, dopamine rises and decision-making improves.

5️⃣ Reframe with clarity
❌ Don’t say:
 “You’re overthinking this.”

✅ Say this:
 “What might shift if this were already solved?”

🔬 Science:
Reframing widens cognitive perspective.
It moves the brain out of threat mode and into problem-solving mode.

6️⃣ Align intentions
❌ Don’t say:
 “I just want you to see my point.”

✅ Say this:
 “We both want a solution that actually works for you.”

🔬 Science:
Shared goals increase oxytocin.
Oxytocin boosts collaboration and reduces defensiveness.

7️⃣ Match energy before guiding
❌ Don’t say:
 “Relax, it’s not a big deal.”

✅ Say this:
 “I hear how this feels for you. Let’s slow it down together.”

🔬Science:
Attunement regulates the nervous system.
The brain trusts what feels familiar before it trusts new direction.

8️⃣ Close with clarity, not pressure
❌ Don’t say:
 “So… are you ready or not?”

✅ Say this:
 “Here’s what the next step looks like. Does this feel right to you?”

🔬 Science:
Clear choices reduce cognitive load.
When the brain knows the path, uncertainty drops—and commitment rises.

Ethical persuasion is simple:
 🧠 Lower threat
 🧠 Raise clarity
 🧠 Protect autonomy

That’s how influence becomes trust.

P.S. Ever notice how pressure makes you want to run?

My workshops are open again.
Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

----------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales tools
♻️ Repost to help more people influence with integrity

Your biggest risk is the rep who says they're "fine."

Your rep's "fine," is eerily similar to your spouse's "fine."

TL:DR It's definitely not "fine."

You don't lose a quarter in one moment.
You lose it in tiny blind spots.

A rep who says they're fine.
A pipeline that looks clean.
A deal that feels safe until it slips.

Then your forecast cracks.
Your VP starts asking questions.
And you wonder what you missed.

What every manager thinks but never says out loud:

You're managing stories, not data.
Your team tells you what feels safe to say.
Not what protects your number.

Sales Sage shows you the parts they leave out.
A simple 10 minute pulse surfaces early risk.

😶‍🌫️ Stress signals. 
😶‍🌫️ Confidence drops.
😶‍🌫️ Hidden struggles that turn into missed targets...
If you catch them too late.

We give you visibility your dashboards say they give you
But can't

The minority report for sales teams. 
14-day free beta: https://salessage.co for early adopters

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🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

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The Battle

Angela Crawford

🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Angela Crawford's LinkedIn Performance

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