Being Clear on Motivation

The clients who get the most out of our services during off-sites tend to share one belief: professional development is about building skills and teamwork in service of the people. Better results follow. That’s different from the mindset of “build skills so the business can make more money.” It’s a fine distinction, but it matters. A lot.

Last week we worked with a new client at their Sales Kickoff and it was clear right away they fall squarely into that first category.

One of the things I appreciated most about the sales leadership team was how open they were about what they needed from Spark4. Not just content, but the message that would best serve their team if delivered by us. What unfolded at the SKO was the group’s shared definition of accountability. We had space to question what it really means to be accountable to the process, and how to double down on collaboration in service of the client.

We had done thorough intake and deep discovery with the leadership team. We surveyed participants in advance around objectives and topics. And still, a Zoom conversation and an anonymous survey are very different from creating an environment where people show up curious, talk across functions, learn through experience, and make real connections in real time. Together, we nailed it.

That level of honesty and connection happened because the leaders of this sales organization were transparent and vulnerable with us and with their team. They showed, before, during, and after the SKO, that they genuinely care about the people in the room. They understand that personal connection, enablement, vision, and ongoing support are what create happy employees. And happy employees are what make a company wildly successful.