Leadership is not about authority—it’s about connection. Yet too many leaders unintentionally create environments where employees feel unheard, undervalued, and unmotivated. In this episode of No Limits Leadership, I sat down with Jen Halpern, founder of Soft Sell Coaching, to discuss how leaders can foster trust, build engagement, and balance high expectations with authentic connection. Whether you lead a sales team, an executive board, or an entire company, the key to success is simple: listen, engage, and invest in your people.

Key Takeaways:

• The Birth of Soft Sell Coaching – Jen’s journey from corporate burnout to purpose-driven coaching.
• The Truth About Leadership & Sales – Why the traditional "hard sell" approach is outdated and how trust, connection, and humanizing sales lead to long-term success.
• Great Bosses vs. Toxic Bosses – Jen’s personal experiences with inspiring vs. destructive leadership and the lessons learned.
• The Balance of Compassion & Standards – How great leaders can be assertive without being authoritarian and hold their teams accountable while fostering a culture of trust.
• Breaking the Myth of Sales Leadership – Why promoting top sales reps into management without proper training sets them up for failure.
• Motivation Beyond Money – Understanding what truly drives sales professionals and why leaders need to check in regularly to keep their teams engaged.

Jen also shares practical exercises to help leaders build self-awareness, stronger connections, and more intentional leadership habits—including an unexpected (but powerful) fork-in-hand challenge!

If you’re a leader looking to develop high-performing teams without sacrificing humanity, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you transform the way you lead and sell.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to create a leadership style that blends impact, authenticity, and results.

Keywords

leadership, compassionate selling, sales coaching, corporate culture, trust in leadership, motivation, leadership development, sales teams, authentic leadership, personal growth

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Compassionate Leadership

02:30 The Birth of Soft Cell Coaching

04:10 Navigating Corporate Culture and Personal Growth

05:59 The Impact of Leadership Styles

10:28 Setting Standards and Expectations

13:37 Balancing Compassion and Assertiveness in Leadership

21:49 The Importance of Asking Questions

27:14 Building Trust in Leadership

32:36 The Need for Leadership Development

36:55 Legacy and Impact in Leadership

executive coaching, leadership development, team accountability, coaching culture, middle managers, high-performing teams, leadership communication, onboarding systems, questions for leaders, leadership podcast, self-leadership, culture-building, lead yourself first, Ken Proctor, Sean Patton, No Limits Leadership