How to Win the Deal Before You Even Meet the CEO

How to Win the Deal Before You Even Meet the CEO

Author: Aleasha Bahr April 9, 2026 Duration: 12:25
Most service providers think the goal is to impress the CEO because they’re the decision buyer.  However in more complex deals with larger companies, you rarely get the CEO first.  You speak with the CMO, the ops lead, the SEO manager, or the HR director.  In other words, there is a person standing between you and the final yes. If you approach them the same way you would the CEO, there’s a bigger chance that you will lose the deal. In this episode of Sales Is NOT a Dirty Word, you’ll learn one of the most overlooked and costly sales mistakes and how to fix it. You’ll learn how to shift your conversations so internal stakeholders feel supported, not threatened or like you want to bypass them. Because the truth is, they are not focused on company-wide growth.  They care about how your solution impacts their role. They are deciding if you make them look effective or replaceable. When you understand this, everything changes. Inside this episode: Why internal decision makers have different motivators than CEOs How to position your offer as support and relief instead of competition The questions that reveal what actually matters to them How to turn internal stakeholders into advocates who sell for you Why helping someone look good accelerates the close This is the shift that separates average sales conversations from ones that convert 6 figure deals with big companies.  You are not just closing a deal.You are building an internal ally who helps you win it. If you’re ready to stop losing deals in the middle of the process and start closing with confidence, book a Sales Team Level Up Call and let’s build a strategy that actually works for your sales conversations:👉 https://calendly.com/aleasha/salesteam-levelup 01:30 – Who you’re actually selling to first (and why it matters)02:15 – Why internal stakeholders think differently than CEOs03:10 – The mistake: pitching company-wide results too early04:05 – What CMOs and internal teams really care about05:10 – How to position your offer without threatening their role06:20 – The “make them look good” strategy explained07:15 – Discovery questions that change everything08:20 – Turning internal stakeholders into advocates09:10 – How to equip them to sell you internally10:00 – Getting in front of the CEO (the right way)11:00 – Creating a collaborative “team” dynamic11:45 – Final takeaway: treat them like their own buyer #SalesStrategy #B2BSales #SalesCoaching #ServiceBasedBusiness #AgencyGrowth #ConsultingBusiness #SalesTips #CloseMoreDeals #DiscoveryCall #SalesProcess #EntrepreneurSales #HighTicketSales #LeadConversion #BusinessGrowthStrategy #SalesTraining #ClientAcquisition #SalesPsychology #BlackSheepSales #WomenInBusiness #SalesIsNotADirtyWord

Ever feel like the whole idea of "selling" makes your skin crawl? You're not alone, but what if everything you've been told about sales is wrong? Sales is NOT a Dirty Word is built on the idea that genuine connection, not manipulation, is the real engine of business growth. Host Aleasha Bahr, creator of the Matchmaker Sales method™, dismantles the high-pressure stereotypes one conversation at a time. Instead of scripts and tricks, she opens up her playbook, sharing insights and strategies typically reserved for her private coaching clients-where achieving an 80% conversion rate on sales calls isn't a fantasy, but a regular outcome. Each episode of this podcast features candid talks with experts who offer alternative, refreshingly human perspectives on the process. You'll hear real stories about building trust, understanding client needs deeply, and creating agreements that feel good for everyone involved. This isn't about learning to pretend; it's about discovering a framework where your authenticity becomes your greatest asset in closing deals. Tune in to transform your approach from something you dread into a natural, even enjoyable, part of your professional life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Sales is NOT a Dirty Word
Podcast Episodes
Sales Personalities Series Part 5: Chatty Charmer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:26
I'm closing out our five part Sales Personalities series with the one I think gets misread the most: the Chatty Charmer. This is the person who has never met a stranger - they’re warm and easy to talk to. I could put a C…
Sales Personalities Series Part 4: Passionate Persuader [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:13
For decades, the passionate persuader was the only personality sales that most training was built for. This person is confident, direct and high energy. It’s usually the person everyone pictures the moment they hear the…
Sales Personalities Series Part. 3: Analytical Perfectionist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:59
A DISC profile test looked my husband in the eye (well, on paper) and told him: you can never be in sales. Too quiet. Too detailed. Too precise. Too introverted. Not the loud, aggressive, "natural" closer type the test w…
Sales Personalities Series Part 2: The Inquisitive Educator [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:27
I've always asked a lot of questions. Sometimes people see it as curiosity. Sometimes they see it as overwhelming. Either way, it turns out that tendency became the foundation of my entire sales personality. In this new…
Sales Personalities Series Part. 1: Relationship Builders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:50
You know the feeling. The conversation flowed effortlessly. You connected. You laughed. You found common ground. By the end, it felt like you were completely aligned. Then you followed up... and never heard from them aga…
Objection Handling Techniques That Build Trust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:31
There’s a point in almost every sales conversation where the energy changes. A prospect hesitates or a concern comes up and most salespeople immediately move into persuasion mode. They reassure, justify and defend. Becau…
How to Handle Discount Conversations in Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:54
Someone asked for a discount and suddenly your entire nervous system lit up. Do you hold the line? Negotiate? Cave? Risk losing the deal? That single moment exposes how most service providers really feel about their pric…
The Tiered Commission Structure Every Business Owner Needs to Know [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:47
There’s a question I hear more than almost any other from business owners: “How should I compensate my salesperson?” It sounds simple. It isn’t. Get it wrong early and you create a situation that’s hard to fix. You eithe…
How to Turn Sales Demos Into High-Converting Conversations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:56
Most demos don’t fail because of the product. They fail because no real conversation ever took place. What should be a back-and-forth turns into a walkthrough. Feature after feature, then: “Does that make sense?” “Any qu…