Being Deliberate and Great with Feedback with Courtney Vanscoy

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

As the former US Sales Development Lead at Bayer Crop Science, Courtney lead a team of 8 regional training managers who are responsible for driving sales performance, resulting in market share growth across Bayer's portfolio of crop protection, seeds, and digital solutions. She has over eight years of experience in this role, and over 25 years of experience in the agriculture industry. In addition to her training leadership roles, she has also served as a field sales rep in the crop protection industry and has gained marketing experience through her time as an operational marketing manager in the seed industry. It should be noted that that after the recording of this podcast, Courtney moved on to a Strategic Account Lead role at BASF.

Courtney’s core competencies include sales, sales leadership, people management, training facilitation, one-on-one coaching, sales recruitment, and operational marketing. She is passionate about sales skill development, sales coaching, and serving as a business consultant to her large dealer and retail partners. Courtney has earned the Master Certified Trainer status from Wilson Learning, a global leader in sales performance improvement. She leverages her expertise and credentials to design and deliver customized sales training programs, coach and mentor sales teams, and develop sales strategies and tools that enhance the sales effectiveness and customer service capabilities of Bayer's field sales employee and dealer network. Courtney’s mission is to empower salespeople to achieve their full potential and deliver exceptional value to their farmers and dealers and retail partners.

Episode Summary:

In this enthralling episode of our podcast, we welcome Courtney Vanscoy, a notable figure in the agricultural sector, to dive deep into the concept of intentional leadership. As our guest articulates her ongoing journey of learning and leadership, listeners are invited to explore the intricacies of complex agricultural business and discover strategies for leading teams with purpose and clarity. The dialogue unfolds to reveal insights on effectively prioritizing and communicating within organizations, tackling the industry's labyrinthine challenges, and maintaining focus amid a sea of distractions.

Courtney Vanscoy shares her philosophy on leading with intention, emphasizing the significance of choosing pivotal projects and maintaining team alignment through regular feedback. She also navigates the nuances of managing generational differences in the workplace, balancing clear expectations with the desire for autonomy and creativity in younger teams. The conversation reveals practical strategies for fostering a learning culture and attracting and retaining top talent, crucial for long-term organizational success.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership Intentionality: The importance of being deliberate and purposeful in selecting key projects and maintaining team focus through continuous communication.
• Clarity and Expectations: The strategy of using a 'readback' technique to ensure clarity of expectations amongst team members, and to facilitate accountability.
• Talent Development: The central role of providing a regular cadence of learning opportunities to retain and attract top-performing talent.
• Generational Considerations: Insights into leading younger generations by striking a balance between providing direction and allowing for independence and creative problem-solving.
• Vulnerability in Leadership: The significance of building trust through vulnerability and honest communication to foster a strong, supportive work environment.

Notable Quotes:

• "I always default to what's the one or two must-execute activities or projects in this initiative because it's so easy to get distracted with everything going on."
• "As leaders, we have to figure out a way to be super simple and super clear with what needs executed, but then allow for that creativity in how they get their work done."
• "I believe the most important for organizations to really keep their best people is to ensure that you're giving them a regular cadence of opportunities to learn and grow."
• "The leaders that I worked the hardest for are those ones that I had ultimate trust with... and it did all kind of stem back to vulnerability."

Resources:

• Extreme Ownership: A book mentioned by Courtney Vanscoy during the discussion, provides insights into leadership principles derived from US Navy SEALs, which includes the concept of "readback" as a communication tool.

Be sure to listen to the full episode for a comprehensive understanding of Courtney Vanscoy's invaluable experiences and practical advice on leadership and development in the ever-evolving world of agriculture. Stay tuned for more insightful discussions that shed light on professional growth, dynamic leadership, and strategic intentionality in today's complex business environment.