Episode 17 : Meet The Sales Boss, Lee Ann Crockett
March 21, 2022
Lee Anne is a Sales Director full time for a large manufacturing organization and also the Founder fo Crockett Consulting. Inspired to make a larger impact with women, Lee Anne combined her passions for leading, coaching, and professional development with her MBA in Entrepreneurship and launched her coaching practice.
Michele:
Welcome, everybody. We are so happy to have you join us today. You didn't know where we were. But we are right here on Michele Heyward. I have Lee and with me today, I'm so excited. She is another fantastic speaker we have for the women of color in STEM virtual summit where we are talking about the power of you, not me, but you and you, and you and you, all of you today. So Leanne, can you let everybody know a bit about yourself?
Lee Ann:
Yeah, definitely. Hi, everyone. So my name is Leanne Crockett, I am a Sales Director full time for a large manufacturing organization. I'm also the founder of my company, we Crockett consulting. And what I do there is I help high achieving professional women just like you get promoted faster, so that you can overcome impostor syndrome and take control of your career.
Michele:
I absolutely love that. Yes. So you're in sales. I used to be in sales early in my career. All I can say is, I hated it. So I'm happy. Yeah, it's funny, because now as a, as a founder, all I do is sales all day every day. And so I do I need to do in my life where I go.
Lee Ann:
Yeah, you know, either you you love it or you hate it. It's not always the best experience. But I really like to think about it as just making a relationship and forming a bond with somebody else. And that's the basis
Michele:
of it is see, I looked at it more transactional, you have a problem? I have a product that can fix that problem. What do you mean, you don't want to buy it, but it's the best you should take it home with you. It's really about building relationships is not transactional. Right. And so I understand that now, when I was 25. I needed you know, I wanted my commission. Right. So how did so for you in sales? Because I know it's a lot of men in sales. What has that experience been like?
Lee Ann:
Yeah, I mean, there has been a lot of adversity. And I think so many people watching or listening can relate to that. When I first entered the workforce, I graduated college a year early. So I was 21. I was the the youngest person, I was the only woman of color. I started my career in sales leadership. So outside of the admin in HR, I was the only woman that they had seen in a leadership role in a long time. And I was managing a team of 55 year old men who could have all been my grandfather. So it definitely, it wasn't the easiest experience. And you're right, like I can laugh about it now when you put it in those terms, but it's really hard. Being the only person who looks like you in your role that people have seen in years and sometimes ever.
Michele:
Absolutely, absolutely. You think it'll be grandfathered? Like, wait, 5521 that's the grandfather like, Wouldn't it be your father? 65?
Lee Ann:
I think, Father grandfather, it ran the gamut. Yeah, I know, I know. Employee when I first started was the youngest one was late 40s. And then there was a huge age gap. Like probably 47 to like 56 was the next youngest person. So it was definitely something to to work
through. That is definitely an age gap. I see what you need now. Okay, so you're in this organization.
Michele:
But how did you get to the point for promotion for that leadership role?
Lee Ann:
Yeah, it took a while. There were definitely some growing pains and I was passed over all the time, I really saw that getting promoted meant that I just go in and you give your best effort. And you put your head down and you work hard. And people will realize, oh, Leanne's great, we should promote her. And that's not how any of it works. So it took a few years for me to really figure out and sit back and say, there's something else going on here. Right? Like it's not just the hard working people who are getting promoted. It's the people who are connected. And that's where the light bulb really went off for me where I realize, oh, there's a game to be played. And once I figured out the rules of that game, I was able to move up pretty quickly in my career.
Michele:
Now I have this discussion with some people, which is they don't want to play the game, but they want the opportunities. What do you tell people when you hear that
Lee Ann:
that's the only way to get what you want. Playing the game. And I think a lot of people see playing the game as conforming, or changing who you are to get, you know, to the next step. And what I tell people is playing the game is really, you taking control of the situation and manipulating it in a way to get what you want. But it's always on your terms. It's not about you doing what other people want you to do.
Michele:
Absolutely. You you want, you're sitting in the bleachers, but you want to be in a court position is like, these are the things you need to do to at least get to the bench.
Lee Ann:
Yeah, you got to get in there, you got to play the game, you can't just sit on the bleachers, you have to participate in the game that's going on in front of you.
Michele:
Exactly. And you create your own place that you that's what you bring that skill set. And an often too often gets lost in translation in like you set into conforming. And it's really just showing your skills, nobody knows you're able to play the four position, because you're in the bleachers, and you're great at it, and you go to practices, but you're you're in a different, you they don't see you practicing, they don't see your layups, they don't see your shots, you don't see any of that. Absolutely. Love how you're able to carry all that hobby stuff, because it helps you do it. And so really the important part of it. So what are you talking about during the virtual Summit? Like, what's your topic? What, what's your talk?
Lee Ann:
Yeah, so my talk is secrets to break through the glass ceiling as a woman in corporate. And we are going to talk about some of those little known facts that happen in the workplace that are really game changers in terms of your career trajectory. And we're also going to talk about some of the things that you're doing now that you think are putting you on the path to promotion, that are actually doing the opposite.
Michele:
Oh, you're doing that Opposite? Opposite? Oh, yeah, we definitely need to know what you're doing that's not working and what to do so that it is working. Because number one, it saves you time. Number two, it saves you frustration, because when you're frustrated, you're like, you know what, let me go someplace else. Let me take my gifts, but it's going to be a perpetual, it could perpetuate itself in different environments. So I love the what not to do. People, people often like well, I need to know what to do. And let's talk about what you're currently doing right now. Because you can't add on sometimes you don't have enough time in the day, you don't have enough energy, like your resources already drained. Let's talk about what you are doing and switch up some of that to give you the bandwidth.
Lee Ann:
Absolutely. It's not about adding new behaviors. It's about examining what you're doing right now. And changing those behaviors so that they work for you, which and that's all playing the game is just changing what you're doing in a way that serves you and stop serving other people. Because you're the one who wants to get promoted. They don't want to promote you. You have to play the game so that they see why they should.
Michele:
I absolutely agree. And just for y'all know we did not coordinate our colors today are just brilliant and cold at the same time. It just happened. So everybody, you want to catch Leanne's talk on two on Tuesday. Right? So it is on? No, you're on on Tuesday. You're on Monday, aren't you?
Lee Ann:
I'm on the 23rd at seven o'clock. The 23rd is Tuesday.
Michele:
Okay, I keep switching you at the old. The old is on Monday. You're on Tuesday. I don't know why keep doing that. I know because I switched. We did some schedule changes, right? Tuesday at 7:37pm East Coast time. So make sure you go and register it is a free then there's a 24 hour replay. And you can come and figure out what to do and what to stop doing when it comes to getting your career. advance. I'm so excited. Me too. All right, everybody. We will see you on Tuesday. You have to join us. Leanne, thank you so much for joining me today.
Lee Ann:
Thank you so much, Michelle, and can't wait to see you on Tuesday.
Michele:
I know. Right. All right, everybody. Have a great week and we'll talk to you later. Bye
Welcome, everybody. We are so happy to have you join us today. You didn't know where we were. But we are right here on Michele Heyward. I have Lee and with me today, I'm so excited. She is another fantastic speaker we have for the women of color in STEM virtual summit where we are talking about the power of you, not me, but you and you, and you and you, all of you today. So Leanne, can you let everybody know a bit about yourself?
Lee Ann:
Yeah, definitely. Hi, everyone. So my name is Leanne Crockett, I am a Sales Director full time for a large manufacturing organization. I'm also the founder of my company, we Crockett consulting. And what I do there is I help high achieving professional women just like you get promoted faster, so that you can overcome impostor syndrome and take control of your career.
Michele:
I absolutely love that. Yes. So you're in sales. I used to be in sales early in my career. All I can say is, I hated it. So I'm happy. Yeah, it's funny, because now as a, as a founder, all I do is sales all day every day. And so I do I need to do in my life where I go.
Lee Ann:
Yeah, you know, either you you love it or you hate it. It's not always the best experience. But I really like to think about it as just making a relationship and forming a bond with somebody else. And that's the basis
Michele:
of it is see, I looked at it more transactional, you have a problem? I have a product that can fix that problem. What do you mean, you don't want to buy it, but it's the best you should take it home with you. It's really about building relationships is not transactional. Right. And so I understand that now, when I was 25. I needed you know, I wanted my commission. Right. So how did so for you in sales? Because I know it's a lot of men in sales. What has that experience been like?
Lee Ann:
Yeah, I mean, there has been a lot of adversity. And I think so many people watching or listening can relate to that. When I first entered the workforce, I graduated college a year early. So I was 21. I was the the youngest person, I was the only woman of color. I started my career in sales leadership. So outside of the admin in HR, I was the only woman that they had seen in a leadership role in a long time. And I was managing a team of 55 year old men who could have all been my grandfather. So it definitely, it wasn't the easiest experience. And you're right, like I can laugh about it now when you put it in those terms, but it's really hard. Being the only person who looks like you in your role that people have seen in years and sometimes ever.
Michele:
Absolutely, absolutely. You think it'll be grandfathered? Like, wait, 5521 that's the grandfather like, Wouldn't it be your father? 65?
Lee Ann:
I think, Father grandfather, it ran the gamut. Yeah, I know, I know. Employee when I first started was the youngest one was late 40s. And then there was a huge age gap. Like probably 47 to like 56 was the next youngest person. So it was definitely something to to work
through. That is definitely an age gap. I see what you need now. Okay, so you're in this organization.
Michele:
But how did you get to the point for promotion for that leadership role?
Lee Ann:
Yeah, it took a while. There were definitely some growing pains and I was passed over all the time, I really saw that getting promoted meant that I just go in and you give your best effort. And you put your head down and you work hard. And people will realize, oh, Leanne's great, we should promote her. And that's not how any of it works. So it took a few years for me to really figure out and sit back and say, there's something else going on here. Right? Like it's not just the hard working people who are getting promoted. It's the people who are connected. And that's where the light bulb really went off for me where I realize, oh, there's a game to be played. And once I figured out the rules of that game, I was able to move up pretty quickly in my career.
Michele:
Now I have this discussion with some people, which is they don't want to play the game, but they want the opportunities. What do you tell people when you hear that
Lee Ann:
that's the only way to get what you want. Playing the game. And I think a lot of people see playing the game as conforming, or changing who you are to get, you know, to the next step. And what I tell people is playing the game is really, you taking control of the situation and manipulating it in a way to get what you want. But it's always on your terms. It's not about you doing what other people want you to do.
Michele:
Absolutely. You you want, you're sitting in the bleachers, but you want to be in a court position is like, these are the things you need to do to at least get to the bench.
Lee Ann:
Yeah, you got to get in there, you got to play the game, you can't just sit on the bleachers, you have to participate in the game that's going on in front of you.
Michele:
Exactly. And you create your own place that you that's what you bring that skill set. And an often too often gets lost in translation in like you set into conforming. And it's really just showing your skills, nobody knows you're able to play the four position, because you're in the bleachers, and you're great at it, and you go to practices, but you're you're in a different, you they don't see you practicing, they don't see your layups, they don't see your shots, you don't see any of that. Absolutely. Love how you're able to carry all that hobby stuff, because it helps you do it. And so really the important part of it. So what are you talking about during the virtual Summit? Like, what's your topic? What, what's your talk?
Lee Ann:
Yeah, so my talk is secrets to break through the glass ceiling as a woman in corporate. And we are going to talk about some of those little known facts that happen in the workplace that are really game changers in terms of your career trajectory. And we're also going to talk about some of the things that you're doing now that you think are putting you on the path to promotion, that are actually doing the opposite.
Michele:
Oh, you're doing that Opposite? Opposite? Oh, yeah, we definitely need to know what you're doing that's not working and what to do so that it is working. Because number one, it saves you time. Number two, it saves you frustration, because when you're frustrated, you're like, you know what, let me go someplace else. Let me take my gifts, but it's going to be a perpetual, it could perpetuate itself in different environments. So I love the what not to do. People, people often like well, I need to know what to do. And let's talk about what you're currently doing right now. Because you can't add on sometimes you don't have enough time in the day, you don't have enough energy, like your resources already drained. Let's talk about what you are doing and switch up some of that to give you the bandwidth.
Lee Ann:
Absolutely. It's not about adding new behaviors. It's about examining what you're doing right now. And changing those behaviors so that they work for you, which and that's all playing the game is just changing what you're doing in a way that serves you and stop serving other people. Because you're the one who wants to get promoted. They don't want to promote you. You have to play the game so that they see why they should.
Michele:
I absolutely agree. And just for y'all know we did not coordinate our colors today are just brilliant and cold at the same time. It just happened. So everybody, you want to catch Leanne's talk on two on Tuesday. Right? So it is on? No, you're on on Tuesday. You're on Monday, aren't you?
Lee Ann:
I'm on the 23rd at seven o'clock. The 23rd is Tuesday.
Michele:
Okay, I keep switching you at the old. The old is on Monday. You're on Tuesday. I don't know why keep doing that. I know because I switched. We did some schedule changes, right? Tuesday at 7:37pm East Coast time. So make sure you go and register it is a free then there's a 24 hour replay. And you can come and figure out what to do and what to stop doing when it comes to getting your career. advance. I'm so excited. Me too. All right, everybody. We will see you on Tuesday. You have to join us. Leanne, thank you so much for joining me today.
Lee Ann:
Thank you so much, Michelle, and can't wait to see you on Tuesday.
Michele:
I know. Right. All right, everybody. Have a great week and we'll talk to you later. Bye