MSMP 92: Isaac Smith on Team Dynamics

What Does MSMP 92: Isaac Smith on Team Dynamics Talk About?

In this episode of Mads Singers Management Podcast, host Mads Singer welcomes Isaac Smith, an experienced e-commerce entrepreneur who sold his successful business last year. They dive deep into team dynamics, focusing on hiring strategies, the importance of vulnerability in leadership, and effective systems for managing remote teams. Isaac shares a pivotal Grant Cardone quote that transformed his hiring approach: 'Even when I’m buying, I’m selling.' This shifted his perspective from listing job requirements to selling the opportunity to potential hires. The conversation also covers leveraging LinkedIn to find top talent, the role of standard operating procedures (SOPs), and how to keep them updated by involving team members who execute the tasks daily. Mads and Isaac emphasize that the best talent is rarely actively looking for jobs, so leaders must proactively sell their vision and culture. They also discuss how vulnerability and sharing mistakes can build trust within a team, making collaboration smoother and more effective.

Even when I’m buying, I’m selling.Isaac Smith quoting Grant Cardone

Who Is Featured on MSMP 92: Isaac Smith on Team Dynamics?

Isaac Smith is an e-commerce veteran who started his journey in 2014. He worked through multiple businesses and projects before finding success with a venture he sold last year. Isaac hosts the Next Level Ecommerce podcast and shares practical insights from his entrepreneurial path. In this episode, he opens up about his biggest mistakes and how they taught him valuable lessons about team building, hiring, and leadership. His willingness to be vulnerable with his team has fostered trust and improved collaboration.

What Are the Key Takeaways From MSMP 92: Isaac Smith on Team Dynamics?

• All the best lessons come from the biggest mistakes, and sharing those challenges with your team builds trust.
• Hiring should be treated as selling the opportunity to potential candidates, not just listing requirements.
• The best talent is rarely available in the job market; proactively use LinkedIn to find and attract them.
• Do not answer questions that are covered in training materials; instead, refer team members to the resources.
• Keep standard operating procedures updated by having the people who perform the tasks maintain them.

I noted that the best talent is rarely available in the job market and if you run across great talent you’ve got to sell your business and the opportunity to them.Mads Singer

Is MSMP 92: Isaac Smith on Team Dynamics Worth Listening To?

This episode is a must-listen for managers and entrepreneurs looking to build high-performing teams, especially in e-commerce or remote work settings. Isaac's practical advice on flipping the hiring script and Mads' LinkedIn hacks provide actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately. The discussion on vulnerability and SOP management offers a fresh perspective on leadership that goes beyond typical management advice. Whether you are struggling to attract top talent or seeking to improve team cohesion, this episode delivers valuable insights that can transform your approach to team dynamics.

Who Should Listen to MSMP 92: Isaac Smith on Team Dynamics?

• E-commerce business owners
• Remote team managers
• HR professionals
• Entrepreneurs scaling their teams

What Are Listeners Saying About This Episode?

I recently had a chance to appear on the Next Level Ecommerce podcast and had such a great conversation with the host, Isaac Smith, that I invited him to come and share some of his wisdom on my very own Mads Singers Management Podcast.

Isaac has been in E-commerce since 2014 and worked through a number of different businesses and projects before finding success with one in particular that he sold last year.  I was keen to hear his stories and lessons about how to build a successful team that can support an e-commerce business.

We discussed hiring and Isaac shared a quote from Grant Cardone that totally changed the way he approached hiring: “Even when I’m buying, I’m selling.”  Isaac had simply been generally copying job descriptions and listing the things he wanted people to do for him.  By turning his not-so-successful process on its head, understanding that he had a great opportunity to offer, he changed everything: the job descriptions, the interview process, etc.  He now views these job descriptions as sales pages where he can pitch the opportunity to work doing something rewarding, something that many VAs in e-commerce businesses are searching for.

I noted that the best talent is rarely available in the job market and if you run across great talent you’ve got to sell your business and the opportunity to them.  One of the ways I’ve learned to deal with the best being rarely available is to leverage LinkedIn to find people who are good matches (I use very specific keywords) and then asking them if they know anyone who would be a good fit.  Often I get a referral and occasionally that person puts his/her hand up (which is what I was dreaming of in the first place).

We also talked about the importance of having systems and procedures in place, and Isaac noted the importance of not answering questions that are provided in the training, but rather referring people to the training.  I would go one step further and task those people who are actually doing the tasks on a daily basis with making sure that those materials are updated.  After all, they are becoming the subject matter experts in those tasks.  Why not have them keep the materials up to date?

Isaac started the episode by saying that his best lessons have come from his biggest mistakes and that he has found that when he has been willing to be vulnerable and share those challenges with his team, there’s a greater bond of trust that is formed, which makes it easier to work together.  It’s important to track the way your team members think and feel and get to know them better, especially through one-on-ones.

Enjoy this conversation with Isaac!

Key Learning Points:

1. Isaac shares that all his best lessons have come from his biggest mistakes - 4:20

2. Isaac gives us a Grant Cardone quote that completely changed the way he hired - 8:30

3. Mads reminds us that the best people are rarely available to hire - 14:05

4. Mads makes the case for management as manipulation (in a good way) - 18:50

5. Isaac discusses the value of vulnerability when talking with your team - 22:07

6. Mads gives some hacks for finding talent on LinkedIn - 30:30

7. Isaac shares pitfalls of SOPs - 43:15

8. Mads offers a technique to make sure SOPs are consistently updated - 46:41

9. Isaac talks about developing a mentality of always being willing to update/improve processes - 50:30

Resources Mentioned:
10x Rule by Grant Cardone

Connect with Isaac Smith

Facebook

Next Level Ecommerce Podcast