How did listening help Stephanie Hayes land a deal?

Stephanie tells a story about a meeting where she wasn't allowed to talk. So she listened and leaned into her intuition, and that's what landed her the deal. It's a good reminder that when you shut up and ask the right questions, the sale gets a lot closer to closing itself.

Why does Stephanie call sales scripts a crutch?

Stephanie says curiosity and asking the right questions will always outperform rehearsed lines. If you've been leaning too hard on a script, swap some of that prep for better questions. It keeps you listening, and listening is how she landed a deal in a meeting where she wasn't allowed to talk.

How should I handle objections from a nervous prospect?

Stephanie says objections are rooted in fear. Your job is to help prospects borrow your confidence until they believe in themselves. Pair that with transparency and service-based selling and you build the kind of trust that turned her prospects into lifelong referrers, even the ones she never worked with.

When should I walk away from a sale?

When the prospect is a bad fit. Stephanie treats sales as a two-way interview, so having a credit card ready still doesn't make someone the right client. Trying to win every sale backfires. Walking away protects your energy, your business and your sanity, and that honesty builds trust and long-term business.

podcast ·Sep 11, 2025

Empathy Wins Deals with Stephanie Hayes

by Drewbie Wilson

This one’s for all my sales pros out there who are tired of the push, pressure, close model. In this episode, I sit down with business strategist Stephanie Hayes, and we talk about what really drives sales in today’s world—empathy, intuition, and integrity.

Key Takeaways

Listening beats talking. Ask the right questions and the sale gets a lot closer to closing itself.
Treat sales like a two-way interview, because a prospect with a credit card still has to be the right client.
Objections come from fear, so let prospects borrow your confidence until they believe in themselves.
Walk away from a bad fit and you protect your energy, your business and your sanity.
Happy clients are the best sales tool you've got. Do great work and they'll do the selling for you.

Stephanie is a powerhouse consultant who has made a name for herself by teaching entrepreneurs, especially women, how to sell in a way that feels aligned—not aggressive. We dive deep into the dynamics of selling without scripts, overcoming fear-based objections, and knowing when to walk away from a bad fit (yes, not all money is good money).

If you've ever felt like traditional sales advice doesn't fit your style, this episode is going to hit hard and change the way you approach every single conversation.

💡 What We Talked About

🧠 Why Empathy is the Ultimate Sales Advantage

Stephanie shares a story where not being allowed to talk in a meeting led to her landing the deal—just by listening and leaning into intuition.

🚫 Stop Trying to Close Everyone

We explore how trying to "win" every sale backfires—and how honesty and discernment build trust, community, and long-term business.

🧲 How to Create Raving Fans Without High Pressure

Stephanie unpacks how transparency and service-based selling have led to lifelong referrers—even from prospects she never worked with.

💬 Why Scripts Are Crutches (And What to Do Instead)

If you’ve ever leaned too hard on a sales script, this one’s for you. Stephanie reveals why curiosity and asking the right questions will always outperform rehearsed lines.

👩💼 The Rise of Female-Led Sales Culture

We dig into how women are transforming the sales game with compassion, clarity, and killer instincts—and why the “old boys club” model is outdated and ineffective.

👊 Key Takeaways

Listening > Talking — When you shut up and ask the right questions, the sale practically closes itself.
Sales is a two-way interview — Just because they have a credit card doesn’t mean they’re the right client.
Objections are rooted in fear — Your job is to help prospects borrow your confidence until they believe in themselves.
Not every sale is worth the money — Protect your energy, your business, and your sanity.
The best sales tool? Happy clients — Do great work and your clients will do the selling for you.

🔗 How to Connect with Stephanie Hayes

If you’re a service provider, coach, or consultant looking to build a scalable, soul-aligned business—Stephanie’s your go-to.

🌐 Website: https://stephaniehayes.biz
🎙️ Podcast: Business Design Podcast
📱 Instagram: @stephaniehayes.biz

🎯 Call to Action

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