By: Joshua Finley

Kayla Hodges didn’t set out to revolutionize sales training for women. Yet that is precisely what she has achieved with her company, Elite Sales Women. After overcoming her own challenges and reclaiming her business in 2022, Hodges started dating sales expert, Jeremy Miner, founder of 7th Level. Together, they discovered surprising parallels between dating and sales through the lens of effective communication.

In the male-dominated realm of sales, most training fails to resonate with female sellers. “The alpha male, motivational speakers, what do they say? “Keep going… don’t stop… push past the pain” and  “It’s very unhealthy for women,” laments Hodges. Indeed, such relentlessness will often lead women to feel frustrated and burnt out while building a career in sales. While many would encourage women to lean more into their masculine traits to drive success, she takes a radically different approach. For Hodges, the key to success as a woman is found in applying a secret weapon… using their femininity. Yes, the world’s leading female sales trainer is teaching women to dominate in any industry by applying skills that they already possess within themselves.

Here’s a peek at how she makes that work:

The Magic of Non-Verbal Cues

Multiple studies have shown that women are naturally better communicators than men. Due to their intuitive, natural ability to both send and interpret nonverbal cues and read emotional states, women tend to know exactly when something is off in their relationship. The same can be applied to sales. Paying attention to subtle cues allows one to frame a conversation and better connect to a client–making sales that much more precise. “Women know when someone is upset or not. They can detect the tonality and what’s behind it. Learning to communicate is the key to skills.”

Setting Intentions

The best dating relationship is one where you clearly set intentions before you start dating. Likewise, the best communicators and salespeople are not just good at reading cues and delivering a perfect pitch–they are intentional in everything they do. Rather than relying on ad-lib conversations and “shooting the wind” until you close a deal, she trains women to communicate consciously and deliberately. “Framing a conversation is the best way to sell. You want to set clear boundaries on what will happen and what is allowed, and hold the prospect to that with integrity.” This “intentionality will also extend to when and where you meet clients, how you present yourself and a myriad of nuances to ensure you protect yourself while allowing the most opportunity to  close the sale.”

Attracting What You Want

Let’s face it. Everyone dreams of being with the “perfect person.” A certain physique, a healthy bank account, a pleasant personality, and controlled ambition are the ideal partners for any relationship. “People often say, ‘I wanna attract this person or that person… but they’re not willing to become the version of themselves that will attract that person.” Subsequently, this extends to finding your ideal prospects as well. As a saleswoman, you have to be equally dedicated to mastering your skillset and meeting your goals as you are looking the part. Self-development, discipline and authenticity are crucial. 

Photo Courtesy: Kayla Hodges

Prioritizing Emotional Self-Care

There’s a bad stigma that you must sacrifice everything, including your sleep, hobbies, and other self-care actions, in order to find success.  That’s just as bad as saying you have to drop everything in your life to please your romantic partner. Hodges prioritizes self-care as much as she does her personal development. “Why can’t you have a mixture of both?… In fact, you should have both.” While she is fiercely intense in business, she is equally focused on leaning into her more feminine side.

By coupling intense sales training with restorative and more feminine activities like dance breaks, baths, and even power naps into their days, she enables her students to find the perfect balance to build long-term success. “I think it’s really important to get back in that creative feminine energy, and then you can go back into masculine energy. (its okay to bounce back and forth).”

More On Kayla Hodges

Kayla Hodges is a leading sales trainer and the founder of Elite Sales Women. Looking ahead, Hodges aims to continue building a dominant force in the sales training world alongside her partner, Jeremy Miner. As a couple, they hope to break down outdated assumptions about women in business. Hodges summarizes her mission: “I want us to be leaders in the space and take responsibility to be the example for others.” By integrating intuitive dating principles into sales, she empowers women with tools for success in love and entrepreneurship alike.

To learn more about her methodology, R.E.D., explore Kayla Hodges’s website at KaylaHodges.com or connect with her on Instagram.

Published by: Holy Minoza