103. How to lead through curveballs with confidence - with Joelle Kaufman

In this episode of Leadership that Sells, I’m joined by Joelle Kaufman – bestselling author, CRO whisperer and neuroscience-driven performance coach – and we’re diving deep into one of the biggest leadership superpowers: dealing with curveballs. Whether it’s a surprise customer objection, a missed number, or a life-altering diagnosis, Joelle lays out a powerful, actionable method to turn chaos into clarity.

We unpack her Curveball Method, a science-backed approach that helps leaders stay grounded, activate their strengths, and respond with intention rather than panic. This one’s a masterclass in leading under pressure. If you’ve ever felt the fire alarm go off in your brain mid-crisis (you know the one), Joelle’s got a way to silence it, take a breath, and lead your team through with resilience and purpose. You’ll walk away with tools you can use today.

How to lead through curveballs with clarity, calm and confidence

Name the curveball – The first step is recognising you’re facing something unexpected. Say it: “This is a curveball.”

Turn off the fire alarm – Stress shuts down your thinking brain. Take a deep breath, a sip of water, or close your eyes to calm your system.

Get curious – Don’t panic, pause. Ask questions, gather facts, understand what’s actually happening before you react.

Play to your strengths – What are you or your team good at? Lean in. If needed, tag someone else in. It’s about the win, not the heroics.

Reframe your mindset – Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, there’s something to learn. That’s how you (and your team) grow.

Create “happiness tripwires” – Small, reliable moments of joy (like a sunflower or a kind text) keep you fuelled for the long game.

Practise curveball responses – Build resilience before it’s needed. Run scenarios with your team, reflect on what went wrong, and embed better reflexes.

Timeline summary

[01:14] - Joelle’s Curveball Method explained: “Life throws them. Leaders learn to hit them.”

[06:33] - Step one: recognise the curveball, turn off the fire alarm, and breathe

[08:44] - “It’s not about being a hero. It’s about winning the game — as a team”

[12:34] - Cancer, curveballs and agency: how Joelle applied her method in life and business

[17:05] - The power of happiness tripwires: “Little moments of joy that boost your immunity and your mood”

[20:10] - Sales leaders, listen up: resilience starts with your battery

[24:01] - The one skill we’re not teaching sales managers (but desperately need to)

[25:13] - Why you need “batting practice” in your team meetings — not just pipeline reviews

Links & resources

📘 Crushing the Cancer Curveball by Joelle Kaufman

🌐 Learn more about the Curveball Method: gtmflow.com/curveball

📍 Joelle on LinkedIn: Joelle Kaufman

📸 Instagram: @growthandresilience

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