In the fast-paced world of business development, where every interaction counts, success is built on more than just strategy and technical know-how. Whether you're negotiating with clients, inspiring your team, or managing high-pressure situations, the ability to understand and manage emotions—both your own and others'—can make or break your outcomes.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) has emerged as a crucial skill for leaders, salespeople, and commercial teams striving to stand out in competitive markets. It’s what helps you read the room, adapt to changing dynamics, and build meaningful connections that lead to trust and loyalty. High EI isn’t just about being “emotionally aware”; it’s about leveraging that awareness to create value for your clients, foster collaboration within your team, and maintain resilience under pressure.

This masterclass delivered by Volker Ballueder is designed to equip BD professionals and founders with the tools to harness EI for tangible business results. From closing deals to leading teams with empathy, Volker will show you how to apply the principles of EI to drive growth, improve client relationships, and cultivate a positive culture that supports long-term success.

We will cover:

1. Understanding EI and its 5 core pillars
   Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills—how they shape your professional interactions and drive sales success.
2. Why EI Matters in sales and commercial leadership
   Build stronger client relationships, foster team trust, and boost resilience in high-pressure negotiations.
3. EI for founders and sales leaders
   Lead with empathy, manage stress, and create cultures of psychological safety that inspire high performance.
4. Practical strategies to develop EI in sales teams
   Actionable tips to improve emotional awareness and adaptability within your team.
5. Measuring the ROI of EI
   From higher close rates to improved client retention, track how EI impacts your bottom line.

🗣 Masterclass host:

Volker, originally from Germany, excelled academically in the UK, topping his class with a BEng (Hons) and an MBA, alongside his Master Practitioner in NLP and training in mindfulness. His credentials extend to Strengths Profiling, Emotional Intelligence, Counselling, and Psychotherapy. With a rich leadership background, managing teams of over 60 people and advising founders and CXOs in technology companies, Volker's career is marked by adaptability and resilience.

Beyond his professional pursuits, he values family time, adheres to a disciplined morning routine, and engages in continuous professional development. He co-hosts Man Up / Man Down, a podcast for middle aged men, and wrote a bestselling book on Success on the back of his first podcast Stories of Success.

Apart from Executive Coaching, Obnatus also offers Sales Coaching, Leadership Development Programmes and Counselling for the workplace.

Youngling/Warrior/Wolf members attend at no extra cost! Please note, we do check ticket types so please only select this ticket option if you are indeed a paying member.

Pup and Non-paying members, please purchase a ticket. If you're interested in being a member, view our creds deck here.

🎫 Who should attend?

• Agency owners, marketing managers, sales managers, sales teams

Can't make it?

Get in touch with Adam on LinkedIn to see how he may be able to help!

BD Matters hosts monthly masterclasses. Keep on top of our other upcoming masterclasses here:

https://bdmatters.co/upcoming-masterclasses