The Activator Advantage with Matt Dixon

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    I'm super excited to welcome Matt Dixon to the show. He is a Founding Partner at DCM Insights, a global training and advisory firm, and a leading expert in business development and client experience. He's a frequent contributor to HBR and an author of bestselling books, including The Effortless Experience, The Jolt Effect, and his most famous, The Challenger Sale which was a #1 Amazon and Wall Street Journal bestseller. We crossed paths in the CEB Gartner days and I’m just thrilled to have him back here today to talk about a new book he co-authored, The Activator Advantage.    THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders, consultants, and business developers looking to stand out in a more competitive market.   TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE…strong client relationships and quality work used to be enough to maintain loyalty, but not anymore. As buying behaviors shift and competition increases, leaders need a new approach. Matt shares what sets today’s top rainmakers apart: they’re not just experts, they’re activators—people who proactively offer insights, open doors, and create value long before the deal is signed.    KEY TAKEAWAYS… Great work alone no longer guarantees client loyalty. Activators are winning by being proactive connectors, not passive experts. Trusted advisors often box out colleagues and limit firm-wide growth. Internal collaboration makes client relationships more resilient.   WHAT I LOVE MOST…Matt’s insight that rainmakers of the past relied on reputation but today’s leaders build trust by sharing value before the sale even starts.   Running Time: 28:00    Subscribe on iTunes     Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X    Find Matt Online: LinkedIn   Matt’s Book: The Activator Advantage: What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently