Say What You See with Chris Marr

Podcast by Chris Marr

Say What You See with Chris Marr

Say What You See helps account managers in professional service firms shift from reactive order takers to respected, authoritative client leaders. Through sharp insights and practical tools, we teach you how to lead high-stakes conversations, retain clients, and grow your influence—without people-pleasing or playing small. Hosted by Chris Marr, founder of The Authoritative Coach and author of Become an Authoritative Coach, this show blends clarity, warmth, and no-nonsense advice drawn from 15+ years of global coaching experience.

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Latest episodes

01 July 2025

8 Calendar habits of high-performing account managers

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

Always feel behind at work? Here’s how to reclaim your time and get ahead—without burning out.

Account managers and client-facing professionals are constantly juggling competing demands, endless messages, and packed calendars. If your days feel reactive and frantic, this episode of Say What You See is for you.

In this solo episode, Chris Marr shares the real reason productivity hacks don’t work—and what to do instead. It’s not just about efficiency—it’s about ownership. When you design your days with intention, you create the headroom to do your best work consistently, not just occasionally.

What this episode helps you solve:

→ Always feeling on the back foot

→ Being reactive to clients, messages, and internal chaos

→ Lack of time for strategic, high-value work

Why it’s worth your time:

→ You’ll walk away with practical strategies to take control of your calendar

→ Learn how to reduce stress, increase focus, and show up like the pro your clients need

→ Start crafting your days to do deep, meaningful work consistently

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The 8 principles for owning your time and setting up your workweek for success
How to time block and plan based on your energy levels
The “inbound triage” habit that immediately frees up your focus
Why buffers are essential—and how to build them in
How scheduling messages and using AI tools can reduce distractions
The power of a shutdown routine to end your day with clarity
A realistic path to becoming the most organised person in the room

Already watched? Let’s talk:

What’s one thing you’re going to change in your calendar starting today?
What tip from this episode made you think, “I really need to do that”?
Drop your takeaways, wins, or challenges in the comments—let’s build better work habits together.

🗣️ 👀

Chris

00:00

35:11

24 June 2025

7 ways account manager accidentally diminish their authority (and how to fix it fast)

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

If you’ve ever felt like clients don’t take you seriously—or like you're constantly working to earn their respect—this episode is for you.

In this episode of Say What You See, Chris Marr breaks down the subtle yet powerful ways client-facing professionals unconsciously undermine their authority… and how to fix it. Whether you’re an account manager, strategist, consultant, or agency leader, these small shifts will dramatically change how clients perceive you.

What this episode helps you solve:

→ You're being seen as a doer, not a strategic partner

→ You’ve never thought much about your job title, calendar naming, or intro scripts

→ Your clients aren’t ready to follow your lead—and you’re not sure why

Why it’s worth your time:

→ You’ll learn simple, immediate tweaks that position you as a trusted peer

→ You’ll increase client respect before the first meeting

→ You’ll walk away with language, systems, and tools to own your positioning

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why your job title is your first marketing message—and how to fix it
How to craft your credibility statement and teach others to introduce you with authority
What to call your client sessions to command more respect and attention
How to set session cadence and expectations from day one
The powerful 7-38-55 Rule and why video matters more than you think
How to upgrade your LinkedIn, email signature, and website bio for consistent authority

Already watched? I’d love to hear from you:

— What small tweak are you making today to elevate your positioning?

— What’s one thing you’re changing in your job title, session naming, or intro messaging?

— Got a pre-positioning tip that’s not on this list? Share it in the comments to help others!

🗣️ 👀

Chris

00:00

23:27

17 June 2025

From order-taker to trusted partner: The kickoff reset every account manager needs

Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

Get my free resources: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/resources/

Are you stuck playing the role of “yes person” with your clients?

If you’ve ever felt like an order-taker instead of a trusted expert — especially in your role as an account manager — this episode is going to change how you approach client relationships from day one.

Welcome to Say What You See

In this episode, I break down the #1 opportunity you have to build a strong, high-trust relationship with every new client — the kickoff. This one moment can either reinforce your authority or trap you in a dynamic where you're constantly chasing alignment and struggling to challenge your clients when it matters most.

What this episode helps you solve:

👉 Feeling like you can’t challenge clients without risking the relationship?

👉 Frustrated by blurred boundaries, scope creep, or slow progress down the line?

👉 Wish you could prevent problems before they show up?

Why it’s worth your time:

You’ll learn how to proactively position yourself as a peer and strategic partner — not just a doer.

Especially if you're an account manager, this will help you move from “project coordinator” to respected advisor. We walk through exactly what to say (and ask) in those early conversations to avoid predictable problems and set the conditions for success.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

🔹 Why “every new client is your best opportunity” to set the tone

🔹 How to lead with confidence using the Vanguard Principle

🔹 The 5 must-have conversations that prevent future headaches

🔹 How to address client roles, commitment, and expectations upfront

🔹 What to ask to expose red flags and align on success

🔹 Why tension can be a good thing in your kickoff process — especially for account managers who want to earn more trust

Want the full framework?

Download your free copy of the Client Success Conversations Playbook — packed with 16+ essential talk tracks to transform your client kickoffs: Get the Playbook at theauthoritativecoach.com

Already watched?

What’s one conversation you’re going to start having with your clients from now on?

Which talk track resonated most — and how will you make it your own?

If you’re an account manager, how are you planning to apply this to your next kickoff?

Drop your takeaways, commitments, or any questions in the comments — I read every one.

🗣️👀

Chris

00:00

29:34

10 June 2025

Bold questions every account manager must ask to stop client churn

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

Ever feel like you're walking on eggshells during tough client conversations?

If you've hesitated to ask bold questions in high-stakes situations—especially when a client is unhappy or considering leaving—this episode is for you.

This is Episode 22 of Say What You See, created for client-facing professionals—account managers, consultants, coaches, and agency leads—who are ready to stop people-pleasing and start leading with authority.

What this episode helps you solve:

- You’ll learn how fear holds you back from the exact conversations that can save client relationships and solidify your authority.

- Instead of tiptoeing around complaints, you'll learn to step into them with calm confidence and the right language.

Why it’s worth your time:

These aren’t just “nice-to-have” insights. These are the exact questions and mindsets that shift you from service provider to trusted advisor—and help you reduce churn, elevate retention, and build stronger partnerships with your clients.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The inverse relationship between fear and effectiveness in high-stakes conversations
How to ask bolder questions without increasing friction
The shift from “fixing problems” to facilitating solutions as a peer, not a supplicant
How to uncover the real reason clients are unhappy—using the “law of three”
Bold, ready-to-use questions to reset or repair client relationships
Why transformational relationships require tension (and how to handle it)

Already watched? Let’s keep the conversation going:

- Which bold question are you going to try?

- What was one insight that made you rethink how you handle client complaints?

- Have you ever had a conversation that saved a client relationship? Share it below!

🗣️ 👀

Chris

00:00

26:31

03 June 2025

10+ ways account managers can use GPT to work smarter and lead stronger

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

Is AI going to replace your role as an account manager — or make you the most valuable person in the agency?

If you’re a client-facing professional still trying to figure out where ChatGPT fits into your workflow, this episode is for you. In this episode of Say What You See, I walk you through the real, practical ways I use GPT every day to do better work, faster — and how you can too.

Whether you’re an account manager, strategist, or consultant, this episode shows how to use GPT not just to save time, but to step into a more strategic role with your clients.

What this episode helps you solve:

Feeling overwhelmed by admin, writing, and prep? Tired of being stuck in task-mode instead of showing up as a true partner to your clients? This is your playbook for changing that.

Why it’s worth your time:

You’ll learn how to use GPT to become more valuable, not replaceable — and shift from order-taker to strategic advisor.

What you’ll learn:

How to treat GPT as your assistant and your thinking partner
A smarter way to write emails, summaries, and briefs without lifting a finger
Why roleplaying with GPT can prep you for tough client conversations
How to batch your prep and create weekly headroom (without the burnout)
Ways to use transcripts to uncover client insights and trends
The importance of saving your best prompts to build your AI toolkit

Already watched the video? Let’s keep the conversation going:

What’s one task you’re now committed to offloading to GPT?
Have you built your own prompt toolkit yet? What’s in it?
Which example from the episode made you think “Why am I not doing that already?!”

Drop your thoughts, takeaways, or your own tips in the comments 👇

Let’s learn from each other.

🗣️ 👀

Chris

00:00

28:10

28 May 2025

6 habits of account managers who lead (not just serve)

👉 Join my coaching programme: https://theauthoritativecoach.com/essentials

Are you stuck in ‘order taker’ mode with your clients? Here’s how to fix that.

If you’re an account manager who feels more like a customer service rep than a strategic partner, this episode of Say What You See is for you.

Whether you’re chasing clients for content, firefighting scope creep, or struggling to be seen as a peer—this conversation is packed with practical advice to help you shift the dynamic and step into authority.

What this episode helps you solve:

Too many account managers are stuck reacting to client demands rather than leading client relationships.
If you're constantly playing catch-up, getting pulled in every direction, and unsure how to push back professionally, this episode will show you a new path.

Why it’s worth your time:

You’ll learn how to transition from a reactive, anxious service provider into a confident, indispensable strategic partner. This mindset and skill shift not only protects your sanity—it elevates your agency’s reputation and results.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

How to set the conditions for a successful client relationship before work begins
The importance of staying 2–3 steps ahead of the client to avoid firefighting
How to protect your scope without sounding difficult or resistant
What it takes to establish true peer-level relationships with senior clients
How to speak the truth early—especially when you spot red flags
The ultimate job description for an account manager who leads with authority

Want the full transcript or frameworks?

DM me the word “account” on Instagram @theauthoritativecoach and I’ll send you the exact playbooks mentioned in the episode.

These include stakeholder management guides, objection-handling talk tracks, and more.

Already watched? I’d love to hear from you:

→ Which principle hit home the most for you?

→ What’s one change you’re making in how you show up with clients?

→ Are you acting like a peer—or an order taker?

Jump into the comments—I read and reply to everything.

🗣️ 👀

Chris

00:00

28:10