Are you ready to step into a leadership role—or are you being pushed into one for the wrong reasons? In this episode of The Salesforce Career Show, we uncover the reality of leadership and whether it’s the right path for you.

Join host Josh Matthews, co-host Josh LaQuire, and leadership expert Whitney Faires as they dive deep into the challenges of Salesforce leadership, career progression myths, and how to thrive as a people leader. Learn the key skills that separate great leaders from struggling managers and how AI is reshaping business, hiring, and career development.

We also break down highlights from the Salesforce Spring 2025 Release Notes and introduce our new segment: AI Spotlight, where we explore the latest in AI for leadership and career growth.

🎧 Subscribe now to stay ahead in your Salesforce career!

(Relevant topics: Salesforce leadership, career growth, people leadership skills, becoming a manager, Salesforce career advice, AI in business, AI in leadership, Salesforce Spring 2025 Release.)

In this thought-provoking episode of the Salesforce Career Show, hosts Josh Matthews and Vanessa Grant—joined by expert guests Josh LeQuire and Jon Cline—tackle a crucial yet often overlooked skill: tone and professional communication.

Our tone of voice shapes how we are perceived in different professional settings—whether we’re speaking to executives, leading a meeting, presenting at a conference, or conducting an interview. But does a confident tone always mean success? Should you adjust your tone depending on your audience? Is “consultant speak” helpful or harmful? The panel dives deep into the nuances of communication, exploring when and how to adapt your tone for impact while staying authentic.

This episode also marks Vanessa Grant’s final show as co-host, as she reflects on three years of sharing insights, growing her platform, and helping thousands of Salesforce professionals advance their careers.

Key topics include:

• The power of tone: how musicality, pacing, and emphasis affect perception.
• When to adjust your tone—and when to stay authentic.
• Why confidence doesn’t always mean certainty and how to use uncertainty strategically.
• The difference between effective leadership communication and “sounding smart.”
• How to improve your vocal presence with a one-minute voice training exercise.
• A special farewell segment: Vanessa Grant reflects on her journey as co-host.

Whether you’re navigating high-stakes meetings, client interactions, or public speaking engagements, this episode will help you develop a strong, adaptable, and authentic professional voice that commands respect and fosters trust.

This episode is brought to you by Josh Matthews: thesalesforcerecruiter.com

For more terrific content, join our social network and get connected to our Salesforce community.

• Visit Salesforce Career Show: salesforcecareershow.com
• Connect with SalesForce Staffing on LinkedIn
• Connect on LinkedIn: Josh Matthews
• Follow us on Twitter: TheJoshForce
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome and Vanessa Grant’s Final Episode Announcement
00:12:45 - The Importance of Tone in Professional Settings
00:27:50 - Confidence vs. Authenticity: When to Adjust Your Tone
00:42:15 - How to Communicate Uncertainty Without Losing Credibility
00:55:30 - The “Consultant Voice”: Does It Build Trust or Push People Away?
01:10:45 - Mastering Tone: Pacing, Emphasis, and the Power of the Pause
01:25:00 - One-Minute Vocal Training Exercise for Stronger Speech
01:40:15 - Vanessa’s Reflections: Three Years of the Salesforce Career Show

Quitting vs. Conquering: How to Navigate Career Decisions in the Salesforce Ecosystem

In this insightful episode of the Salesforce Career Show, hosts Josh Matthews and Vanessa Grant are joined by industry experts Tom Graber, Brandon Stein, Reid Marquand, and Josh LaQuire to tackle one of the toughest career questions: Should you stay or should you go?

They dive deep into the reasons why people leave jobs, how to evaluate if quitting is truly the best move, and what steps you should take before making a final decision. Whether it’s about growth opportunities, compensation, leadership, or workplace culture, this episode is packed with real-world insights and practical strategies to help you make career decisions with confidence.

Key topics include:

• The top five reasons professionals leave their jobs—and how to address them.
• How to evaluate your career growth potential before deciding to quit.
• Compensation: Are you truly underpaid, or is there more to consider?
• The importance of work-life balance and how to determine if it’s the job or your habits.
• Toxic environments vs. personal responsibility: How to assess the real issue.
• Leadership challenges: What makes a bad boss and how to manage up.
• Actionable strategies to take control of your career and future-proof your success.

Before you make a move, listen to this episode and gain the clarity you need to make the right choice for your career!

This episode is brought to you by Josh Matthews: thesalesforcerecruiter.com

For more terrific content, join our social network and get connected to our Salesforce community.

• Visit Salesforce Career Show: salesforcecareershow.com
• Connect with Salesforce Staffing on LinkedIn
• Connect on LinkedIn: Josh Matthews
• Follow us on Twitter: TheJoshForce
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome and Career Decision Framework Introduction
00:12:45 - The Top Five Reasons People Quit: Breaking Them Down
00:27:50 - Career Growth: Are You Really Stuck or Just Not Taking Initiative?
00:42:15 - Salary vs. Reality: Are You Actually Underpaid?
00:55:30 - Work-Life Balance: Is It the Job or Is It You?
01:10:45 - Toxic Workplaces: When to Leave and When to Adapt
01:25:00 - Bad Leadership: What to Do When Your Boss Is the Problem
01:40:15 - Final Thoughts: Stay, Go, or Take Control of Your Career?