Episode Summary

Are you part of the 82% of leaders who feel like "Accidental Managers"? In this episode of Thoughts on Selling, Lee Levitt talks with Ben Perreau, a former music journalist turned leadership expert and founder of Parafoil.

We discuss the most dangerous leap in any career: the transition from Individual Contributor (IC) to Team Leader. Ben explains why companies set new managers up to fail by promoting them for technical skills but ignoring the emotional intelligence required to lead. We also geek out on photography as a metaphor for management (moving from "Auto" to "Manual Mode") and why ignoring the fact that we are all "emotional meat sacks" leads to burnout and high Employee Churn.

Memorable Quotes:

• "There's a reason why 82% of early career managers consider themselves accidental... and a reason why a third of their teams leave within a year." — Ben Perreau

• "We are all just 'emotional meat sacks' trying to be professional."

• "Never doubt that a small committed group of people can change the world." — Quoting Margaret Mead

Key Topics & Timestamps:

• (00:00) – Introduction: The crisis of the Accidental Manager.

• (04:30) – The Promotion Trap: Why high-performing salespeople fail when promoted to management.

• (12:15) – The "Man in the Arena": Lessons on resilience from the BBC newsroom to the boardroom.

• (18:45) – Photography & Leadership: Moving from "Auto Mode" (reacting) to "Manual Mode" (vision and composition).

• (24:20) – Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Why suppressing emotion at work leads to burnout.

• (31:00) – Listening Circles: How Parafoil uses AI-driven peer groups to build psychological safety.

• (38:50) – The "Manual Mode" Challenge: Practical steps for new managers to take control.

About Our Guest:

Ben Perreau is the founder of Parafoil, a leadership development platform designed to stop the churn of new managers. A former music journalist and media executive, Ben has led teams at large organizations and consulted for Fortune 50 C-Suite executives. He specializes in Organizational Behavior, Leadership Development, and the intersection of technology and human connection.

About the Host:

Lee Levitt is a seasoned sales performance consultant, sales coach and the Principal of The Acelera Group. With decades of experience in Sales, Sales Leadership, Sales Enablement, Revenue Operations, and Sales Performance Management, Lee helps enterprise organizations build disciplined, replicable sales operating systems.

He is the voice behind the Thoughts on Selling™ brand, covering the intersection of deal mechanics and the "Inner Game" of selling.

Resources & Links:

• New Manager Training: Explore how Parafoil uses AI-driven listening circles.

• Connect on LinkedIn: Find Ben Perreau here.

• Subscribe: Get the Thoughts on Selling newsletter at thoughtsonselling.com.

Keywords for Search:Leadership Development, New Manager Training, Employee Retention, Sales Management, Emotional Intelligence, Corporate Culture, Accidental Manager, Imposter Syndrome, Ben Perreau, Parafoil.