--- title: durhamlane Blog | Michael Knowles description: Helping businesses and sales professionals improve sales performance with tips, sales advice, and guidance. --- [Skip to content](https://blog.durhamlane.com/author/michael-knowles#content) [durhamlane-logo durhamlane | Sales Training, Sales Outsourcing & Sales Recruitment durhamlane Logo | Sales Training, Sales Outsourcing & Sales Recruitment](http://durhamlane.com/) - [What We Do](http://durhamlane.com/sales/) - [Outsourcing](http://durhamlane.com/sales/outsourcing/) - [Training](http://durhamlane.com/sales/training/) - [Recruitment](http://durhamlane.com/sales/recruitment/) - [How We Work](http://durhamlane.com/how-we-work/) - [About](http://durhamlane.com/company/) - [About Us](http://durhamlane.com/company/about-us/) - [Our Team](http://durhamlane.com/company/team/) - [Blog](https://blog.durhamlane.com/) - [Careers](http://durhamlane.com/company/current-vacancies/) - [Our Work](http://durhamlane.com/our-work/) - [Contact](http://durhamlane.com/company/contact-us/) +44 (0) 191 481 3800 - [Created with Sketch.](http://www.twitter.com/durhamlane) - [Created with Sketch.](http://www.linkedin.com/company/durhamlane) - - [tel:+44%20(0)%20191%20481%203800](tel:+44%20(0)%20191%20481%203800) # Blog ## Michael Knowles ### Recent Posts ##### Do you trust and value your sales team? Posted by [Michael Knowles](https://blog.durhamlane.com/author/michael-knowles) on 05/01/16 12:00 [![](https://blog.durhamlane.com/hubfs/Do_you_trust_and_value_your_sales_team-.jpg)](https://blog.durhamlane.com/do-you-trust-and-value-your-sales-team)   Did you know Marissa Mayer, President & CEO of Yahoo, issued a ban on working from home across the organisation? This controversial decision at the time was received with very widely mixed reactions, from the scepticism of other business leaders to the full support of business tycoon and former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg. [Read More](https://blog.durhamlane.com/do-you-trust-and-value-your-sales-team) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.durhamlane.com/do-you-trust-and-value-your-sales-team#comments-listing) ##### Topics [sales performance](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/sales-performance) [sales tips](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/sales-tips) [sales motivation](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/sales-motivation) [team development](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/team-development) ##### 6 tips for effective sales networking Posted by [Michael Knowles](https://blog.durhamlane.com/author/michael-knowles) on 15/12/15 12:00 [![](https://blog.durhamlane.com/hubfs/6_tips_for_effective_sales_networking.jpg)](https://blog.durhamlane.com/6-tips-for-effective-sales-networking)   Face to face networking is basically as good as it gets for sales prospecting, it gives you a great opportunity to meet new people, who are also looking for the next best way to grow and improve their business. [Read More](https://blog.durhamlane.com/6-tips-for-effective-sales-networking) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.durhamlane.com/6-tips-for-effective-sales-networking#comments-listing) ##### Topics [sales tips](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/sales-tips) ##### Taking the cold out of cold calling Posted by [Michael Knowles](https://blog.durhamlane.com/author/michael-knowles) on 01/12/15 14:11 [![](https://blog.durhamlane.com/hubfs/Taking_the_cold_out_of_cold_calling.jpg)](https://blog.durhamlane.com/taking-the-cold-out-of-cold-calling) Introducing our newest 'Selling at a Higher Level' sales masterclass. This high impact sales workshop is designed to tackle the common issues and fear surrounding making those initial (cold) prospecting calls. Written by and delivered by our newest sales trainer - Luke Robinson. [Read More](https://blog.durhamlane.com/taking-the-cold-out-of-cold-calling) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.durhamlane.com/taking-the-cold-out-of-cold-calling#comments-listing) ##### Topics [Sales Training](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/sales-training) [News,](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/news) ##### Get funding towards your sales strategy Posted by [Michael Knowles](https://blog.durhamlane.com/author/michael-knowles) on 26/11/15 08:45 [![](https://blog.durhamlane.com/hubfs/funding_towards_your_sales_strategy.jpg)](https://blog.durhamlane.com/get-funding-towards-your-sales-strategy) Did you know you can receive up to £2,800 of business grant funding to support a range of business activities including marketing and sales? [Read More](https://blog.durhamlane.com/get-funding-towards-your-sales-strategy) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.durhamlane.com/get-funding-towards-your-sales-strategy#comments-listing) ##### Topics [Sales Planning](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/sales-planning) [News,](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/news) ##### 5 short-term scenarios to consider sales outsourcing Posted by [Michael Knowles](https://blog.durhamlane.com/author/michael-knowles) on 19/11/15 14:45 [![](https://blog.durhamlane.com/hubfs/5_short-term_scenarios_you_should_consider_sales_outsourcing.jpg)](https://blog.durhamlane.com/5-short-term-scenarios-to-consider-sales-outsourcing) For many senior managers and business owners, it’s easy to try to shoulder a lot when it comes to running and growing your business. But you may face certain challenges you can’t solve on your own or you realise that you’d rather pay someone else to handle certain aspects so you can focus on the things you do best. [Read More](https://blog.durhamlane.com/5-short-term-scenarios-to-consider-sales-outsourcing) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.durhamlane.com/5-short-term-scenarios-to-consider-sales-outsourcing#comments-listing) ##### Topics [sales tips](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/sales-tips) [Sales Planning](https://blog.durhamlane.com/topic/sales-planning) [All posts](https://blog.durhamlane.com/all) [Next](https://blog.durhamlane.com/author/michael-knowles/page/2) [durhamlane-logo durhamlane | Sales Training, Sales Outsourcing & Sales Recruitment durhamlane Logo | Sales Training, Sales Outsourcing & Sales Recruitment](https://blog.durhamlane.com/) Sales Training, Sales Outsourcing & Sales Recruitment - [What We Do](http://durhamlane.com/sales/) - [How We Work](http://durhamlane.com/how-we-work/) - [Our Work](http://durhamlane.com/our-work/) - [Blog](https://blog.durhamlane.co.uk) - [Company](http://durhamlane.com/company/) - [Contact Us](http://durhamlane.com/company/contact-us/) - [Our Team](http://durhamlane.com/company/team/) - [Current Vacancies](http://durhamlane.com/company/current-vacancies/) - [Sales Outsourcing](http://durhamlane.com/sales/outsourcing/) - [Market Intelligence](http://durhamlane.com/sales/outsourcing/market-intelligence/) - [Data Building & Cleansing](http://durhamlane.com/sales/outsourcing/data-building-and-cleansing/) - [Outsourced Sales & Lead Generation](http://durhamlane.com/sales/outsourcing/outsourced-sales/) - [Early Stage Business Development](http://durhamlane.com/sales/outsourcing/early-stage-business-development/) - [Sales Training](http://durhamlane.com/sales/training/) - [Our Methodology](http://durhamlane.com/sales/training/our-methodology/) - [Sales Strategy & Process Review](http://durhamlane.com/sales/training/sales-process-review/) - [Sales Masterclasses & Bespoke Training](http://durhamlane.com/sales/training/sales-masterclasses-and-training/) - [Consulting & Leadership Development](http://durhamlane.com/sales/training/leadership-development/) - [Sales Recruitment](http://durhamlane.com/sales/recruitment/) - [Experienced Sales Hires](http://durhamlane.com/sales/recruitment/experienced-sales-hires/) - [Sales Graduate Programme](http://durhamlane.com/sales/recruitment/sales-graduate-programme/) ##### Send a Quick Message - [Created with Sketch.](http://www.twitter.com/durhamlane) - [Created with Sketch.](http://www.linkedin.com/company/durhamlane) - - [tel:+44%20(0)%20191%20481%203800](tel:+44%20(0)%20191%20481%203800) © 2011 - 2016 durhamlane Ltd. brand & web design by [Powerhouse Software](http://powerhouse.software/)