What do you think?
Rate this book
Authentic Sales Leadership: Proven Tactics to Build and Lead Championship Teams
Build Championship Sales Teams with Authentic Leadership
This isn’t just another sales book. It’s a blueprint for leaders who want to build teams that win—consistently and with integrity.
In Authentic Sales Leadership, John “JT” Turner distills decades of hard-earned experience—from walk-on NCAA athlete to boardroom CRO—into a powerful playbook for building, leading, and scaling high-performance sales organizations. Whether you’re a frontline manager, an aspiring VP, or a seasoned CRO, this book delivers actionable tactics and real-world wisdom to help you lead with clarity, conviction, and culture.
Inside, you’ll learn how
✔ Attract and upskill top-tier talent
✔ Run the perfect sales call using value-based selling
✔ Lead your boss as well as your team
✔ Build a team culture around accountability, trust, and winning
✔ Avoid the most common mistakes new sales leaders make
✔ Create a sales program the board and CEO will rally behind
With stories, strategies, and tools pulled from IPO runs, M&A plays, and global growth journeys, JT gives you more than theory—he gives you the leadership edge.
Whether you’re building from scratch or looking to level up your current team, Authentic Sales Leadership will challenge you, inspire you, and equip you to lead like never before.
Lead better. Sell smarter. Win more.
This isn’t just another sales book. It’s a blueprint for leaders who want to build teams that win—consistently and with integrity.
In Authentic Sales Leadership, John “JT” Turner distills decades of hard-earned experience—from walk-on NCAA athlete to boardroom CRO—into a powerful playbook for building, leading, and scaling high-performance sales organizations. Whether you’re a frontline manager, an aspiring VP, or a seasoned CRO, this book delivers actionable tactics and real-world wisdom to help you lead with clarity, conviction, and culture.
Inside, you’ll learn how
✔ Attract and upskill top-tier talent
✔ Run the perfect sales call using value-based selling
✔ Lead your boss as well as your team
✔ Build a team culture around accountability, trust, and winning
✔ Avoid the most common mistakes new sales leaders make
✔ Create a sales program the board and CEO will rally behind
With stories, strategies, and tools pulled from IPO runs, M&A plays, and global growth journeys, JT gives you more than theory—he gives you the leadership edge.
Whether you’re building from scratch or looking to level up your current team, Authentic Sales Leadership will challenge you, inspire you, and equip you to lead like never before.
Lead better. Sell smarter. Win more.
- GenresBusiness
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2025
24 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 30, 2025
Quick, easy read with incredible insight for anyone seeking to level up as a sales leader. Practical, easy to apply wisdom. Recommend for new leaders and anyone looking to unlock growth.
July 21, 2025
"Sometimes dogs just have to stop and urinate on the fire-hydrant."
First things first. Full disclosure. The first line is that it is a slightly modified quote from the book.
Finishing the first chapter I sighed, wished I’d never started it, and struggled to find a legitimate reason for giving it at least 3 stars. My tune had definitely changed by the time I finished. I started off under the misconception that this was another, cynical, self help, on becoming a salesman who could sell refrigerators to Eskimos. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The book is about being a sales leader. It’s not necessarily about being a good sales person. It’s not necessarily about leadership in other fields.
One of the things that impressed me was the (to me) unique understanding that leadership teams are very different. A team of engineers is a very different animal from a team sales people. So, sales team leaders need a different approach to leadership than leaders of other teams. True leaders will understand the specific needs and the requirements of their teams. Skill sets that may be valuable for engineers may be detrimental to sales people.
The author expresses great pride in his people. He spends very little time talking about his own accomplishments. And I don’t believe that is false modesty. I came across with the feeling that is his mindset. He urges leaders to focus on empowering, and sometimes protecting, his people. I suspect he has a very loyal following.
Another concept that was completely foreign to me was that HR is not the enemy by default. HRs job is not just scolding people and punish wrong doers. They are there to maximize human resources. To help get the best people and be sure those people are given the best opportunities to help them succeed.
There is an important relationship between politics and influence. Even upper managers are going to have to deal with higher managers, CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, etc. A good upper management leader will have to use politics to influence both CEOs and staff. Executives have to leave a mark on a project. The author began to leave easter eggs, an intentional error, to give an executive something to focus on and feel they had a win. This allowed him to be “corrected,’ then focus on his actual goals.
Finally, Turner has titled topics within chapters. The one mentioned at the top of this review is one. “Sometimes you have to force the horse to drink.” is another. The book is worth buying and reading for those if nothing else. Fair warning to Mr. Turner, I intend to steal every one of them.
I’m 69, retired and have no plans to get back into the work force. I’m still glad I bought this book. I recommend that young people just starting their careers buy and read the book. It will help you understand why things happen within your company. But it will be most valuable for middle managers, moving into upper management.
First things first. Full disclosure. The first line is that it is a slightly modified quote from the book.
Finishing the first chapter I sighed, wished I’d never started it, and struggled to find a legitimate reason for giving it at least 3 stars. My tune had definitely changed by the time I finished. I started off under the misconception that this was another, cynical, self help, on becoming a salesman who could sell refrigerators to Eskimos. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The book is about being a sales leader. It’s not necessarily about being a good sales person. It’s not necessarily about leadership in other fields.
One of the things that impressed me was the (to me) unique understanding that leadership teams are very different. A team of engineers is a very different animal from a team sales people. So, sales team leaders need a different approach to leadership than leaders of other teams. True leaders will understand the specific needs and the requirements of their teams. Skill sets that may be valuable for engineers may be detrimental to sales people.
The author expresses great pride in his people. He spends very little time talking about his own accomplishments. And I don’t believe that is false modesty. I came across with the feeling that is his mindset. He urges leaders to focus on empowering, and sometimes protecting, his people. I suspect he has a very loyal following.
Another concept that was completely foreign to me was that HR is not the enemy by default. HRs job is not just scolding people and punish wrong doers. They are there to maximize human resources. To help get the best people and be sure those people are given the best opportunities to help them succeed.
There is an important relationship between politics and influence. Even upper managers are going to have to deal with higher managers, CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, etc. A good upper management leader will have to use politics to influence both CEOs and staff. Executives have to leave a mark on a project. The author began to leave easter eggs, an intentional error, to give an executive something to focus on and feel they had a win. This allowed him to be “corrected,’ then focus on his actual goals.
Finally, Turner has titled topics within chapters. The one mentioned at the top of this review is one. “Sometimes you have to force the horse to drink.” is another. The book is worth buying and reading for those if nothing else. Fair warning to Mr. Turner, I intend to steal every one of them.
I’m 69, retired and have no plans to get back into the work force. I’m still glad I bought this book. I recommend that young people just starting their careers buy and read the book. It will help you understand why things happen within your company. But it will be most valuable for middle managers, moving into upper management.
July 18, 2025
I chose to read Authentic Sales Leadership because I was looking for real-world strategies for leadership rather than just a sales book. What I discovered went above my expectations. JT Turner not only discusses his knowledge, but also offers practical suggestions that I was able to use right away. It taught me how to form effective teams, how to enhance my sales calls by concentrating on the true value we offer, and how to foster a culture of trust and responsibility. It also aided me in identifying frequent leadership faults that I was previously unaware of.
The best part is that I know I'll read it again since I believe it will continue to benefit me. It's a book that motivates and encourages me to lead with clarity and conviction as well as honesty. I strongly recommend it.
The best part is that I know I'll read it again since I believe it will continue to benefit me. It's a book that motivates and encourages me to lead with clarity and conviction as well as honesty. I strongly recommend it.
July 15, 2025
I found "Authentic Sales Leadership" by John Turner really helpful and inspiring. I really liked the difference between management and leadership. The author says that giving orders is not the same as inspiring people. That really made me think of a job I had before. My old manager used to just tell us what to do, without explaining why. It didn’t feel good. Later, I worked with someone who really listened, gave advice, and made us feel like we were part of something. That person was a real leader.
Another part that stood out to me was about coaching and performance. Turner talks about how leaders should support their teams with feedback, not just check results. Reading this book made me think that being a strong leader means caring about your people, not just the numbers.
Another part that stood out to me was about coaching and performance. Turner talks about how leaders should support their teams with feedback, not just check results. Reading this book made me think that being a strong leader means caring about your people, not just the numbers.
July 18, 2025
In Authentic Sales Leadership, John “JT” Turner shows how to lead a business in a highly effective and -- at the same time -- in a humane way. With many years of business experience, the author has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to impart.
I like the fact that there are small photographs and other illustrations in the book. This adds a pleasing visual element that I often miss in other business books. Turner includes a very effective illustration for creating a championship sales team. It consists of Shoelaces, the Heart, the Fist and No Scoreboards. He refers to these as victory plan values and describes how each of these plays a significant role in maintaining a successful team. This is a book that every business leader need to read.
I like the fact that there are small photographs and other illustrations in the book. This adds a pleasing visual element that I often miss in other business books. Turner includes a very effective illustration for creating a championship sales team. It consists of Shoelaces, the Heart, the Fist and No Scoreboards. He refers to these as victory plan values and describes how each of these plays a significant role in maintaining a successful team. This is a book that every business leader need to read.
July 18, 2025
Amazing book!
The book I so desperately needed has arrived! I work in sales and had never considered needing a book as much as this one. As soon as I started reading it, it generated value for me, from the perspective of real stories—stories that happened and that teach us a lot. It's not just a sales book, but also a leadership book. This is very valuable, since being a great sales leader generates a lot of value, from the example we set for each of our colleagues. Every day we face new leadership and sales challenges; this book is the perfect guide to successfully overcome them. Without a doubt, a book for those who want to improve the way they lead or who want to learn how to lead.
The book I so desperately needed has arrived! I work in sales and had never considered needing a book as much as this one. As soon as I started reading it, it generated value for me, from the perspective of real stories—stories that happened and that teach us a lot. It's not just a sales book, but also a leadership book. This is very valuable, since being a great sales leader generates a lot of value, from the example we set for each of our colleagues. Every day we face new leadership and sales challenges; this book is the perfect guide to successfully overcome them. Without a doubt, a book for those who want to improve the way they lead or who want to learn how to lead.
July 18, 2025
The reality is that although this book can be read and used by anyone, it’s exclusively aimed at those who lead sales teams and wish to obtain better results. Anyway, I’ve to say that the book is perfectly designed and organized, so that any reader who has his eyes on it can take advantage of it, understand it and enjoy it. The enormous experience of the author is noticeable on every single page. This makes the information flows naturally and it has a greater impact on the readers.
The chapters are a bit longer than I would prefer; however, the examples and information they provide are so interesting that they are not heavy or repetitive at any point. Definitely, this is a book I strongly recommend!
The chapters are a bit longer than I would prefer; however, the examples and information they provide are so interesting that they are not heavy or repetitive at any point. Definitely, this is a book I strongly recommend!
July 18, 2025
Awesome book
In my opinion, the cover is the first way a book sells itself. I loved this cover; I honestly thought it was incredible because, when I saw it, I felt like I was about to invest in myself. Sometimes, we think that talking about sales means saying a lot, that you need to be punctual, concise, and direct—and this book shows that from the cover alone. I realized it wasn’t going to be one of those books that go in circles with the same topic using playful language. On the contrary, the cover and the content of the book showed me it was direct and professional. Great book.
In my opinion, the cover is the first way a book sells itself. I loved this cover; I honestly thought it was incredible because, when I saw it, I felt like I was about to invest in myself. Sometimes, we think that talking about sales means saying a lot, that you need to be punctual, concise, and direct—and this book shows that from the cover alone. I realized it wasn’t going to be one of those books that go in circles with the same topic using playful language. On the contrary, the cover and the content of the book showed me it was direct and professional. Great book.
July 18, 2025
A super interesting book and quite different from the many books on leadership and business success that I have read especially this year. It is a very complete book where you will not only learn how to be the leader that your company needs to reach the sales goals you are looking for, but it also helps you understand how to achieve exceptional results and build a culture centered on values such as trust and responsibility. I highly recommend this book. It highlights the knowledge and experience of the author, besides being very complete and clear, which makes it applicable, which for me is fundamental for this type of book.
July 24, 2025
''Authentic Sales Leadership'' is the book that you need to read if you want to build a strong sales team. Here you'll learn why authenticity builds trust, drives better customer relationships, and creates a positive internal group. This book will also help you lead your group, which translates into higher retention and improved performance. One of the things I liked most about this book was how to speak to the client in a genuine way and convey that you care about their needs. In this way, trust can lead to long-term loyalty, creating honest conversations, better understanding customers, and offering real solutions. I highly recommend this book for everyone who wants to improve their sales.
November 25, 2025
just like the title says - authentic. Book reads like a conversation or talk and has a lot of valuable insights on selling.
February 4, 2026
📚📚📚📚📚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2026
great insights
Although a bit confusing at the beginning when referring to “X” the book picked up and provided valuable tips and insights. Highly recommended.
Although a bit confusing at the beginning when referring to “X” the book picked up and provided valuable tips and insights. Highly recommended.
August 16, 2025
Having been in sales for more years than I care to admit, in every role from rep, to senior IC, to line manager, regional manager, director and C level with a public company myself, I’ve read a lot and lived a lot when it comes to sales.
Authentic Sales Leadership: Proven Tactics to Build and Lead Championship Teams is not only one the of the best books on leadership I’ve read, I think it was the most enjoyable to read of them all.
You see, I never really felt like I was “reading”, as John "JT" Turner's writing is so fluid and engaging.
Rather, it seemed as if I was live in a classroom while at other times it was as if I was having a conversation with a seasoned peer or mentor in person. Part of this is because of the excellent writing, however, the major contributing factor was the style and format of the book.
Unlike most business related books with a typical step by step process, Turner’s conversational style flows from one subject to the next. Everything ties together beautifully and in a most refreshing manner. It’s really different and it’s really good. I was able to breeze through the book twice in less than a week.
Turner also does an extraordinary job of addressing complex and nuanced topics, such as how to hire a great sales person, or deal with a performance issue, among many others. He articulates his approach and results concisely and with conviction. He tackles these things head on not with a bunch of academic theory or statistics but with experience and earned expertise and excellent insights.
This is an outstanding book which I can’t recommend highly enough.
And an important point, this book goes beyond just sales.
Any leader, from a newly minted manager to someone in the C Suite, will gain valuable insights by reading it regardless of your discipline. If you are a CEO or CFO or just someone that wants to know how a top sales leader should operate and perform, well, this is your blueprint to see and learn how It’s done right.
So, to wrap up, just how good is this book? It's not just good, it's a great read. One great enough to earn a spot on my Goodreads list of Favorite Books on Business and Leadership. And when it comes to lists, at a minimum, you should add it to your Want to Read list today.
This is an exceptional book which I’ll be recommending and gifting to many I know!
Authentic Sales Leadership: Proven Tactics to Build and Lead Championship Teams is not only one the of the best books on leadership I’ve read, I think it was the most enjoyable to read of them all.
You see, I never really felt like I was “reading”, as John "JT" Turner's writing is so fluid and engaging.
Rather, it seemed as if I was live in a classroom while at other times it was as if I was having a conversation with a seasoned peer or mentor in person. Part of this is because of the excellent writing, however, the major contributing factor was the style and format of the book.
Unlike most business related books with a typical step by step process, Turner’s conversational style flows from one subject to the next. Everything ties together beautifully and in a most refreshing manner. It’s really different and it’s really good. I was able to breeze through the book twice in less than a week.
Turner also does an extraordinary job of addressing complex and nuanced topics, such as how to hire a great sales person, or deal with a performance issue, among many others. He articulates his approach and results concisely and with conviction. He tackles these things head on not with a bunch of academic theory or statistics but with experience and earned expertise and excellent insights.
This is an outstanding book which I can’t recommend highly enough.
And an important point, this book goes beyond just sales.
Any leader, from a newly minted manager to someone in the C Suite, will gain valuable insights by reading it regardless of your discipline. If you are a CEO or CFO or just someone that wants to know how a top sales leader should operate and perform, well, this is your blueprint to see and learn how It’s done right.
So, to wrap up, just how good is this book? It's not just good, it's a great read. One great enough to earn a spot on my Goodreads list of Favorite Books on Business and Leadership. And when it comes to lists, at a minimum, you should add it to your Want to Read list today.
This is an exceptional book which I’ll be recommending and gifting to many I know!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews