This SVP Built a Winning Culture and High-Performing Team at the Atlanta Braves | Paul Adams

How Do You Build a Team That Excels and Endures?

What’s the secret to creating a team that consistently performs and remains committed over the long haul? How do you build and maintain a winning culture in the competitive world of sports and business? These are the questions Paul Adams has been answering for over 35 years.

In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with Paul Adams, Senior Vice President of Ticket Sales for the Atlanta Braves. Paul shares the strategies he’s used to build a high-performing team, one that thrives on collaboration, trust, and continuous development. Whether you're a leader looking to build a better team or a sales professional aiming for long-term success, this episode offers valuable lessons from one of the most respected leaders in the sports industry.

This Episode Covers:
How to build a winning sales culture from the ground up
The importance of hiring for potential and investing in continuous training
Why focusing on strengths is more effective than fixing weaknesses
The power of trust, communication, and leading by example
How to adapt and evolve leadership in response to change

Episode Highlights:
(00:00) Introduction to Paul Adams – Damon introduces Paul Adams, SVP of Ticket Sales for the Atlanta Braves, and sets the stage for a discussion on leadership and building a winning culture.
(02:00) Building and Sustaining a High-Performing Sales Culture – Paul shares how the Atlanta Braves have built a culture of trust, collaboration, and continuous learning within the ticket sales team.
(05:46) Hiring for Potential – Paul explains why the Braves hire based on potential and how their minor league-style training system helps develop future leaders.
(09:00) Focusing on Strengths Over Weaknesses – Paul discusses why he believes in leveraging employees' strengths rather than spending too much time fixing their weaknesses.
(12:33) Leadership by Example – Paul emphasizes the importance of leading by example and building trust through open communication and hands-on leadership.
(17:42) Navigating Challenges and Change – Paul reflects on how the Braves’ leadership team adapted during the pandemic, using communication and relationship-building to stay connected with their fans.
(21:30) The Role of Values in Leadership – Paul talks about how the Braves’ core values—commitment, trust, professionalism, and diversity—shape the team’s culture and guide their decision-making.
(33:18) Leadership Advice for the Future – Paul offers his final thoughts on how leaders can leave a lasting impact on their teams by investing in people and maintaining a culture of continuous growth.

Guest Bio:

Paul Adams is the Senior Vice President of Ticket Sales for the Atlanta Braves, where he has worked for over 35 years. Paul has been instrumental in creating and maintaining a high-performing sales culture within the Braves organization, focusing on collaboration, trust, and continuous development. He is passionate about building teams that excel both on and off the field.

Resources Referenced:
Paul Adams’ LinkedIn:   / paul-adams-08a7455  
Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek: https://simonsinek.com/books/leaders-...
The Ride of a Lifetime" by Bob Iger: https://www.amazon.com/Ride-Lifetime-...

Podcast Contact:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: [email protected]
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