Andreas Buhr is a man on a mission: “More success in business!” This simple yet powerful slogan encapsulates his ethos as a speaker, entrepreneur, and author. With a career spanning decades, Buhr has cemented himself as a beacon of success in the business world. “At 28, I found myself leading one of Europe’s largest sales organizations. It was a pivotal moment that shaped my approach to business,” reflects Buhr.
Over 25 years, he nurtured this company into a powerhouse, serving 280,000 customers, generating ?3 billion in turnover, and employing 1,000 individuals. In 2005, Buhr made a bold decision, selling his first company to embark on a new journey. “The decision to start Buhr & Team Academy was driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact,” explains Buhr. “I wanted to empower individuals and businesses to achieve greater success.” His motivation stems from three core principles: shaping the future of the economy, helping others succeed, and embracing lifelong learning.
Buhr’s influence extends far beyond the boardroom. With over 4,000 speeches delivered in 29 countries to a diverse audience of 800,000 participants, his impact is undeniable. Additionally, he has trained 150 trainers and authored or co-authored over 40 books, solidifying his status as a thought leader in leadership and sales.
The Distinctive Edge of Buhr & Team AG
At Buhr & Team AG, a distinctive approach sets them apart in the competitive landscape of corporate training and development. “We’ve always prioritized needs-oriented competence models,” emphasizes Buhr. These models serve as the cornerstone for content and training system development, with a sharp focus on CLEAN LEADERSHIP, CLEAN SALES, and CLEAN PERFORMANCE.
“Collaboration with universities has been instrumental in our success,” Buhr highlights. “No nonsense, just evidence-based practices.” This commitment to scientific rigor ensures that Buhr & Team AG’s methodologies remain grounded in research and analysis.
A hallmark of the company is its commitment to innovation. “We’re dedicated to developing genuinely new topics,” explains Buhr, “and mapping the learner journey from start to finish.” From gap analysis to masterclasses, every aspect of the training process is meticulously designed for maximum impact. “Our competency models form the backbone of our success,” Buhr asserts. By aligning training programs with the evolving needs of businesses, Buhr & Team AG ensures relevance and effectiveness.
Guiding Principles for Success
Buhr has distilled decades of experience into a wealth of resources aimed at empowering individuals and businesses to thrive in today’s dynamic landscape. Through his prolific writing, podcast series, blogs, and business publications, he shares invaluable strategies for success in sales and leadership.
His latest book, Business geht heute anders (Business is different today), offers 100 brand-new business hacks for the future of business. Additionally, Vertrieb geht heute anders (Sales is different today) and Vertriebsf hrung (Sales Leadership) delve into digital strategies for sales. These resources, including the English version of his bestselling book, provide actionable insights for navigating today’s business complexities.
Buhr’s principles of leadership, outlined in his long-standing bestsellers Machen statt Meckern (Doing instead of booing) and Leadership principles. F hrung geht heute anders (Principles of Leadership. Leadership is different today), offer a roadmap for ethical and value-oriented leadership. His twelve core principles include:
Strengthen your entrepreneurial mindset – only those who can lead themselves can lead others.
Focus on the essential things with leverage.
Leadership is personal: act reliably as a proving role model.
Pursue the right goals based on values.
Train your own decision-making DNA.
Put people at the core of your actions.
Lead with values to drive performance and better results.
Implement next-level management processes.
Always excite and inspire yourself and others.
See profit as a reward for purpose and understanding.
Use and nurture the wisdom of the many.
Remain a learner, curious, and humble.
“These principles aren’t just theoretical,” Buhr emphasizes. “We implement them in our own company, leading to growth and future-proofing.” Through Buhr & Team Academy, over 500 companies have successfully applied these principles, leading to tangible success stories.
Navigating Business with Mindfulness and Intuition
Reflecting on his journey, Buhr acknowledges the pivotal role of intuition in his success. “Whenever I followed my head more than my gut feeling in business, the defeats were recognizable,” he observes. He emphasizes mindfulness, learning to listen and observe rather than simply offering opinions.
Buhr’s integration of mindfulness, intuition, and self-reflection into his teachings marked a paradigm shift in the German-speaking market. “For a long time, especially in sales, it was all about being faster, louder, and more expensive,” he notes. However, he recognized the pitfalls of this approach-overwhelm, burnout, and a loss of meaning in work.
“Inspiring the meaning-oriented generations – Gen Y, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha – requires a different approach,” Buhr asserts. Through his experiences, he has developed a balanced mix of success-oriented, mindful, and meaningful principles that resonate with managers, employees, and readers alike.
Entrepreneurial Triumphs and Future Visions
“My greatest entrepreneurial successes certainly included the establishment and subsequent highly lucrative sale of my first business in the financial services sector,” Buhr recalls. “And then the successful development of my current company, Buhr & Team AG.”
At Buhr & Team AG, he and his team remain at the forefront of innovation, offering a comprehensive suite of services to B2B customers. “We keep our finger on the pulse of the markets,” Buhr explains, “exciting our customers with keynote speeches, workshops, consulting, company training, online and offline media, and personal coaching at C-level.”
Buhr is actively involved in succession planning, ensuring a seamless transition for the company’s continued success. As a member of the Supervisory Board, he provides guidance and inspiration for the company’s future. “True inner entrepreneurship never stops,” he asserts. “The goal is always beyond the horizon.”
The Essence of Clean Leadership
Buhr outlines three key characteristics of “clean leaders” that define their approach to effective leadership:
Telescoping – the ability to articulate a clear “why” that guides leadership decisions.
Microscoping – focusing on designing and implementing effective processes that drive performance.
Created Agreement – fostering an atmosphere conducive to achieving goals and top results.
Buhr recognizes the resistance to change but stresses the importance of finding a balance between comfort and growth. “Change and disruption are necessary for growth,” he asserts. “Clean leaders strike a balance between familiarity and innovation, inspiring their teams to embrace new challenges.”
The Crux of True Leadership
Buhr emphasizes the importance of inner authority over assigned power. “As a true leader, you embody real inner authority,” he observes. “It’s the kind of authority that others voluntarily grant you.”
“Leading everyone equally and expecting the same from everybody is not fair,” he asserts. “True leadership requires understanding each individual’s unique strengths and motivations.”
By embodying principles of Clean Leadership, Buhr continues to inspire and empower others to achieve their full potential, cultivating a culture of trust, transparency, and continuous improvement.