Clout: Tapping Spiritual Wisdom to Become a Person of Influence

by Stephen R. Graves, Thomas G. Addington

We all want to be able to influence others, to have our voices counted in decisionmaking, and to make a contribution to our organization or community. Most books on this subject focus on personal power for personal ends— self-help approaches that show readers how to get what they want for themselves. But influence can be much more— a live force that is vital to the positive and productive functioning of organizations, communities, and relationships.
In Clout Stephen R. Graves and Thomas G. Addington take an entirely new and fresh approach to the subject of influence, incorporating biblical wisdom and stories of exemplary people who have wielded influence with integrity and authenticity. Using classical analytical tools to examine the components of influence, the authors look at an array of historical and biblical models of both positive and negative influence, including Mother Teresa, Adam Smith, Jesus, St. Patrick, Malcolm Muggeridge, and even Rasputin. They analyze what drives this force in our personal and business lives and relationships and show readers how they too can become people of great influence and thereby have a message that is meaningful, an audience that is receptive, and a life that is believable.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2003

About the author

Taken from Stephen R. Graves website:

Steve is an organizational strategist, pragmatic theologian and social capitalist. At any given time, he is advising 5-6 executives or business owners, along with 3-4 young energetic social entrepreneurs. He sits on a half dozen boards, holds degrees in multiple subjects, writes often and speaks occasionally. He lives in Northwest Arkansas with his wife Karen, has three adult children and if he doesn’t return your call quickly there is a good chance he snuck off to the river…again.

Reviews

[Ross Heinricy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look forward to and enjoy the Steve Graves newsletter weekly, and overall I was not disappointed with this book. the premise if influence but he and the co-author use the word clout. they spend the first pages of the book defending using this title, which I thought was silly for a few reasons: first, because if you choose to use the word as the title and then have to defend the reasoning you probably should choose a different title. Second, they should have used the word influence because that was what the book was about.
Chapter 9, "Breaking the Genetic Code on Influence" made the whole book worthwhile. He is not big on quotes but he does use timely stories as illustrations of truth being taught.

[Sarah Keeton · Rating 1 out of 5]

haven't read this one, didn't mean to add it....not sure how to delete it....oops!