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Secrets of Influential People: 50 Techniques to Persuade People
- Is your career where you want it to be?
- In everyday interactions, do people pay you enough attention?
- Does your view carry sufficient weight?
This engaging, practical book reveals the 50 secrets you need to get your point across, position yourself for success and punch above your weight. Drawing on research interviews with dozens of influential people, the book will show
* 12 specific strategies to communicate your ideas so people take notice
* How to build the networks and alliances you need to have real influence in organisations
* How to leverage what you know to gain increased exposure at the top table
* How to navigate organisational politics, 'play the game' more effectively and fast-track your career.
- In everyday interactions, do people pay you enough attention?
- Does your view carry sufficient weight?
This engaging, practical book reveals the 50 secrets you need to get your point across, position yourself for success and punch above your weight. Drawing on research interviews with dozens of influential people, the book will show
* 12 specific strategies to communicate your ideas so people take notice
* How to build the networks and alliances you need to have real influence in organisations
* How to leverage what you know to gain increased exposure at the top table
* How to navigate organisational politics, 'play the game' more effectively and fast-track your career.
- GenresSelf HelpCommunication
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
11 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 27, 2022
simple and practical techniques which could be applied easily>
March 28, 2020
Some quotes:
Aim for simplicity + Memorability
always consider the 3 points you want to make. Things get understood in threes.
Don’t assume that technology will conceal your own inadequacy. Instead , make sure that you can make your point without the need for fancy diagrams or animations.
It is not the individual with the greatest insight who gain the most influence, but those who can communicate their insight with impact and clarity.
We sometimes confuse quantity with quality.
The point is that to persuade you need a frame of reference.
We know that social proof is an extremely strong motivator in getting people to do things.
We need to be as aware of what we are arguing against as what we are arguing for, and to be able to draw effective contrast between both.
Social norms are so powerful
We tend to go with the flow and do what the majority seems to favor since this seems to represent the lowest risk option .
Those who dare to challenge the status quo are rarely welcomed with open arms - you can expect plenty of short term unpopularity.
Stand up and be counted.
Why not steal the best secrets of people who have a track record of doing what you want to be able to? Critically, if you are going to steal make sure that you do so from the very best .
Use the magic sentence “ let me tell you a real life story about this”
When an individual stops learning, he is living on borrowed time.
It’s simply a matter of finding the sweet spot between our own areas of competence and an accessible audience willing to learn.Anyone can do it.
Write a how to guide.
The how to guide is a winner.
Content is king .
Gain influence by getting known for taking other people’s development seriously.
When you need some really fresh thinking, you turn to those with the least experience because there’s often a sort of naive brilliance in how they respond.
Some of the most frustrating moments in life are the blank page episodes, when new thinking and fresh ideas are required but none seems to come.
Retain some of the curiosity and imagination of a child.
Turning yourself into an expert could be one of the smartest moves you make .You differentiate yourself immediately from the crowd and if you select your specialism carefully, you can become the voice or the face of a particular subject , always in demand.
Specialize in something unfashionable.
You need to develop intellectual capital that is in high demand but short supply.
Low barriers mean high competition.
The process of updating your skillset or knowledge is never ending.
If you are serious about protecting your specialist territory, you will need to make a lifelong commitment to keeping your knowledge up to date.
Expertise without visibility is no recipe for influence.Having the knowledge or the skills is only part of the story you have to be able to communicate it to the market.
The key is to be useful and approachable.
The personal referral is the most powerful endorsement of our skill or ability.
Get the introverts talking .
It is not enough just to listen you need to give people evidence of your listening.
Being a person known to offer great value, who exceeds expectations, will certainly differentiate you from the majority of your peers , colleagues and competitors.
To over deliver you need to establish the other person’s MVC “ most valued currency “ .
By Having the mentality of what can I remove rather than what can i add ? You may make a significant contribution to productivity.
Some people Dilute their brand: they always seem to be present but rarely deliver anything of value.
Limit your appearance to occasions where you can make a real contribution. This will mean getting used to saying no, but will increase your chances of impressing when you do put in an appearance.And it will free up your time to focus on your own priorities rather then be a slave to other people’s.
Implement change but slowly.
Diversify your frames of reference.
Record your success.
It’s not fair but it is true: people equate confidence with competence, and lack of confidence with incompetence.
It’s perfectly normal to hesitate sometimes and to be less fluent.
Replace the audible pause with an inaudible one.
Use fewer words talk about fewer concepts , make fewer digressions.If people want to know more they will ask.
Using qualifiers like “perhaps “ ,”maybe” “possibly in your speech are evidence of lack of confidence and the worst of all “just”. As creatures of habit, we tend to stick with what we know, but in career terms this is a dangerous strategy.
Ask yourself what would “good” actually look like?
Help people look good to their superiors.
Compliment people in public.
Do you pay enough attention to early stage feedback?
Offer your help first.
If you don’t ask you don’t get.
Leave at the top
Focus on no more than one step ahead.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Leonardo de Vinci
If you can’t explain it to a six year old , you don’t understand it yourself . Albert Einstein
A good teacher, like a good entertainer,first must hold his audience’s attention, then he can teach his lesson John Henrik
Those who don’t want to imitate anything, produce nothing . Salvador Dali
You must define your own life. Don’t let other people write your script. Oprah Winfrey
The true measure of your education is not what you know, but how you share what you know with others. Kent Nerburn .
An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgments simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore. Edward de Bono.
If you really put a small value upon yourself,rest assured that the world will not raise your price. Unknown
A person can perform only from strength one can not build performance on weakness.peter Drucker
The whole problem with the world is that fools are always so certain of themselves , but wiser men so full of doubts.
Bertrand Russel
When things are bad, it’s the best time to reinvent yourself.George Lopez.
Write down 10 things you would do in your life if you had absolutely no fear.Then pick one of them and do it. Steve Chandler.
I’m not the smartest fellow in the world but I can sure pick smart colleagues.
Franklin Roosevelt.
Aim for simplicity + Memorability
always consider the 3 points you want to make. Things get understood in threes.
Don’t assume that technology will conceal your own inadequacy. Instead , make sure that you can make your point without the need for fancy diagrams or animations.
It is not the individual with the greatest insight who gain the most influence, but those who can communicate their insight with impact and clarity.
We sometimes confuse quantity with quality.
The point is that to persuade you need a frame of reference.
We know that social proof is an extremely strong motivator in getting people to do things.
We need to be as aware of what we are arguing against as what we are arguing for, and to be able to draw effective contrast between both.
Social norms are so powerful
We tend to go with the flow and do what the majority seems to favor since this seems to represent the lowest risk option .
Those who dare to challenge the status quo are rarely welcomed with open arms - you can expect plenty of short term unpopularity.
Stand up and be counted.
Why not steal the best secrets of people who have a track record of doing what you want to be able to? Critically, if you are going to steal make sure that you do so from the very best .
Use the magic sentence “ let me tell you a real life story about this”
When an individual stops learning, he is living on borrowed time.
It’s simply a matter of finding the sweet spot between our own areas of competence and an accessible audience willing to learn.Anyone can do it.
Write a how to guide.
The how to guide is a winner.
Content is king .
Gain influence by getting known for taking other people’s development seriously.
When you need some really fresh thinking, you turn to those with the least experience because there’s often a sort of naive brilliance in how they respond.
Some of the most frustrating moments in life are the blank page episodes, when new thinking and fresh ideas are required but none seems to come.
Retain some of the curiosity and imagination of a child.
Turning yourself into an expert could be one of the smartest moves you make .You differentiate yourself immediately from the crowd and if you select your specialism carefully, you can become the voice or the face of a particular subject , always in demand.
Specialize in something unfashionable.
You need to develop intellectual capital that is in high demand but short supply.
Low barriers mean high competition.
The process of updating your skillset or knowledge is never ending.
If you are serious about protecting your specialist territory, you will need to make a lifelong commitment to keeping your knowledge up to date.
Expertise without visibility is no recipe for influence.Having the knowledge or the skills is only part of the story you have to be able to communicate it to the market.
The key is to be useful and approachable.
The personal referral is the most powerful endorsement of our skill or ability.
Get the introverts talking .
It is not enough just to listen you need to give people evidence of your listening.
Being a person known to offer great value, who exceeds expectations, will certainly differentiate you from the majority of your peers , colleagues and competitors.
To over deliver you need to establish the other person’s MVC “ most valued currency “ .
By Having the mentality of what can I remove rather than what can i add ? You may make a significant contribution to productivity.
Some people Dilute their brand: they always seem to be present but rarely deliver anything of value.
Limit your appearance to occasions where you can make a real contribution. This will mean getting used to saying no, but will increase your chances of impressing when you do put in an appearance.And it will free up your time to focus on your own priorities rather then be a slave to other people’s.
Implement change but slowly.
Diversify your frames of reference.
Record your success.
It’s not fair but it is true: people equate confidence with competence, and lack of confidence with incompetence.
It’s perfectly normal to hesitate sometimes and to be less fluent.
Replace the audible pause with an inaudible one.
Use fewer words talk about fewer concepts , make fewer digressions.If people want to know more they will ask.
Using qualifiers like “perhaps “ ,”maybe” “possibly in your speech are evidence of lack of confidence and the worst of all “just”. As creatures of habit, we tend to stick with what we know, but in career terms this is a dangerous strategy.
Ask yourself what would “good” actually look like?
Help people look good to their superiors.
Compliment people in public.
Do you pay enough attention to early stage feedback?
Offer your help first.
If you don’t ask you don’t get.
Leave at the top
Focus on no more than one step ahead.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Leonardo de Vinci
If you can’t explain it to a six year old , you don’t understand it yourself . Albert Einstein
A good teacher, like a good entertainer,first must hold his audience’s attention, then he can teach his lesson John Henrik
Those who don’t want to imitate anything, produce nothing . Salvador Dali
You must define your own life. Don’t let other people write your script. Oprah Winfrey
The true measure of your education is not what you know, but how you share what you know with others. Kent Nerburn .
An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgments simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore. Edward de Bono.
If you really put a small value upon yourself,rest assured that the world will not raise your price. Unknown
A person can perform only from strength one can not build performance on weakness.peter Drucker
The whole problem with the world is that fools are always so certain of themselves , but wiser men so full of doubts.
Bertrand Russel
When things are bad, it’s the best time to reinvent yourself.George Lopez.
Write down 10 things you would do in your life if you had absolutely no fear.Then pick one of them and do it. Steve Chandler.
I’m not the smartest fellow in the world but I can sure pick smart colleagues.
Franklin Roosevelt.
April 20, 2015
I'm in the business right now of marketing a small nonprofit with almost no budget. It amazes me how many of these secrets are part of our normal day-to-day operations though. Our combined leadership team has almost all of this in spades. We are so lucky!
That said, our marketing materials need to start conveying the influence of our individuals. We need to start treating our social media platforms as warm handshakes and open forums to influence others into action. I plan on purchasing this book as one full of reminders and idea-generators!
That said, our marketing materials need to start conveying the influence of our individuals. We need to start treating our social media platforms as warm handshakes and open forums to influence others into action. I plan on purchasing this book as one full of reminders and idea-generators!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews