Influence Redefined: Be the Leader You Were Meant to Be, Monday to Monday

by Stacey Hanke

Do you feel confident you're a leader with influence? You may be surprised to discover you're not as influential as you think you are. Your team is only as strong as your influence, and many leaders today are mistaken about what it means to be influential. An outdated influence paradigm, along with technological devices and distractions, is making it increasingly challenging for leaders to reach those they need to influence in order to be successful. In fact, many leaders are unwillingly and unknowingly sabotaging themselves and their influence. In her thought-provoking Influence Redefined, Stacey Hanke introduces her powerful Influence Model, a step-by-step method for improving communication and producing the ideal type of influence—one that moves people to action long after an interaction is over. She dispels the most common influence myths and instructs leaders on how to stop sabotaging themselves in order to leave a positive, lasting impression. Using a results-based definition of influence for individuals and organizations, Hanke successfully shows leaders how they can develop influence as a skill through self-awareness, consistency, a positive reputation, adaptability, and impact. With insights from dozens of executives and business leaders, as well as practical how-tos and action steps, Influence Redefined will help leaders multiply and expand their influence every day, Monday to Monday®. Through Stacey Hanke, Inc., the author has provided keynotes, mentoring and training on communicating with influence to thousands of leaders across industries. She is the author of Yes You Can! and has appeared in the New York Times and SmartMoney. Hanke was recognized as one of the National Speakers Association's ''Top 6 Under 40.''

Genres: Business, Leadership, Nonfiction

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2017

Reviews

[Claudio · Rating 3 out of 5]

My gratitude to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review the book.
The author propose the reader a very intriguing question: Are You Really as Influential as You Think You Are? We all know that influence is a currency. It's the basis of human politics at the end. We also know that with the arise of social media the concept of influence has changed, but how do we measure influence?
According the author, "Most of us believe we are more influential than we actually are."
If you open a newspaper on the pages of local politics, it is easy to understand this statement is true...
This also opens another interesting possibility: if you can measure your influence level, can you also increase it? Stacey Hanke claims it is indeed possible, and proposes a step-by-step method.
The book is classically divided in three parts: Influence redefined, The drivers of Influence, The elements of influence.
The first part is a definition of what influence really is nowadays, far from traditional thinking, and a case for influence as supreme competitive advantage in business. There is also an interesting discussion on how influence correlates on being able to communicate effectively.
The second part builds up momentum trying to explain that influence is not something that comes naturally, but one needs to practice.
In the final part we finally get into the method, increasing our own influence working on the fundamentals: self-awareness, consistency and adaptability.
What I liked most:it is a book made of no-nonsense wisdom. Nothing really revolutionary, but a practical and complete guide.
What I disliked most: the language is sometimes too related to the coaching background of the author, too conversational for my tastes.

[Ilana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Especially in the world of marketing, social media and blogging, talking about influencers is the latest hit but although we appreciate and aim at being given such a label, we rarely know how to achieve it and most importantly, to maintain it. This book offers, through examples and coaching-like advices, a long-term strategy about building influence. There is a new business context, shaped by social media and new technologies and there is a lot of work to do in order to understand and manage properly the new conditions. 'There is so much more to influence than showing up and giving a powerful presentation...'. I particularly appreciated how to author eliminates, one by one, the misperceptions on influence, and replace them with straightworward and long-term strategies. 'Influence is all about your communication', describing a person with influence as someone who is trustworthy, credible, confident, knowledgeable, authentic and passionate. There is always room for improvement and the new environment creates the medium for constant development and achievement.
It is an useful book, including measurable tools and methods for preparing for taking over a leadership position. Strongly recommended to anyone coping with the challenges of building and maintaining influence.
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently, back in the day, all you had to do to be influential was to have the title -- SVP of something -- and then talk a lot. Now, you have to be a heck of a lot smarter, according to Hanke, and actually have something to say, and say it in engaging, memorable ways. It's all about good communication, and good communicators are: trustworthy, credible, confident, knowledgeable, authentic, and passionate, with self-awareness, consistency, reputation, adaptability, and impact. I can't really argue with any of this; it's all sensible, yet it doesn't seem very surprising or groundbreaking. It's more about having the discipline actually to do the stuff that you know you're supposed to do, I guess. Like Stacey says, Monday to Monday.

[Greg Nybo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. The concept and methods of creating a stronger impact in communication was completely lost by the author's use of every cliche business catchphrase imaginable, and by her repeated emphasis on how successful she was in coaching business. If I never hear the phrase Monday to Monday again, it will be too soon. I would avoid this book and find one that says more than record yourself and watch/listen to yourself and get a coach to help you. This book was more of a prolonged sales pitch than it was anything else.

[Kelly Macdicken · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book itself has some good ideas and suggestions, but it mostly boils down to: record videos of yourself and pay Stacey to help you. I suspect most people who read the book don't do these things. Her message seems like it would be better in-person. Or, even better, take the Dale Carnegie Course and become a better person as well as a better speaker.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. I am paying it forward by passing this book along to a business organization that offers business skills, hope, and dreams to be used in their ministry.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not usually a fan of the "self-help" books, but this was recommended to me. I don't usually stop books in the middle, but this was so dry, I just couldn't finish it

[Mukesh Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good exposition of influence. I believe that The way Stacey defines Influence and she goes about explaining how to develop influence (Monday - Monday) and the importance of being consistent in building our influence does work..

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to read it, if you are interested in developing your influence and impact to led to positive changes in your career, organization or your community!
Stacey Hanke shares all her expertise and gives us a very complete model of influence, offers us a multi-angle view to develop our ability to communicate and have enduring influence. The information is easy to understand, and although at times it seems somewhat redundant, it is very didactically organized. What I found most useful is the summary at the end of each chapter as well as the step actions, which if practiced help you develop self-awareness.
The most valuable of the model is that it helps you understand the importance of being focused and committed, being disciplined and consistent every day, every encounter, every action as a leader, so that you build a strong trust in others, reputation and relationships, a communication that generates a lasting impact. Another very relevant point is that it is a dynamic process, it is the result of growth and maturation, which is built or collapsed every day, in which meaningful feedback is required, of adapting the message to resonate with the needs and interests of the audience, a process in which sometimes you lose the way but you get to commit again, re-practice and take responsibility for doing the work of an influencer.
My gratitude to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review the book

[Amy]

Getting ready for a virtual book group with this author.

[Toyin Spades]

Stacey starts by asking the reader to consider if they are really as influential as they think they are. She provides ways to measure, increase influence and maintain influence as a leader

She explains how challenging it is to receive honest/ objective feedback about our leadership style. This challenge should propel us to lead in such a way that we just don’t have ‘yes’ men around us

At the end of each chapter, Stacey summarises the main point and provides ‘step actions’ for the reader to practice (for self awareness purposes)

Reading this book was very timely for me as it helped me critically analyse my leadership style, communication and consistency.