Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work for
Team leadership
Communicate with influence

Communicate with influence

from Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work for: A Guide for New Leaders by William A. Gentry

How to Apply This

  1. Be careful with interpersonal space and how you use touch
    When speaking to someone, allow enough physical distance between the two of you to avoid invading their personal space. Also, use touch with caution to avoid getting a negative reputation.
  2. Maintain a decent dress code
    Dress in a way that shows that you’re organized, efficient, and confident. Think about how your hair, clothes, fragrance, jewelry, and cosmetics influence people’s perceptions of you.
  3. Get feedback about your communication style
    Set up a video chat with a colleague or peer for 10 minutes every week for 10 weeks straight. Record each session and then ask them to give you honest feedback on how you come across in conversations. Ask them to critique nonverbal elements such as your posture, tone of voice, loudness, intensity, and speed of speech.
  4. Communicate with others the way they prefer to communicate
    For example, if you prefer short and direct conversations, consider that your colleagues or direct reports may want longer and more detailed engagements with you. Give them time to speak and pay attention to their verbal and nonverbal language.
  5. Influence others through their head, heart, or hands
    If a colleague or client prefers to be influenced through logic, then speak to them using facts and figures. If they tend to be influenced via the heart, then appeal to their emotions, beliefs, and values. You can also influence others by showing them how collaboration and reciprocity can help accomplish a shared goal.

Why Use Mentorist?

  • Track your progress and build lasting habits
  • Get personalized reminders to stay on track
  • Access hundreds of book summaries with actionable steps
  • Transform knowledge into action in just 15 minutes a day

Ready to Take Action?

Download Mentorist to track your progress, get personalized reminders, and turn this insight into a lasting habit.