In a Nutshell: Influence is a by-product of who we are connected to, how much our connections trust us, and the sense of community that we share. In our decentralized, post-pandemic world, leaders need to adapt new strategies and technologies in order to cultivate those connections and build out a human network that can help everyone achieve their goals.
Guest: Jon Levy, a behavioral scientist best known for his work in influence, human connection, and decision making. He’s also the author of a great book called You’re Invited: The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence.
My Key Takeaways:
- You are who you connect with. Successful, happy people tend to socialize with folks who enforce their own positivity, ambition, and good habits.
- Connections + Trust + Community. Jon’s “influence equation” is better than building an audience because influence improves your ability to lead others towards specific outcomes.
- Shared activities create connections. It’s hard to have an awkward conversation when you’re playing basketball with someone or taking a cooking class together. These kinds of activities bond us to people and help accelerate the “getting to know you” phase of a new relationship.
Also Learn:
- How to use your digital presence to show people a more personal side of yourself.
- Why small, honest moments are more effective at building trust than grandiose gestures.
- How to define and manage subcommunities that foster attachment to your larger community of clients, employees, or social connections.
Complementary podcast: Stanford lecturer Matt Abrahams talked to me about how to engage an audience and inspire people to take action. Listen/read here.
Resources Featured In This Episode
Jon Levy
