Manage Smarter 278 — How to Influence Your Boss with Elaina Zuker

HOSTED BY C. LEE SMITH AND AUDREY STRONG
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In this episode, Elaina Zuker, author of 'Seven Secrets of Influence,' shares her expertise on influencing your boss and mastering workplace dynamics. Discover the importance of understanding influence styles and adapting communication to match your boss's preferences.

Elaina offers practical tips for enhancing your influence skills, making this episode a must-​listen for anyone looking to improve their leadership and workplace relationships.

In this podcast for sales managers and executive leadership, Audrey Strong, C. Lee Smith and Elaina Zuker help you to answer:

What is the key to influencing your boss? 

Elaina Zuker emphasizes on the Manage Smarter podcast that influencing upward is more challenging than influencing downward because it requires understanding your boss's preferred communication style. She suggests using the principle of 'like likes like,' which involves observing and adapting to your boss's decision-​making style to communicate more effectively.

How can you tailor your communication to influence others?

Elaina Zuker advises identifying your own influence style and understanding the six different influence styles to better communicate with others. By being attentive and flexible, you can adapt your communication style to match the preferences of the person you're trying to influence, thereby increasing your chances of success.

What is an effective technique for influencing in a business setting? 

Elaina shares a technique from Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) called Precision, which involves asking clarifying questions to unpack vague instructions or requests. This technique helps ensure you understand what is expected, allowing you to deliver exactly what is needed and influence effectively.

How can entrepreneurs become more influential in their peer groups? 

Elaina suggests that influence happens one person at a time and recommends taking the time to understand the language and preferences of others. By observing and asking questions, entrepreneurs can tailor their approach to better connect and influence their peers in trade organizations.

What are the Seven Secrets of Influence? 

Elaina Zuker's program, based on her best-​selling book, helps individuals identify their favorite influence style and understand others' decision-​making styles. The overarching principle is that influence equals attentiveness plus flexibility, which involves observing and adapting to others' communication preferences to effectively influence them.

"If your boss says something like, 'I want to get that out by Friday,' and you take just a few minutes to ask more, you can get very, very clear about what is expected of you."

Elaina Zuker

#HR #influence #influencingyourboss #workplaceinfluence #salescred #managesmarter #workplace

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