Networking To Expand Influence

I used to say the right recommendation in meetings and watch it get ignored until someone else repeated it, and suddenly it moved forward. I thought they missed it, but they heard me clearly the first time. I had no power in that room, and my framing made it easy to dismiss. This is what changes as you move closer to executive roles. You will sit in rooms where your title does not carry weight yet. You will still be expected to influence decisions that impact revenue, risk, and direction. Influence is not reserved for people with authority, it is built through how you position ideas. I learned that influence is a system you can apply even with low formal power. Here are 12 ways to do it in practice. Make them think it was their idea by planting logic early and letting them carry it forward. Start with the business problem so leaders engage before forming resistance to your recommendation. Tie your recommendation to revenue, risk, retention, or customer impact so it feels relevant. Bring proof before you speak so your point lands with credibility and not opinion. Present a clear decision with tradeoffs so the room moves toward action faster. Align privately before meetings so public conversations feel like confirmation, not persuasion. Mirror the language leaders already use so your idea feels familiar and easier to accept. Show the cost of inaction so staying the same feels like a risk. Make the first step easy so momentum builds without resistance from the group. Identify who actually influences decisions and build alignment with them early. Ask better questions to surface pressure points leaders are already trying to solve. Close by connecting your idea directly to what leadership already said matters most. This is the work most people miss when they say they are ready for executive roles. Execution gets you in the room, but influence decides if you stay there.

I was Wrong about Influence. Early in my career, I believed influence in a decision-making meeting was the direct outcome of a strong artifact presented and the ensuing discussion. However, with more leadership experience, I have come to realize that while these are important, there is something far more important at play. Influence, for a given decision, largely happens outside of and before decision-making meetings. Here's my 3 step approach you can follow to maximize your influence: (#3 is often missed yet most important) 1. Obsess over Knowing your Audience Why: Understanding your audience in-depth allows you to tailor your communication, approach and positioning. How: ↳ Research their backgrounds, how they think, what their goals are etc. ↳ Attend other meetings where they are present to learn about their priorities, how they think and what questions they ask. Take note of the topics that energize them or cause concern. ↳ Engage with others who frequently interact with them to gain additional insights. Ask about their preferences, hot buttons, and any subtle cues that could be useful in understanding their perspective. 2. Tailor your Communication Why: This ensures that your message is not just heard but also understood and valued. How: ↳ Seek inspiration from existing artifacts and pickup queues on terminologies, context and background on the give topic. ↳ Reflect on their goals and priorities, and integrate these elements into your communication. For instance, if they prioritize efficiency, highlight how your proposal enhances productivity. ↳Ask yourself "So what?" or "Why should they care" as a litmus test for relatability of your proposal. 3. Pre-socialize for support Why: It allows you to refine your approach, address potential objections, and build a coalition of support (ahead of and during the meeting). How: ↳ Schedule informal discussions or small group meetings with key stakeholders or their team members to discuss your idea(s). A casual coffee or a brief virtual call can be effective. Lead with curiosity vs. an intent to respond. ↳ Ask targeted questions to gather feedback and gauge reactions to your ideas. Examples: What are your initial thoughts on this draft proposal? What challenges do you foresee with this approach? How does this align with our current priorities? ↳ Acknowledge, incorporate and highlight the insights from these pre-meetings into the main meeting, treating them as an integral part of the decision-making process. What would you add? PS: BONUS - Following these steps also expands your understanding of the business and your internal network - both of which make you more effective. --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts.

I'm tired of hearing PR = traditional media. Most agencies are getting it wrong too. 🙃 It isn’t… The NY Times The WSJ  <Insert any other big-name publication> people get excited about Even if you land in a top-tier publication, chances are people will read about it like you are right now - on their LinkedIn feed - rather than the actual media platform where it was published. These traditional platforms may provide varying degrees of credibility, but they don't provide distribution. Today, EVERYTHING is media. Here’s what that might look like: Targeted Content: - Niche Podcasts: Identify the specific podcast your ideal CIO (Chief Information Officer),  CMO (Chief Marketing Officer), or whoever listens to based on their industry and interests. These podcasts are GOLD for moving prospects from awareness to consideration. - Curated Newsletters: Seek out targeted Substack newsletters relevant to your niche, not just "gems." Think "Bankless" for crypto enthusiasts or "The Information" for tech insiders. - Engaging Collaborations: Partner with influencers who genuinely understand your audience and know how to engage them on platforms like Instagram Live. Look for influencers who spark conversations and promote meaningful interactions. - LinkedIn Fireside Chats: Host live-streamed chats with industry leaders and your CEO, and top clients. This adds credibility and attracts a wider audience. - Leveraging Trends: Create TikTok accounts or tie into those that creatively engage with relevant trends and topics specific to your industry. Interactive & Community-Driven: - Virtual Conferences: Participate in or host virtual conferences that attract your target audience, offering valuable content and networking opportunities. - Twitch Streams: Consider live-streaming on Twitch for real-time interaction, especially if your target market is tech-savvy or in the gaming industry. - Reddit AMAs: Host Reddit AMAs (Ask Me Anything) on relevant subreddits to directly engage with your audience and answer their questions in an informal setting. - Pinterest Boards: Create curated Pinterest boards around themes your target market actively searches for, showcasing your brand's expertise and visual appeal. Content with Reach & Impact: - YouTube Channels: These channels have content optimized for search, and one interview alone can drive targeted traffic. - Data-Driven Insights: Prioritize creating content backed by data and industry insights that your target market craves, like reports, white papers, or infographics. Remember: If you aren't seeing the results you want with PR, it's almost ALWAYS one of two things. Either your definition of media is too narrow (and hence, strategies are outdated and underperforming), and/or you don't have a distribution plan to go with it. #pr #publicrelations #strategiccommunications #marketing #tech #b2b

Power Gets You Compliance, But Influence Gets You Commitment. A client was recently given the kind of opportunity many senior leaders are working toward. He stepped into a broader enterprise role with a bigger remit, higher visibility, and much higher expectations. It was a vote of confidence, and he felt the weight of it in a good way. He was delighted to show he could operate at that level. Early on, things looked promising. He was sponsoring an important initiative where decisions and progress appeared steady. A few months in, though, the tempo began to wane, and momentum was strained. He sensed alignment was off, and he was right. We dedicated a call to examining the situation in detail and soon discovered that the issue wasn't the initiative or his skill or the workloads of others, but the way in which he was leveraging his new role. He had overlooked the inescapable truth about power versus influence. Eager to deliver and mindful of the visibility that came with the position, he leaned on power to gain traction and believed that his choice was reinforced by early action and quick decisions. The buy-in he anticipated to follow did not materialize. From his perspective, he had done what others do when the stakes are high: move quickly, take charge. The problem with being an outsider looking at others' success and emulating what you think you see is that you only see the contours. You often miss the details because there is no way to "see" them. The off-site lunches, side conversations after a meeting, or drop-by office chats are critical to influencing. Often, it's these efforts that unlock momentum and establish commitment. The group meetings, dashboards, and progress updates are the visible manifestations of these quiet workings behind the scenes. For VPs stepping into enterprise leadership or aspiring to the C suite, this is an important distinction to internalize early: Are you using your role to move the work forward, or are you building the influence that allows the work to carry itself? It is also worth asking where people may be agreeing with you in public and quietly disengaging afterward, and what might change if you invested more time building influence before relying on authority. Power can get things moving, but influence is what earns you the next level of trust, responsibility, and opportunity. Use each wisely.

What if your greatest leadership skill isn’t on your resume?   The World Economic Forum has named “social influence” as one of the skills of the future.   For the first time, influence is publicly acknowledged not as a side effect of leadership but as a core competency in its own right. Not charisma. Not visibility. Influence. Many confuse social influence with being an influencer.   Social influence is a relational skill. It’s about shaping perspectives and decisions through trust, presence, and credibility. Socially influential professionals drive alignment, clarity, and action, often without formal authority. Influencers drive consumption.   Social influence isn’t about being persuasive. It’s about being perceived as worth listening to over time, in context, and across difference.   That takes three things: 1. Relevance – Not just knowing your stuff but applying it in ways that resonate across functions and generations. 2. Relational capital – The quality of your reputation when you're not in the room. 3. Restraint – The power to know when not to speak and let your presence do the work.   In simpler terms: – Speaking up with clarity when others hesitate. – Listening with such depth that others feel seen. – Showing consistency, integrity, and generosity even when no one’s watching.   Ironically, real influence tends to be invisible while it’s happening. It’s the colleague who quietly shifts the room's direction. The junior team member everyone watches for cues. The advisor whose words land even in silence.   WEF is right to spotlight social influence. As organizations flatten, hierarchies dissolve, and complexity rises, the ability to influence without authority will no longer be optional; it will be essential. The future will be shaped not just by those with positional power, but by those who know how to move people ethically, quietly, and effectively.   In a recent Forbes article I described influence as the power that eventually wears down even the most rigid structures of positional authority. It seeps through organizational layers, reshapes beliefs, and earns voluntary followership. The bridge metaphor highlights a critical shift that while authority might get compliance, influence earns commitment. When leaders lean too heavily on power alone, they often face quiet resistance. But when they cultivate influence through trust, presence, and values, they move people without coercion. In the long run, influence doesn’t supplement authority. It outlasts it.    

Leading in Industry 4.0 isn't about walking ahead; it's about walking together. I want to go beyond just being a thought leader by fostering collaboration and building a community. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫? A person who is recognized as an authority in a specific field of expertise and highly influential in shaping the thinking of others. They are often sought out as speakers, consultants, and advisors because of their expertise and ability to inspire and guide others. They are viewed as being at the forefront of their field, and their ideas and perspectives can be influential in shaping the direction of their industry or discipline. A thought leader can be thought of as the combination of a 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭, an 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭, and an 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫. 𝐌𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞:  My approach is about sharing knowledge, encouraging discussions, and bringing together diverse perspectives to drive innovation. 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲: 𝟏. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞: Regularly providing updates on the latest stats, trends, best practices, and insights in Industry 4.0. I believe in the power of informed decision-making. 𝟐. 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: Actively responding to your messages and comments. Your thoughts and questions are the heartbeat of our community and deserve attention and respect. 𝟑. 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬: Working together on industry artifacts to not only share knowledge but to create it. Let's turn our collective expertise into tangible outcomes. 𝟒. 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬: Serving as an industry representative at various industry associations, academic groups, and research teams. It's about taking our voice to the places where it can make a significant impact. 𝟓. 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Committing to not just speaking but also listening. Your experiences, challenges, and successes are what will drive us forward. Together, let's shape the future of Industry 4.0, making it more inclusive, innovative, and impactful!

A lot of the value of attending or speaking at a conference doesn’t come from being there. It comes from what you do afterwards. How many times have you come back from a conference or event and thought, “I should’ve done more to maximize that experience”? Not just attending the sessions or showing up at the networking receptions, but turning it into something meaningful for your visibility, your relationships and your business development efforts. Me too 🙋🏼♀️ It’s easy to get caught up in our busy lives, especially after returning from a conference and then move on to the next thing without following up. What you proactively do after the event is what can turn conversations into relationships and visibility into opportunity. Here are some ways to make the most of attending your next conference: ✔️ Prioritize the people you met and follow up with context on LinkedIn or by email, referencing your conversation and suggesting a clear next step ✔️ Follow up with organizers to share feedback and express interest in speaking or getting involved in future programming ✔️ Turn your conference notes into key takeaways and share them as content (LinkedIn post, blog post or short video) connected to your work, your clients or what you’re seeing in the market ✔️ Host your own webinar to recap key themes and extend the conversation ✔️ Interview speakers or attendees whose perspectives stood out and use that content in a webinar, blog post or on social media ✔️ Host an internal recap to share key insights and connect them to your team’s work ✔️ Turn questions or conversations from the event into content or targeted outreach ✔️ Share insights from the event in an email newsletter ✔️ Add relevant new contacts to your email list so you can stay visible with them ✔️ Create a simple system to stay in touch with the people who matter most ✔️ Review the attendee list and reach out to people you didn’t meet ✔️ Follow up with speakers you admired, even if you didn’t connect in person ✔️ Identify one trend or theme you kept hearing across conversations and proactively share that perspective with clients or colleagues You already put in the time and energy to be there. This is how you carry that momentum forward. Which of these ideas resonated most with you? #LegalMarketing #ClientDevelopment #LinkedInTips #BusinessDevelopment #PersonalBrandingTips

🛍️ B2C Social Media Strategies: Connecting with Consumers In the fast-paced world of B2C marketing, social media is a dynamic playground for connecting with consumers. Here's a comprehensive guide on effective B2C social media strategies to foster meaningful connections and drive engagement across popular platforms. **1. Visual Content Dominance: B2C audiences are highly visual. Invest in captivating visuals, including images, graphics, and videos, to make your brand stand out. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok thrive on visually appealing content. **2. Storytelling Excellence: Craft compelling brand stories. Share narratives that resonate with emotions and experiences. Use platforms like Facebook and Instagram Stories for ephemeral content that creates a sense of urgency. **3. User-Generated Content (UGC): Encourage your customers to create content related to your brand. UGC not only provides authentic promotion but also strengthens the sense of community. Feature UGC prominently on platforms like Instagram. **4. Social Commerce Integration: Leverage the power of social commerce. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer seamless integration for shopping directly within the app. Make the purchasing process easy and enjoyable for consumers. **5. Influencer Collaborations: Partner with influencers who align with your brand. Influencers can bring authenticity and credibility, especially on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Choose influencers whose audience matches your target demographic. **6. Engaging Polls and Surveys: Foster two-way communication by using polls and surveys. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter allow you to gather insights from your audience, making them feel involved and valued. **7. Live Streaming Events: Host live streaming events to connect with your audience in real-time. Platforms like Facebook Live and Instagram Live enable direct interactions, Q&A sessions, and product demonstrations. **8. Strategic Hashtag Usage: Create and use branded hashtags to enhance discoverability. Utilize trending and popular hashtags on platforms like Twitter and TikTok to broaden your reach and join relevant conversations. By implementing these B2C social media strategies, you can not only connect with consumers on a personal level but also build a loyal community around your brand. 🌐📱 #B2CSocialMedia #SocialMediaStrategies #ConsumerConnection

From Frustration to Fruition: Harness the Power of Social Media to Achieve Growth in Your Business Battling to utilize social media effectively to boost your business? 🤯 I understand your struggle! For many entrepreneurs and business owners it can be particularly challenging navigating the ever-changing terrain of social media. The pressure to maintain a consistent presence can feel too overwhelming. 😕 Overlooking it? This could result in a significant loss of customer engagement and potential sales in our digital-driven era. 💸 It's crucial to kick-start your journey with a sturdy foundation. Let's dive into this simple, yet effective blueprint that will help you assert control over your social media presence: Clearly Define Your Social Media Goals 🎯: Whether it's enhancing brand visibility, driving website traffic, or increasing audience engagement. Identify Your Ideal Audience 🎯: Research and pinpoint the demographics, interests, and online behavior of your perfect customers to target your content effectively. Choose Relevant Platforms 📱: Select social media platforms that are frequented by your target audience and align with your brand's voice and style. Use Efficient Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Sprout Social 🧰: Harness the power of social media management tools to schedule posts, manage engagements, and analyze the performance of your strategy. If needed, hire a professional 🔍: If social media management becomes too time-consuming or complex, consider bringing on a professional to help streamline your operations and optimize results. Embarking on this plan, you'll realize the potential of effective social media strategy: amplified brand visibility, higher leads, and enhanced customer service. Are you ready to take action and embrace the power of social media? Share your thoughts or insights below. 👇 ➖➖➖ Over the past 15 years, I have worked 1-on-1 with 1,000+ business owners and taught tens of thousands of people about business. My experience includes serving as a Navy Officer, managing businesses, graduating from MIT, earning an MBA from NYU, and Achieving the CFA Designation. My Mission of “Helping 1,000,008 business owners by 2028 to sell more, make more, and get financing when they need it.” My Vision is to “Create the Ultimate business ecosystem for entrepreneurs.” ***** 👉 Feel free to visit my website to learn more about The Masterpreneur Playbook... https://lnkd.in/ebDibPVc #entrepreneurship #marketing #strategy #leadership #smallbusiness #success

𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯): your opinion about someone or something, or how much respect or admiration someone or something receives, based on past behaviour or character. I recently interviewed someone who shared an example of overcoming a significant early career setback. Their mistake in their twenties damaged their reputation and became a handbrake on their career. I was impressed by their honesty in owning this error of judgement, yet more so by the efforts they had undertaken in the two decades since to address the issue and lead differently. The mistake itself isn't all that important. But it did get me thinking about reputation. I've often said reputations are hard-earned and yet so easily lost. For many of us, it's the most essential professional currency we own and can positively or negatively influence. So, do we spend enough time managing our reputations? Reputations are built over time. It is a gradual process that requires consistent effort, thought and focus. So, how do you set about building or improving your reputation? Here are nine ways you can enhance your reputation. 1. Assess your current reputation: Understand how others perceive you. Seek feedback from trusted friends, colleagues, or mentors. 2. Define your values: Determine the principles guiding your behaviour and decisions. This will allow you to project a consistent and authentic image. 3. Build effective relationships: Invest in building positive relationships. Be genuine, supportive, and dependable. Networking and maintaining connections with diverse individuals is a proven way to enhance your reputation. 4. Develop your expertise: Improve your skills and knowledge in your area of expertise. Become a reliable resource by staying current with industry trends and sharing valuable insights. 5. Deliver quality work: Strive for excellence in everything you do. Delivering results will add to your reputation. 6. Seek feedback and learn from it: Listen, accept constructive criticism, and use it to grow. Demonstrating a willingness to learn and adapt shows humility and a commitment to self-improvement. 7. Engage in positive communication: Communicate respectfully and diplomatically. Avoid gossip, rumours, and negative discussions. Ensure you are known for your discretion. Rise above negativity. 8. Pay it forward: Contributing, paying it forward, and giving back will enhance your reputation, and you will also feel good for doing it. 9. Act with integrity: Demonstrate honesty, transparency, and ethical behaviour in your personal and professional life. Keep your promises, admit mistakes, and treat others with respect. And lastly, you cannot cultivate a reputation for being trustworthy and reliable if you are neither. Accept that mistakes will happen, but that does not need to define you as a person. Be patient, consistent, and genuine in your actions. Over time, your efforts will contribute to a stronger and more favourable reputation.