SHOW NOTES

Title: Four Tools To Help You Influence The Most Important Person In The Room: YOU

Episode 341

Solo Episode: Laura Cox Kaplan

THIS WEEK’S TOPIC:

We often talk about “influence” as something that shapes a room, a community, or a boardroom—but the most essential influence starts with ourselves. In this special solo episode, Laura Cox Kaplan, host of She Said/She Said Podcast, shares four essential tools every leader and aspiring leader needs to develop authentic influence—from the inside out.

Drawing inspiration from a recent workshop for civic coaches and leaders (and practical examples from her own journey), Laura breaks down how to lead yourself first, build resilience, and cultivate a more powerful, evidence-based narrative about who you are and what you offer—before you set out to influence others. You’ll also learn how to use AI as an ally to deepen your self-awareness and fine-tune your growth strategy.

KEY TOPICS AND WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:

KNOW YOUR STORY—BUILD EXPERIENCE EQUITY

• Laura introduces the concept of “experience equity”—the unique combination of your skills and lived experiences. Learn a simple two-part inventory exercise to help you see your real value more clearly, silence your inner critic, and identify your unique strengths.

TRACK YOUR MICRO WINS & LEARN TO PRUNE

• Progress is messy! Find out how to stay motivated by tracking “micro wins”—small steps forward that indicate momentum even in the messy middle of a project. Plus, Laura shares how letting go (or counterbalancing) what drains you can sharpen your focus and fuel your growth.

PRACTICE STRATEGIC VULNERABILITY

• Authenticity matters, but not all vulnerability is equally effective. Laura explains “strategic vulnerability”: how to share the lessons learned from setbacks (not just the pain) in a way that models growth and builds trust with others.

USE IF/THEN PLANNING TO BOOST RESILIENCE

• Hope alone doesn’t build resilience—preparation does. Laura provides a simple “if/then” planning strategy to anticipate obstacles before they arise, and to respond with intention and confidence (including how to talk about setbacks transparently with your team or community).

HOW AI CAN HELP YOU REFLECT AND GROW

• Laura offers practical AI prompts to help you analyze your inventory, spot patterns, surface strengths you might overlook, clarify your focus, and extract actionable lessons from challenges.

Authentic influence isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention, awareness, and generosity in sharing what you’ve learned along the way. Which of these four tools do you need to put into practice right now?

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LET’S CONNECT!

• Instagram: @lauracoxkaplan
• LinkedIn: Laura Cox Kaplan
• Contact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.com
• Email: [email protected]
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