If you have kids or employees (they're kind of the same, aren't they) you have probably used threats as a way to gain compliance before. When we are in a rational state, we can all agree that most of the time threats are only good for very short term compliance. But when we become emotional, it's easy for our brain to think that a threat is the best solution to the problem. In a recent study by McGill University, researchers discovered that threatening children doesn't stop them from lying. Here's some hope for humanity: researchers also concluded that kids are more likely to tell the truth when they feel like it's the right thing to do!

In Episode 79 of Maximize Your Influence, Kurt and Steve expand more on persuasive writing styles. There are certain words that you should never use when persuading others. Those words, however, may be beneficial when you are discussing the competiton! Check out the episode for all the information. Kurt and Steve will return in 2015 with more Maximize Your Influence!