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Want to stop pushing people and start pulling results? We brought in Tara Landes, a certified Cialdini influence trainer who’s advised 300+ leaders, to unpack why most managers overestimate their people skills—and what to do differently when the stakes are high. From the moment you hear the 15.5% lift that a single authority sentence can create, you’ll see why intros, handoffs, and meeting setups are the hidden levers in sales, fundraising, and recruiting.

We dig into ethical influence—persuasion that benefits both sides—and show how small, honest shifts create outsized outcomes. You’ll learn how to build quick, real rapport that improves negotiation results, how to pre-frame price with smart anchoring, and why endowed progress keeps momentum alive in long buying cycles. Tara connects these to motivation that lasts: belonging, autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Expect pragmatic tactics like scripting third-party credibility in your inbound flow, adding “you’re free to choose” autonomy cues, and designing strengths-first performance systems that compound talent.

We also tackle the fastest way leaders tank morale: inconsistency. Your team can handle tough goals, but they won’t follow a moving target. We share simple ways to be predictably you, even in hybrid and AI-heavy environments where communication shifts channels but human drivers don’t. If you lead people, sell ideas, or negotiate complex decisions, this is your field guide to influence without manipulation and motivation without gimmicks.

If the playbook helps, follow the show, share it with a founder or manager who needs it, and drop your biggest takeaway in a review—what tactic will you try first?

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